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The economic impact of Covid-19 on the world's most populous region is further undermining efforts to improve diets and nutrition of nearly 2 billion people who were already unable to afford healthy diets.
As many as 1.9 billion people in Asia and the Pacific were unable to afford a healthy diet, even before the Covid outbreak and the damage it caused to economies and individual livelihoods, research by United Nations agencies shows.
Supply chain disruptions have pushed up prices for many basic foods including fruits, vegetables and dairy products, making it even harder for poor people to achieve healthy diets.
Affordability is critical to ensure food security and nutrition for all -- and for mothers and children in particular, says a report entitled "Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2020: Maternal and Child Diets at the Heart of Improving Nutrition".
"Food prices and available incomes govern household decisions on food and dietary intake. But the outbreak of Covid and a lack of decent work opportunities in many parts of the region, alongside significant uncertainty of food systems and markets, has led to a worsening of inequality, as poorer families with dwindling incomes further alter their diets to choose cheaper, less nutritious foods," says the report jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Children's Fund, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the report, more than 350 million people in Asia Pacific were undernourished in 2019, representing roughly half of the global total. Across the region, an estimated 74.5 million children under 5 years of age were stunted, or too short for their age, and 31.5 million suffered from wasting, defined as being too thin for their height.
The majority of these children live in South Asia, where nearly 56 million are stunted and more than 25 million display signs of wasting. At the same time, overweight and obesity has increased rapidly, especially in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with an estimated 14.5 million children under five, being overweight or obese.
"Poor diets and inadequate nutritional intake is an ongoing problem," the report says. "The cost of a healthy diet is significantly higher than that of a diet that provides sufficient calories but lacks nutritional value, showing significant gaps in the food system to deliver nutritious options to all at an affordable price. These costs are even greater for women and children, given their added nutritional needs."
Food accessibility has become a real concern in light of higher food prices and income reduction during the pandemic, according to Witsanu Attavanich, an associate professor of economics at Kasetsart University.
In Thailand, the prevalence of high food prices is more severe in the North than in other regions, mainly because the food marketing structure varies between different parts of the country.
Household debt, which has reached an all-time high of 86.7% of gross domestic product (GDP), affects the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilisation, and stability of the first three pillars, said Dr Wissanu.
High food prices during the first and second waves of the coronavirus outbreak stemmed from declining volumes of food produced, increasing input prices and transport costs, and higher demand, partly because more people were cooking at home out of necessity.
FARM TO FORK
Dr Witsanu also believes that the second Covid wave that Thailand has been experiencing since mid-December, originating in the seafood hub of Samut Sakhon, would not have been so severe if the country had a more comprehensive food traceability system.
"Although there is no substantial evidence of Covid transmission via food, we can learn a lesson that traceability and food safety are crucial and have a strong impact on overall economic conditions in the time of the coronavirus crisis," he said.
He emphasised that active implementation of food traceability from farm to fork by various agencies will be beneficial for the country in the long run.
The economist reached his conclusions based on a study he conducted about the impact of Covid on Thailand's agricultural sector during the first outbreak in 2020. He recommended that the government do more to raise awareness of the importance of food safety, so that consumers will be willing to pay more for safe products.
Farmers are also encouraged to produce safer products and promote traceability so that consumers and food manufacturers can monitor food safety from farm to fork.
Dr Witsanu also recommends that small-scale farmers group together in cooperatives, which would help them achieve economies of scale and increase production and export volumes.
The government should also help smallholders access effective logistics at an affordable cost in order to reduce food loss and increase net farm income. The use of modern machinery and technology needs to be promoted to improve farm productivity.
As well, young farmers need to be encouraged to remain on the land. The average age of farmers is rising and many elderly farmers have no one in the family who wants to take over from them.
To meet consumer needs, the government should support production of healthy food, and promote more innovation and development for agricultural products. Data analytics should also be made available to smallholders, so that they can plan in advance what they should be planting for the coming season to meet real demand and avoid oversupply.
Improved food traceability might have lessened the impact of the second Covid wave that Thailand has been experiencing, says Witsanu Attavanich An economist at Kasetsart University SUPPLIED
AFFORDABLE & ACCESSIBLE
The UN report calls for a transformation of food systems, with an aim to increase the affordability of, and families' access to, nutritious, safe and sustainable diets.
To ensure that happens, it calls for integrated approaches and policies to overcome affordability constraints, and also to ensure healthy maternal and child diets.
"Investments in nutrition build human capital and boost shared prosperity. This is the future and all of us can contribute to it," said Emorn Udomkesmalee, senior adviser at the Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University.
Education about what constitutes a healthy diet and how to create hygienic environments at home, in schools and in the community is essential. Also critical in many countries is investment in girls' education and in infrastructure to support good water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices.
"Hygiene and sanitation has never been so much at the forefront. WASH systems are now bringing the new normal to Covid prevention," said Ms Emorn.
Nutrition is vitally important throughout a person's life. The impact of a poor diet is most severe in the first 1,000 days, from pregnancy to when a child reaches the age of two. Young children, especially when they start eating their "first foods" at 6 months, have high nutritional requirements to grow well and every bite counts.
Nutrition-focused behaviour change campaigns are needed to create greater knowledge uptake and sustain behaviours that lead to the adoption of more healthy diets, the UN agencies say.
Greater attention is also needed to national policies to improve the delivery of health services with a focus on maternal and child diets and good nutrition outcomes. Services to improve the diets of mothers and young children should be prioritised as part of an essential package of health services to address undernutrition, overweight and obesity, and to achieve universal health coverage.
Social protection efforts are needed as well to help stabilise incomes and improve access to healthy diets during disasters and crises. The report notes that at least nine governments in Asia and the Pacific have established a targeted mother-and-child Covid component in their social protection schemes.
Food systems play a critical role in achieving food and nutrition security for all. A sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food system is essential to produce diverse and nutritious foods for healthy diets. Improved efficiency and productivity of value chains can reduce the costs of essential foods to make them more affordable.
These actions are needed now more than ever, the report says, because the face of malnutrition is changing in Asia Pacific, with highly processed and inexpensive foods readily available throughout the region.
These foods are often packed with sugar and unhealthy fats and lack the vitamins and minerals required for growth and development, nutrition experts say. Consumption of these foods increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Sania Nishtar, special assistant on poverty alleviation and social safety to the prime minister of Pakistan, stresses the importance of a holistic approach to nutrition, addressing both preventive and curative actions.
Safe access to high-impact preventive nutrition interventions that target children under age five must be expanded. Asian countries must also increase links to other measures, for example cash transfers for vulnerable households facing increasing food insecurity.
"We must pay special attention to adolescent girls and offer them a second critical window of opportunity to improve their nutritional status," she said. "In the longer term, we must also ensure access to affordable, nutritious food for the most vulnerable."
Up to 15 million families in Pakistan are currently being supported through social protection and nutritional improvement programmes as the foundation of a healthy society, as part of the country's response to the Covid crisis.
"We must pay special attention to adolescent girls and offer them a second critical window of opportunity to improve their nutritional status," says Sania Nishtar, special assistant on poverty alleviation and social safety to the prime minister of Pakistan. SUPPLIED
Obesity, overweight and diabetes are central to the crisis of malnutrition in Asia and the Pacific. Many island countries rely on imported processed foods with high sugar and fat content because of limited domestic food choices and accessibility, said Senley Levi Filualea, minister of agriculture and livestock of the Solomon Islands. The result is more health problems rooted in micronutrient deficiencies.
Many women depend on the income generated from selling their produce in order to feed their families on a daily basis. The pandemic has affected their access to affordable, healthy diets, mainly because of reductions in income from the tourism industry on which many islands depend heavily.
Climate change is also affecting the region and the natural resources base that underpins agriculture, the UN agencies say. Livelihoods and food systems have been significantly affected by conditions such as changing drought cycles, sea level rise and inundation that reduces availability of arable land, and ocean warming.
Asia Pacific governments also need to invest more in nutrition and food safety in fresh and street food markets to promote healthy diets. Regulation of sales and marketing of food for consumers, especially children, is important to curb overweight, obesity and related diseases.
The report also calls for action by the private sector, which has an important role to play in supporting the transformation of the food system and its value chains for achieving healthy diets.
Understanding how food systems work and applying solutions in a coordinated fashion could help reduce barriers to accessing and consuming healthy diets. This will help countries and their people recover faster from the economic impact of Covid, and be better prepared for future crises, the report concludes.
Hygiene and sanitation in food processing plants has become an even more crucial issue in light of the increased potential for disease transmission during the pandemic. SUPPLIED | <urn:uuid:78664511-28d0-4167-9831-ab83c9ef15f5> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2064375/focus-on-food-security | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.956125 | 2,267 | 3.5 | 4 |
Digital culture refers to culture shaped by the emergence and use of digital technologies.
What is digital culture?
Digitalisation has become a particularly pervasive influence on culture due to the emergence of the internet as a mass form of communication, and the widespread use of personal computers and other devices such as smartphones. Digital technologies are so omnipresent around the world that the study of digital culture potentially encompasses all aspects of everyday life, and is not limited to the internet or modern communication technologies.
While it would be artificial to distinguish clear-cut eras distinct from each other, culture shaped by digitalisation differs from its predecessors, i.e. what have been called print culture and broadcast culture, in a number of different ways. For instance, digital technologies have enabled more networked, collaborative and participatory forms of culture. Following Miller (2011), the specific characteristics of digital culture can be explained with the kinds of technical processes involved, the types of cultural form emerging, and the kinds of experiences digital culture entails.
Digital Culture and technical processes
In digital technologies, information is represented in numerical code. In practice, this means that digital material is easily modifiable and can be easily compressed (Miller 2011, 15). Practical everyday examples of this include the use of Photoshop for easy modification of images, and the storing of large amounts of information in e.g. smartphones. Unlike in broadcast culture, media are also networked and interactive, and so-called user-generated content has emerged as a cultural phenomenon to blur the boundaries between senders and receivers, or broadcasters and audiences, of media content. For instance social media platforms such as Facebook, and blogs and online forums host massive amounts of user-generated content.
The technical infrastructure also enables the hypertextual nature of digital media, as links can be created between different nodes of content. Hyperlinking is indeed one of the primary ways of organising content online. Yet further central features of digital material enabled by the technical processed involved are its automated and databased nature. Digital databases, like any database, have their own specific ways of storing, retrieving and filtering data, and turning that data into meaningful information. Digital databases are much more flexible than pre-digital ones, and an essential component of many everyday activities such as using an online search engine or a social media platform.
This also relates to the process of automation mentioned above. Many digital objects are created out of databases through automated processes. This also allows for personalisation of content. In practice, for instance social media feeds, recommendation systems and personalised advertising online are the result of such automated, algorithmic processes. (Miller 2011, 14-21) Due to the ubiquitous presence and immense influence of such processes, some have characterised present-day culture as ‘algorithmic culture’.
Given that digital material is easily copied, spread and modified, digital cultural products are potentially in a constant state of ‘becoming’, in some respects more adequately described as processes rather than finished products. This is why for instance the established cultural form ‘narrative’, along with authorship, has been problematised in networked, hyperlinked digital environments: products are never complete, reading paths are hyperlinked and networked, and relationships between creators and audiences often anti-hierarchical and products collaborative constructions. (Miller 2011, 21-30) Collaborative digital art, online fan fiction and internet memes are just some examples of such present-day cultural production.
Digital technologies have also influenced the links between objects, space and time. (Miller 2011, 22-24) Objects can be easily not only modified, but also recontextualised, and objects from different historical and spatial contexts can be brought together to articulate something new or to create an ensemble of objects. For instance, music or film and TV streaming services – often also in a personalised way enabled by databased automation – are popular realisations of this. The shrinking of distance between audiences and art objects is another typical example: not only is cultural participation more democratic due to the instant availability of works of art, but also the means of producing e.g. moving image and visual cultural products and making them available to broader audiences have become more accessible forms of cultural participation. Virtual reality technologies can be expected to further transform cultural forms and participation.
It is still common to have a distinction being made between the ‘virtual’ and the ‘real’. This is a misleading distinction: even though virtual environments are intangible, this does not mean that they are not ‘real’. Our vocabulary also tends to reify clear distinctions between the ‘virtual’ (or online) and ‘offline’: terms such as ‘cyberspace’ and ‘meatspace’ have appeared to draw these distinctions while our experience is of both simultaneously. However, for instance in discussions regarding online bullying, it has been suggested that the specific kind of presence (distant, with lack of face-to-face contact; also called ‘telepresence’) enabled by digital technologies makes the threshold for people to abuse others lower. Virtual worlds and virtual reality also allow for a type of experience called simulation – immersive experience brought about by the creation of a model of a world, sometimes imitating the offline world. Second Life is an example of a hugely successful virtual world. Virtual experiences, as was the case with e.g. Second Life, are sometimes dismissively discussed through the familiar distinction between representation and simulation. The latter is here seen as somehow less authentic or real, pulling participants away from the ‘real’ reality. Video games are another example of a digital cultural medium that can produce immersive experience. (Miller 2011, 30-41)
Digital culture and new types of research
Understanding digital culture requires novel, innovative forms of research, and new approaches such as the broad field of digital humanities, digital hermeneutics, and digital ethnography have emerged to advance our understanding of culture shaped by digitalisation.
Miller, Vincent 2011. Understanding digital culture. London: Sage. | <urn:uuid:8bf6e2dd-a742-4212-8616-c127a41a1489> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.diggitmagazine.com/wiki/digital-culture | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.938503 | 1,243 | 3.703125 | 4 |
Pereiaslav Treaty of 1630
Pereiaslav Treaty of 1630 (Переяславська угода 1630 р.; Pereiaslavska uhoda 1630 r.). An agreement between the Cossacks and Poland, signed on 8 June 1630 by the Polish hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski after a successful Cossack and peasant uprising led by Taras Fedorovych routed the Polish army at Pereiaslav on 25 May. The treaty amended the Treaty of Kurukove of 1625 by increasing the allowable number of registered Cossacks from 6,000 to 8,000. The additional 2,000 were to be chosen by a commission made up of existing registered Cossacks and participants in the uprising, and the Cossacks were granted the right to elect their own hetman. Nonregistered Cossacks were granted amnesty but had to return to their homes on the nobles’ estates. The Cossacks refused the Poles’ request to hand over Fedorovych and elected T. Orendarenko as their hetman. The treaty was no more than a temporary compromise, for soon new Cossack-Polish conflicts erupted that resulted in the revolts led by Pavlo Pavliuk in 1637 and Yakiv Ostrianyn in 1638. Fedorovych’s uprising and the treaty are described in a study by Mykhailo Antonovych (1944).
[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 3 (1993).] | <urn:uuid:05540cd1-1c69-46fc-9b0f-db0b3e76ef79> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CE%5CPereiaslavTreatyof1630.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.949308 | 334 | 3.734375 | 4 |
Emergencies and accidents can strike unexpectedly, making it crucial for everyone to be prepared to handle such situations. Learning CPR, AED, and First Aid basics is not only a life-saving skill but also empowers individuals to respond confidently and effectively during critical moments. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of acquiring these essential skills, backed by eye-opening statistics on the prevalence of emergencies. Moreover, we will cover step-by-step guides on performing hands-only CPR and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Additionally, we’ll delve into recognizing cardiac arrest and heart attack symptoms, mastering basic first aid techniques for common injuries, and creating a well-equipped first aid kit. We will also discuss special considerations for providing first aid to children and infants, handling emergencies in remote locations and outdoor activities, the significance of CPR and First Aid certification, and dealing with anaphylaxis and allergic reactions. Lastly, we’ll touch on providing first aid for fractures and dislocations and the importance of staying calm and composed as a first responder.
Understanding the Basics of CPR
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique that combines chest compressions and rescue breaths to maintain blood flow and oxygenation when someone’s heartbeat or breathing has stopped. Performing hands-only CPR involves pressing hard and fast on the center of the chest to the beat of the classic disco song “Stayin’ Alive.” This simple technique can significantly increase the chances of survival for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. In cases where rescue breaths are required, the correct method of giving them will be explained. Early CPR is vital in cardiac arrest cases, as it buys valuable time until professional medical help arrives, enhancing the likelihood of a positive outcome. For additional info please visit https://cprcertificationnow.com/products/cpr-first-aid-certification.
Recognizing Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack Symptoms
Understanding the differences between cardiac arrest and heart attack is crucial for providing appropriate assistance. Cardiac arrest is the sudden loss of heart function, leading to unconsciousness and cessation of breathing. On the other hand, a heart attack is caused by a blockage in the coronary arteries, resulting in chest pain and discomfort. Familiarizing oneself with the common signs and symptoms of these emergencies will enable quick recognition and initiation of CPR and AED usage, significantly improving the chances of survival.
Mastering AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Usage
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that delivers an electric shock to the heart, restoring its normal rhythm during cardiac arrest. Understanding how to use an AED properly is crucial for effectively assisting in saving a life. This section will provide a step-by-step guide on how to use an AED and highlight its importance in treating sudden cardiac arrest. AEDs are user-friendly and designed to be operated by individuals with minimal training, making them accessible tools in emergencies.
First Aid Basics for Common Emergencies
Accidents and injuries can occur anywhere, anytime. This section will provide an overview of common injuries and emergencies such as cuts, burns, and sprains. Basic first aid techniques will be covered in detail, empowering readers to handle these situations confidently. Additionally, we will discuss how to handle choking and breathing emergencies, equipping readers with the knowledge and skills to provide timely assistance in critical moments.
Creating a First Aid Kit and Emergency Plan
Being well-prepared with a comprehensive first aid kit is essential for effectively managing emergencies. We will discuss the essential items to include in a first aid kit, providing readers with a checklist for assembling their own. Furthermore, having an emergency plan for households or workplaces ensures a structured and organized response during crises. This section will emphasize the importance of having a well-thought-out emergency plan and the peace of mind it can bring.
First Aid for Children and Infants
Providing first aid to children and infants requires special considerations. This section will highlight the differences between child, infant, and adult CPR techniques. We will also explore common pediatric emergencies and how to handle them. Equipping readers with this knowledge is essential as emergencies involving children and infants can be particularly stressful and require specific interventions.
First Aid for Remote Locations and Outdoor Activities
Accidents and emergencies can happen in remote locations and during outdoor activities, far away from immediate medical assistance. This section will address the challenges of providing first aid in such settings and discuss essential items for a wilderness first aid kit. Understanding precautions and actions to take during outdoor emergencies is crucial for ensuring safety and a prompt response to injuries or illnesses.
CPR and First Aid Certification
Getting certified in CPR and First Aid is highly beneficial and empowers individuals to respond effectively during emergencies. We will discuss the significance of certification, the various courses available, and where to find them. Additionally, maintaining skills and knowledge up-to-date is essential, and this section will provide tips on doing so.
Dealing with Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening without prompt treatment. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and how to administer epinephrine (EpiPen) can be critical in saving lives during such emergencies. Precautions for individuals with known allergies will also be covered in this section.
First Aid for Fractures and Dislocations
Recognizing fractures and dislocations is crucial for providing appropriate first aid. This section will guide readers on how to provide temporary splinting and support, minimizing further damage and pain. Understanding when to seek professional medical help is also vital for ensuring proper treatment and recovery.
Being a First Responder: Staying Calm and Composed
Remaining calm and composed during emergencies is essential for making clear decisions and providing effective assistance. This section will provide readers with tips on maintaining composure, the importance of clear communication and delegation, and how to be a responsible and effective first responder.
In this blog post, we’ve covered essential topics related to CPR, AED, and First Aid basics. Armed with this knowledge, readers are empowered to respond confidently and effectively during emergencies. From mastering CPR techniques to recognizing cardiac arrest and heart attack symptoms, providing first aid for common injuries, creating a first aid kit and emergency plan, and dealing with specific situations like anaphylaxis and fractures, this comprehensive guide equips readers to be prepared for any unexpected situation.
The importance of getting certified in CPR and First Aid has been emphasized, encouraging readers to take action and equip themselves with life-saving skills. By being prepared and knowledgeable, individuals can make a significant difference in times of crisis, potentially saving lives and creating safer communities. | <urn:uuid:49403a67-9341-4979-b8d6-0882a7074485> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.fotolog.com/mastering-cpr-aed-first-aid-basics/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.919638 | 1,386 | 3.75 | 4 |
The right to repair is the idea that consumers should have the right to repair their own electronic devices and appliances, or to have them repaired by a third party of their choosing, rather than being required to use the manufacturer’s authorized repair service.
The right to repair movement has gained traction in recent years as a way to reduce e-waste and extend the life of electronic devices, which can be expensive to repair or replace. It has also been argued that the right to repair can foster innovation and competition, as independent repair businesses and individuals can offer repair services at lower costs than the manufacturer.
Opponents of the right to repair argue that it could lead to safety issues if consumers or third-party repair technicians are not properly trained or equipped to repair certain devices. They also argue that it could undermine the business model of manufacturers, who may rely on repair service revenues to offset the costs of research and development.
In response to the right to repair movement, some manufacturers have made efforts to make it easier for consumers to repair their own devices, such as by making repair manuals and spare parts available. However, others have resisted such efforts, and some states in the United States have passed laws that limit the right to repair.
Overall, the debate over the right to repair highlights the need to balance the interests of consumers, manufacturers, and repair technicians in ensuring the safe and efficient repair of electronic devices.
Examples of devices that may be subject to the right to repair debate include:
- Laptops and desktop computers
- Home appliances, such as washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators
- Agricultural equipment, such as tractors and combine harvesters
- Medical devices, such as X-ray machines and defibrillators
The right to repair debate may also extend to other types of products, such as automobiles, which may have complex electronic systems that are difficult or expensive for consumers to repair themselves. | <urn:uuid:b019388f-43ea-4440-8fe9-2084912b5e43> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.jonathanpoland.com/right-to-repair/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.972437 | 390 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Working as historical advisers to a movie director, pupils attempt to reconstruct the scene of Becket’s death by cross-referencing and then evaluating a range of principally visual sources from the British Museum’s recent exhibition so that they can produce an historically accurate image to use as the film’s advertising poster. To do this well, they have to compare the sources with most scholarly descriptions. Why are some images privileged over others?
- Pupils grasp that historians construct narratives based on a range of sources
- Pupils learn the importance of cross-referencing to show that not all versions agree
- They grasp the importance of looking for corroborative evidence before making statements
- They learn to asking probing questions about provenance of sources to ascertain which sources are the most trustworthy.
Set the scene. An upcoming movie director is making a new film about Henry and Becket. He is shortly going to be filming the scene of Becket’s death. The last film made about 50 years ago was panned by historians as being historically inaccurate, so pupils have been drafted in to give reliable historical advice and to ensure that the film’s advertising poster is historically accurate. But they must first | <urn:uuid:388178b0-bca4-4627-9221-3988bcbab0d4> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.keystagehistory.co.uk/keystage-3/outstanding-lessons-keystage-3/medieval-britain/so-how-exactly-did-becket-die/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.959936 | 249 | 3.984375 | 4 |
Several questions spark conversation and critical thinking about the meaning of fairness. Learners work together to create a definition of fairness.
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Youth Activity: Participants will gain a greater understanding of the meaning of philanthropy, and identify at least one action that they can take to better their own community. They will investigate the strength of the human spirit and its importance in making the world better. See...
Unit: TeachOne for Earth Day
What are the forces in our lives that separate us from the outdoors today, and what can we do to fuel up on the power of nature? In this lesson, young people research the benefits of being outside and the human impact on the environment or about environmental justice issues with a...
To produce paintings or drawings that represent their “Dream of Peace” and that are submitted to an art competition.
A teacher using this lesson can look for art competitions locally or nationally that are sponsored by a museum, organization, or school district; a teacher might...
Play a fast-paced game to practice saying names. Discuss the importance of using names.
In this lesson, students learn that we all have ideas and talents to make the world a better place. This is an opportunity to demonstrate and feel the impact of kindness, inclusion, and listening on a caring community. Students learn from a community helper about the needs they observe in the...
Students explore what it means to be responsible citizens and identify ways they are (or can be) responsible at home, in school, and in the community. They create a survey related to people's perceptions of community health and poll members of the community to identify needs.
Unit: Bullying Prevention Plan
Youth make a plan as empowered and responsible members of the civil society to take action to prevent bullying behavior while being sensitive to the people involved, from the victim to the bystander to the bully.
Unit: Buzzing is BEE-lieving
Sometimes we let negative words of others or our own doubts stop us from doing what we know we can. Children reflect on the importance of positive words and actions to make a strong community.
Unit: TeachOne Back to School
Youth reflect on the value of art in communicating feelings and culture, while taking part in service to the community. They teach an art lesson to young children to encourage self-expression. They plan an environmental service project that puts crayons in the hands of young children. The youth... | <urn:uuid:654cd4b9-4d70-4f63-81e7-e311c093b79a> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/lessons-units?search_api_views_fulltext_1=Team%20Building&page=7 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.943345 | 516 | 4.84375 | 5 |
- Brain can distinguish between touch by one’s self and touch by another person
- This occurs due to the brain’s ability to downregulate the sensory stimuli arising from self-touching, as opposed to touching by another person
- This helps to understand how the brain differentiates touch sensations arising from self-touch and non-self touch
Problems associated with self-concept become evident in various types of psychiatric disorders. For example, although normal persons usually can’t tickle themselves, schizophrenia patients can. This is because their brains interpret sensory information originating from self-touch differently to normal people.
The study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), which is the official scientific journal of the US National Academy of Sciences, published since 1915.
Sensory Receptors of the SkinThe epidermis and dermis have sensory receptors that can sense various types of stimuli, including the following:
- Mechanoreceptors: Touch (pressure, vibration, and texture)
- Nociceptors: Pain
- Thermoreceptors: Temperature (hot and cold)
Study TechniqueThe research team studied the sensation felt in different parts of the nervous system by touching the skin of the study participants by another person and compared this with self-touching at the same places on the body.
The study participants were made to lie down on a moveable platform that could enter into a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. The participants were asked to slowly stroke their arm with their own hand, which was followed by similar stroking by another person.
Simultaneously, brain imaging was carried out by functional MRI (fMRI) to generate images corresponding to the brain activity in real-time. This helped the researchers to understand how these types of touch affected the activity in various regions of the brain.
Study FindingsThe research team found that in the case of self-touch, the brain modulated the processing of the sensory perception in such a way that it was appreciably reduced, compared to touch by another person.
For example, in one experiment, the study participants were stroked on their arm with filaments of different thickness, while simultaneously being stroked by themselves or by another person. The research team found that when two sensory stimuli were simultaneously applied, the sensation of touch was significantly ‘dampened’ by the brain when the participants stroked their own arm.
“We saw a very clear difference between being touched by someone else and self-touch. In the latter case, activity in several parts of the brain was reduced. We can see evidence that this difference arises as early as in the spinal cord, before the perceptions are processed in the brain”, says first author Dr. Rebecca Böhme, who is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and the Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN), Linköping University, Sweden.
Interpretation of the FindingsThe study findings could be interpreted in the light of a theory on brain research that highlights the fact that the human brain does not attach as much importance to sensations generated by our own bodies, such as touching one’s self, as compared to touching by another person.
“Our results suggest that there is a difference as early as in the spinal cord in the processing of sensory perceptions from self-touch and those from touch by another person. This is extremely interesting. In the case of the visual system, research has shown that processing of visual impressions occurs as early as in the retina, and it would be interesting to look in more detail into how the brain modulates the processing of tactile perceptions at the level of the spinal cord”, says Rebecca Böhme.
Funding SourceThe research was funded by ALF grants from Region Östergötland.
- Distinction of Self-produced Touch and Social Touch at Cortical and Spinal Cord Levels - (https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/01/14/1816278116) | <urn:uuid:b29425ec-225c-403f-b865-5ed3c7b7e391> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/how-does-the-brain-differentiates-between-self-and-others-touch-185305-1.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.965768 | 845 | 3.71875 | 4 |
Plasma etchers can be used to show failure analysis
A form of plasma processing used to fabricate integrated circuits is called plasma etching. A high-speed stream of plasma discharge or glow with an appropriate mixture of gas being shot in pulses at a sample truly defines the plasma etching. Analysis is performed in many different businesses and companies, for instance data analysis can be used to understand complex patterns.
However – Another technique to surface treat, is to use liquid etchers. However, this comes at a environmental cost, and is often a lot more costly. The source of plasma known as etch species can be charged ions or atoms and radicals that are neutral. During the plasma process volatile etch products are generated at room temperature from the reactions of chemicals between the elements of the material etched and the reactive species that has generated the plasma. Furthermore, the atoms eventually embed themselves at or just below the surface of the target and this modifies the target’s physical properties. This is a very environmentally safe method.
A high energetic condition in which many processes may occur defines plasma. For plasma electrons to gain energy they must be accelerated. Collisions cause highly energetic electrons to transfer their energy to atoms.
1) Ionization,2) Excitation and 3) Dissociation.
There are different species that make up the plasma particles and they are:
1)Ions, 2) Electrons, 3)Neutral and 4) Radicals. These species are constantly interacting with each other.
A plasma etcher is an etching tool that is used to produce semiconductor devices. Plasma is produced from process gas by the etcher of plasma. The process gas is usually fluorine-bearing gas that uses a high frequency electric field or simple oxygen. Silicon wafers are placed in the plasma etcher and the process chamber evacuates the air using vacuum pumps. At a low pressure, the process gas is introduced and excites the plasma through dielectric breakdown. Delaying integrated circuits that use plasma etchers can show failure analysis in a system. This is also an environmentally safe method as well.
Industrial plasma etchers are often featured plasma confinement to enable etch rates that are repeated and precise spatial distribution in RF plasma. Debye sheath is just one method of confining the plasma. This method is a near-surface plasma layer similar to the double layer in other fluids. An example would be if the length of the Debye sheath is at least half the width of the slotted quartz, the sheath will close off the slot and the plasma will be confined. This procedure will still permit the particles that are uncharged to still pass through the slot. | <urn:uuid:c0c6a1e5-4756-45c4-9eea-19cbf0f0176e> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.metalsurfacetreatment.com/plasma-etching-applications/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.937749 | 546 | 3.671875 | 4 |
You are likely familiar with the idea of radiation therapy to treat brain tumors, but you may not be aware that there are different forms of radiation available. As you educate yourself about your treatment options, you may have come across the terms “whole brain radiation” and “targeted radiation.” It can be helpful to understand the differences between targeted and whole brain radiation, particularly if your doctor has recommended radiation therapy as part of your treatment plan.
How Does Radiation Therapy Treat Brain Tumors?
Brain tumors develop when cells begin to grow out of control. Radiation therapy interrupts the process by damaging the DNA within the cells, which may kill the cells directly, or it may slow their growth. Because the DNA is damaged, the irradiated cell will no longer be able to divide and create new tumor cells. The treatment goal may be to simply stop the growth of the tumor or to shrink it and eliminate it from the body. Radiation therapy may also be used after surgical removal of a brain tumor to eradicate any remaining cells.
What is the Difference Between Targeted and Whole Brain Radiation?
As the name implies, whole brain radiation therapy delivers a dose of radiation to the entire brain. Patients must undergo multiple treatment sessions – often 3-5 sessions per week over 2-3 weeks to achieve the total intended dose. Because the entire brain receives radiation, many patients can experience unpleasant side effects, like fatigue, nausea and cognitive impairment, which can often be severe.
By contrast, targeted radiation therapy treats just the area of interest, sparing healthy surrounding brain tissue. One example of targeted radiation is Gamma Knife radiosurgery, a form of stereotactic radiosurgery developed specifically for treating conditions of the brain, head and neck.
Using Gamma Knife radiosurgery, doctors can treat an area as precise as 0.15 mm, the width of two human hairs. As a result, patients experience fewer side effects than whole brain radiation. Additionally, the Gamma Knife radiosurgery technology uses nearly 200 individual beams of high-dose radiation to target an area, combining to have a therapeutic effect. This is why some patients only require a single treatment session, in contrast to the 10-15 sessions required for whole brain radiation.
What Conditions Can be Treated with Targeted and Whole Brain Radiation?
Whole brain radiation is typically used to treat metastatic brain cancer, which is cancer that has spread from other areas of the body. However, targeted radiation therapy can also treat metastatic brain cancer successfully while sparing healthy brain tissue. Targeted radiation therapy can also treat other conditions of the brain, head and neck, including:
- Acoustic neuromas
- Arteriovenous malformations
- Brain metastases
- Pineal tumors
- Pituitary tumors
- Skull base tumors
- Trigeminal neuroma
- Vascular malformation
- Vestibular schwannoma
Learn More About Targeted and Whole Brain Radiation
Hopefully, this information has helped you develop a better understanding of the differences between targeted and whole brain radiation. Whether your doctor has already recommended radiation therapy or you are simply exploring your treatment options, educating yourself is a powerful way to play an active role in your care moving forward. Use what you’ve learned here in your conversations with your doctor and be sure to bring up any lingering questions you may have.
If you would like to learn more about Gamma Knife radiosurgery as a treatment option for you, contact The Valley Gamma Knife Center and a Nurse Navigator will be glad to speak to you about possible next steps. | <urn:uuid:e14add90-36f2-4dd6-85bc-f44ac63d0262> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.valleygammaknife.com/whole-brain-radiation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.931809 | 729 | 3.59375 | 4 |
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679). Of Man, Being the First Part of Leviathan.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
On the meeting of the Long Parliament, Hobbes fled to Paris, afraid of what might happen to him on account of opinions expressed in certain philosophical treatises which had been circulated in manuscript. While abroad he published his “De Cive,” containing the political theories later embodied in his “Leviathan.” In 1646 he was appointed mathematical tutor to the future king, Charles II; but after the publication of the “Leviathan” in 1651, he was excluded from the court, and returned to England.
The rest of Hobbes’s life was spent largely in controversy, in which—especially in mathematical matters—he had by no means always the best of the argument. He lived in fear of prosecution for heresy, but was saved by the protection of the king. He died December 4, 1679.
Hobbes’s writings produced much commotion in his own day, but his opponents were more conspicuous than his disciples. Yet he exerted a notable influence on such thinkers as Spinoza, Leibniz, Diderot, and Rousseau; and the utilitarian movement led to a revival of interest in his philosophy in the nineteenth century. He was a fearless if one-sided thinker, and he presented his views in a style of great vigor and clearness. “A great partizan by nature,” says his most recent critic, “Hobbes became by the sheer force of his fierce, concentrated intellect a master builder in philosophy.… He hated error, and therefore, to confute it, he shouldered his way into the very sanctuary of truth.” | <urn:uuid:5d7d096d-a066-476d-bc97-56636a27ca7e> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www5.bartleby.com/lit-hub/hc/of-man-being-the-first-part-of-leviathan/introductory-note-67 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.986379 | 370 | 3.78125 | 4 |
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and food. But did you know that there’s a lot of chemistry behind the dishes we enjoy on this holiday?
Turkey and Osmosis
Turkey is a classic Thanksgiving dish, but it can be tricky to cook perfectly. One way to ensure that your turkey is juicy and flavorful is to brine it. Brining is a process of soaking the turkey in a saltwater solution.
The salt in the solution draws water into the turkey, which helps to keep it moist.
The science behind osmosis explains why brining works. Osmosis is the movement of water from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
When the turkey is placed in the saltwater solution, the water in the solution moves into the turkey, where the concentration of water is lower. This helps to plump up the turkey and make it more juicy.
Baked Goods and CO2
Another common Thanksgiving dish is baked goods. Cakes, cookies, pies, and other baked goods all rely on chemical reactions to rise.
One of the most important chemical reactions in baking is the reaction between baking soda and acid. When baking soda and acid are mixed together, they release carbon dioxide gas. This gas forms bubbles in the batter or dough, which causes it to rise.
The Maillard Reaction
The Maillard reaction is another important chemical reaction that occurs in food. This reaction happens when amino acids and sugars react together under heat. The result is a browning reaction that gives food its characteristic flavor and aroma.
The Maillard reaction is responsible for the browning of roasted turkey, baked potatoes, and many other Thanksgiving dishes. It’s also responsible for the browning of toast, marshmallows, and other foods that are cooked or toasted.
Gravy is a popular Thanksgiving side dish that is made by cooking meat drippings with flour or cornstarch. The flour or cornstarch thickens the gravy and gives it its characteristic flavor.
The thickening of gravy is a chemical reaction. When flour or cornstarch is added to hot liquid, the starch granules absorb the liquid and swell. This causes the gravy to thicken.
The Science of Thanksgiving Food
These are just a few of the many chemical reactions that occur in Thanksgiving food. The next time you enjoy a Thanksgiving feast, take a moment to appreciate the science that went into making it possible.
How Educators Can Use Chemistry to Teach About Thanksgiving Food
Educators can use the chemistry of Thanksgiving food to teach students about science in a fun and engaging way. Here are a few ideas:
- Have students brine a turkey and observe how it affects the texture and flavor of the meat.
- Have students make baked goods and observe how the chemical reactions in the batter or dough cause them to rise.
- Have students cook food and observe the Maillard reaction.
- Have students make gravy and observe how the starch thickens the liquid.
By using the chemistry of Thanksgiving food, educators can help students learn about science in a way that is relevant and interesting to them. | <urn:uuid:6b185cbb-8670-4677-8414-16e7e3c75b56> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | http://teachfind.com/classroom-activities/the-chemistry-of-thanksgiving-food/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.939018 | 641 | 3.828125 | 4 |
*Distinguish between the New England, Middle and Southern Colonies
*Recognize the major regional differences in the colonies
*Draw conclusions about life in colonial America
*Understand and apply knowledge of government, law, and politics, and citizenship in order to research, form, deliberate, and evaluate positions.
*Describe characteristics of good citizenship
*Understand qualifications for voter eligibility and the history of voting in the United States
*Understand the impact of voter apathy on election results
*Describe how the electoral college system works
*Recognize forms of rhetoric to help separate fact from fiction & determine reliable sources of information
*Understand how personal priorities impact voting decisions
*Understand the purpose of an initiative
*Research a current issue to form, debate, and evaluate a position
* Write a clear, concise thesis that includes a defensible statement supported by 3 subtopics
*Write topic sentences that include a transition, the subtopic for the body paragraph, and a restatement of the thesis
*Select text quotes that are evidence to strongly support each subtopic
*Write quote setups that remind the reader of what is happening in the story when the text quote takes place
*Write quote analyses that clearly and thoroughly explain how each quote best demonstrates its subtopic to support the thesis
*Write a lead that introduces the topic and hooks the reader’s attention
*Write a clear, concise synopsis that briefly summarizes the important ideas of the text
*Write a clear, insightful conclusion paragraph that reviews the thesis, connects the ideas, extends the ideas, and echoes the style of the hook.
Learning Targets are met each day. Most of our targets take place over an entire unit, and possibly over the entire year. Below you will find the targets you, as a student are meeting, and you see posted in the classroom daily. | <urn:uuid:9d6d2456-7398-4493-bc0c-651380004274> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | http://www.tomasetti.info/learning-targets/learning-targets-november | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.90151 | 385 | 4 | 4 |
Protein's Building Blocks: Exploring the Amino Acids that Form Proteins
Proteins are essential macromolecules that serve a wide range of functions in the human body, from building tissues to transporting molecules and signaling between cells. They are made up of smaller molecules known as amino acids, which are linked together in complex chains to create the unique three-dimensional structures that give proteins their distinct properties and functions.
What are Amino Acids and How Do They Contribute to Protein Formation?
Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins, and are linked together through chemical bonds known as peptide bonds to form polypeptide chains. These bonds occur between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another, resulting in a long chain of amino acids with a specific sequence and shape. Once the polypeptide chain is complete, it folds into a unique three-dimensional structure, determined by the specific sequence and arrangement of amino acids.
There are 20 different types of amino acids that can be found in proteins, each with a unique side chain that determines its chemical properties. Some amino acids are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water, while others are hydrophilic, meaning they attract water. This property plays a crucial role in determining the overall structure and function of the protein.
In addition to their role in protein formation, amino acids also play important roles in other biological processes. For example, some amino acids are used to synthesize neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that transmit signals between nerve cells. Others are used to produce hormones, enzymes, and other molecules that are essential for maintaining normal bodily functions.
Different Types of Amino Acids and Their Unique Properties
There are 20 different types of amino acids that can be combined to form proteins, each with its own unique chemical structure and properties. These can be grouped into three categories based on their structure: polar, nonpolar, and charged. Polar amino acids have a hydrophilic (water-loving) side chain, while nonpolar amino acids have a hydrophobic (water-fearing) side chain. Charged amino acids can either be positively charged (basic) or negatively charged (acidic).
Each type of amino acid also plays a specific role in protein structure and function. For example, proline is known for its ability to form rigid structures in proteins, while cysteine can form disulfide bonds that help stabilize protein structure. Additionally, some amino acids are essential, meaning they cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained through diet, while others are nonessential and can be synthesized by the body.
Essential vs Non-Essential Amino Acids: What's the Difference?
The body can synthesize some amino acids on its own, while others must be obtained through the diet. The amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own are known as essential amino acids, and include histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Non-essential amino acids, on the other hand, can be synthesized by the body from other amino acids or from other sources.
It is important to note that just because an amino acid is non-essential, it does not mean that it is not important for the body. Non-essential amino acids still play crucial roles in various bodily functions, such as producing hormones, maintaining muscle mass, and supporting the immune system. However, the body's ability to synthesize these amino acids means that they do not necessarily need to be obtained through the diet.
The Role of Amino Acids in Muscle Growth and Repair
Amino acids are crucial for muscle growth and repair, as they provide the building blocks that are needed to create new muscle tissue and repair damage to existing tissue. This is why athletes and bodybuilders often supplement their diets with extra protein, which is broken down into amino acids to promote muscle growth and recovery.
There are 20 different types of amino acids that are used by the body to build proteins. Nine of these amino acids are considered essential, meaning that they cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained through diet. The remaining 11 non-essential amino acids can be produced by the body, but supplementing with them can still be beneficial for muscle growth and repair.
How the Body Absorbs and Processes Amino Acids
After amino acids are consumed in the diet or released from protein breakdown, they are absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to cells throughout the body. Once inside the cell, the amino acids are used to synthesize new proteins or are broken down to produce energy or other important compounds.
The absorption of amino acids occurs primarily in the small intestine, where they are transported across the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by specialized transporters that recognize and bind to specific amino acids.
Once in the bloodstream, amino acids are carried to the liver, where they are further processed and distributed to other tissues. The liver plays a key role in regulating the levels of amino acids in the blood, ensuring that they are available when needed for protein synthesis or other functions.
The Benefits of Consuming Complete Protein Sources for Optimal Health
Complete proteins are those that contain all nine essential amino acids in the correct ratio for human functioning. Consuming complete protein sources can have a number of health benefits, including improved muscle growth, faster recovery from injury or exercise, and a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, consuming complete protein sources can also aid in weight loss and weight management. Protein is known to be more satiating than carbohydrates or fats, which means that consuming complete protein sources can help you feel fuller for longer periods of time, reducing the likelihood of overeating or snacking on unhealthy foods.
Furthermore, complete protein sources can also improve brain function and mental health. Amino acids are essential for the production of neurotransmitters, which are responsible for regulating mood, cognition, and behavior. Consuming complete protein sources can help ensure that your brain has the necessary building blocks to function optimally.
Common Food Sources of Amino Acids for Vegans and Vegetarians
Vegans and vegetarians often rely on plant-based sources of protein to meet their amino acid needs. Some common sources of amino acids for vegans and vegetarians include soy products, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, and whole grains. Combining different plant-based protein sources can also help ensure that all essential amino acids are being consumed in adequate quantities.
One important thing to keep in mind when following a vegan or vegetarian diet is that some plant-based protein sources may not contain all of the essential amino acids. For example, grains and nuts are often low in lysine, while legumes are low in methionine. To ensure that all essential amino acids are being consumed, it is important to eat a variety of protein sources throughout the day.
Another consideration for vegans and vegetarians is the bioavailability of the amino acids in plant-based protein sources. Some plant-based proteins, such as soy, have a high bioavailability, meaning that the body can easily absorb and use the amino acids. Other plant-based proteins, such as those found in grains and nuts, may have a lower bioavailability. To increase the bioavailability of amino acids in these foods, soaking, sprouting, or fermenting them can be helpful.
Understanding Protein Supplements: Are They Necessary for Meeting Your Amino Acid Needs?
While most people can meet their amino acid needs through a balanced diet, some individuals who engage in intense exercise or have certain medical conditions may benefit from protein supplements. These can include whey protein, soy protein, or other types of protein powders or bars. It is important to speak with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.
The Link Between Amino Acid Deficiencies and Health Conditions
A deficiency in certain amino acids can lead to a range of health problems, including muscle wasting, weakened immune function, impaired cognitive function, and more. Some examples of amino acid deficiencies and their associated health conditions include low levels of tryptophan and depression, low levels of lysine and weakened bones, and low levels of arginine and impaired wound healing.
It is important to note that amino acid deficiencies can occur due to a variety of reasons, including poor diet, genetic disorders, and certain medical conditions. For example, individuals with celiac disease may have difficulty absorbing certain amino acids, leading to deficiencies and related health problems.
Fortunately, amino acid deficiencies can often be addressed through dietary changes or supplementation. Foods rich in amino acids include meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products, as well as certain plant-based sources such as beans, nuts, and seeds. In some cases, amino acid supplements may be recommended to address specific deficiencies and improve overall health.
How to Incorporate Balanced Meals that Provide All Essential Amino Acids
Eating a variety of protein sources throughout the day can help ensure that all essential amino acids are being consumed in adequate quantities. Combining different protein sources, such as beans and rice or tofu and quinoa, can also help balance out amino acid intake. Additionally, consuming balanced meals that include sources of carbohydrates and healthy fats can help optimize amino acid absorption and utilization.
The Future of Amino Acid Research: Implications for Human Health
As research on amino acids and protein continues to advance, new innovations in supplementation and nutrition may emerge. Scientists are currently studying the potential benefits of individual amino acid supplementation, as well as how specific amino acids may be used to treat or prevent various health conditions.
The Impact of Exercise on Amino Acid Metabolism in the Body
Exercise can have a significant impact on amino acid metabolism in the body, as muscles break down and rebuild proteins to adapt to physical stress. Consuming protein and amino acids both before and after exercise can help fuel muscle growth and repair, and may even improve exercise performance.
Can You Get Enough Protein from a Plant-Based Diet?
While many individuals assume that a plant-based diet cannot provide enough protein, this is actually a misconception. With careful attention paid to protein sources and balance, a balanced vegan or vegetarian diet can easily meet all of the body's amino acid needs. In fact, some plant-based protein sources may even be more beneficial for health than animal-based sources, due to their fiber and nutrient content.
In conclusion, amino acids are the key building blocks of proteins, and play a crucial role in maintaining optimal health. With a balanced diet that includes a variety of protein sources, individuals can ensure that they are consuming all essential amino acids in adequate quantities. Protein supplements, combined with exercise, can also help optimize muscle growth and recovery. As research on amino acids continues to advance, new discoveries may lead to exciting developments in nutrition and supplementation for optimal health. | <urn:uuid:5c500bc4-ad14-4b21-8d81-a5c2180a0105> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://atlasbars.com/blogs/protein-explained/proteins-building-blocks-exploring-the-amino-acids-that-form-proteins | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.949617 | 2,259 | 3.9375 | 4 |
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms. However, some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Without treatment, Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death. Now, scientists at Yale School of Public Health have designed a single-dose universal vaccine that could potentially protect against the many forms of leptospirosis bacteria. | <urn:uuid:de7097ea-aaf6-47eb-ac92-4d4af786de4d> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://biopharmacurated.com/potential-vaccine-against-deadly-bacterial-disease/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.943924 | 117 | 3.625 | 4 |
Quick Facts on Sleep-Wake Disorders
A brief overview of the signs and symptoms of sleep-wake disorders, and how they're treated in children and adolescents.en Español
Every parent knows the importance of a good night’s sleep to a child’s behavior and well-being. While most kids experience the occasional bad night, some are affected by disorders that routinely disturb their sleep and daily functioning. Sleep-wake disorders is an umbrella term for more than a dozen specific conditions that impair the quality or quantity of sleep a child gets enough to undermine her overall health and functioning. The most common of these disorders in children and adolescents is insomnia, difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep.
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Fitful, interrupted sleep
- Teeth grinding during sleep
- Recurrent nightmares
- Difficulty breathing while asleep
- Dozing off mid-task
- Trouble focusing, especially during school assignments.
- Mood swings
Treatment for Sleep-Wake Disorders
Treatment for sleep-wake disorders may include psychotherapy, medication or both. Talk therapy can help a child understand why he or she may have difficulties involving sleep, and cognitive behavior therapy can help adjust certain habits, such as teeth grinding, associated with sleep-wake disorders. A range of pharmacological options are also available to help treat the wide variety of conditions found within sleep-wake disorders. | <urn:uuid:6584d1eb-2385-44d2-8ac8-747751e877aa> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://childmind.org/article/quick-facts-on-sleep-wake-disorders/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.924641 | 285 | 3.703125 | 4 |
Clouds Clearing around Titan's North Pole
Creator: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
This pair of infrared images, made from data obtained by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, shows clouds covering parts of Saturn's moon Titan in yellow. Based on the way near-infrared channels of light were color-coded, cloud cover appears yellow, while Titan's hazy atmosphere appears magenta. The images show cloud cover dissolving from Titan's north polar region between May 12, 2008 (left), and Dec. 12, 2009 (right). The clouds in the second image appear around 40 degrees south latitude, still active late after Titan's equinox.
Cassini's first observations of clouds near this latitude occurred during summer in the southern hemisphere. Equinox, when the sun shone directly over the equator, occurred in August 2009. It brought a changing of the seasons, as Titan moved out of southern summer into northern spring.
For the past six years, Cassini has observed clouds clustered in three distinct latitude regions of Titan: large clouds at the north pole, patchy cloud at the south pole and a narrow belt around 40 degrees south. Now scientists are seeing evidence of seasonal circulation turnover at Titan. Clouds at the south pole disappeared just before equinox and the clouds in the north are thinning out. This activity agrees with models that predict cloud activity reversing from one hemisphere to another.
During winter in the northern hemisphere, northern polar clouds of ethane formed in Titan's troposphere, the lowest part of the atmosphere, from a constant influx of ethane and aerosols from a higher part of the atmosphere known as the stratosphere. In the southern hemisphere, atmospheric gases enriched with methane welled up from the surface to produce mid- and high-latitude clouds.
The data for the images was detected by Cassini's visual and infrared mapping spectrometer in near-infrared wavelengths. Scientists focused on three wavelengths of infrared radiation that were particularly good for observing cloud signatures and assigned them red, green and blue channels. Emissions in the 2 micron wavelength of light, colored red, detect the Titan surface. Emissions in the 2.11 micron wavelength, colored green, detect the lowest part of the Titan atmosphere, or troposphere. Emissions at the 2.21 micron wavelength, colored blue, detect the hazy stratosphere, a higher part of the atmosphere. The clouds appear yellowish because they lit up the channels designated red and green, but not the blue channel.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter was designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The visual and infrared mapping spectrometer team is based at the University of Arizona, Tucson.
For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm. The visual and infrared mapping spectrometer team homepage is at http://wwwvims.lpl.arizona.edu.
Image Use Policy: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/imagepolicy/ | <urn:uuid:85861c1c-9648-4c20-8539-ea2f59d966e3> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/images/74 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.911633 | 686 | 3.6875 | 4 |
Here is a summary for the primary structure of a protein:
- It is a sequence of amino acids.
- It is a linear polymer: linking the alpha-carboxyl group of one amino acid to the alpha amino group of another amino acid => PEPTIDE BOND (covalent bond).
- In some proteins, the linear polypeptide chain is cross-linked: Disulfide bonds.
The primary structure is a polypeptide, in which:
- each amino acid in the peptide is a residue
- there is a regularly repeating segment called the main chain or backbone, and a variable part, comprised of the side chain.
Primary Structure[edit | edit source]
The primary structure of a protein is a linear polymer with a series of amino acids. These amino acids are connected by C-N bonds, also known as peptide bonds. The formation of peptide bonds produce water molecules as a by-product when an amino acid N-terminal loses hydrogen and another amino acid C terminal loses -hydroxyl group. Thus, polypeptide, or polypeptide chain, is a term that describes the multiple connected peptide bonds between numerous amino acids. Each amino acid in a polypeptide chain is a unit, commonly known as a residue. These chains have a planar backbone, as the peptide bonds have double bond characteristics due to the existence of resonance between the carbonyl carbon and the nitrogen where the peptide bonds form. The primary structure of each protein has been precisely determined by the specific genes. The C-N bond in an amino acid's chain has the character of a double bond. This bond has a short length and stable. It cannot be rotated. This double-bond character can be explained structurally, in that the R groups in amino acid chains avoid steric clash.
Amino acids are linked by peptide bonds to form polypeptide chain; each amino acid unit is known as a residue; a polypeptide chain constructed by the same unit is known as the main chain or backbone and a changing R group, side chains.
Forces that stabilize Protein Structure[edit | edit source]
Protein structures are governed primarily by hydrophobic effects and by interactions between polar residues and other types of bonds. The hydrophobic effect is the major determination of original protein structure. The aggregation of nonpolar side chains in the interior of a protein is favored by the increase in Entropy of the water molecules that would otherwise form cages around the hydrophobic groups. Hydrophobic side chains give a good indication as to which portions of a polypeptide chain are inside, out of contact with the aqueous solvent. Hydrogen bonding is a central feature in protein structure but only make minor contributions to protein stability. Hydrogen bonds fine tune the tertiary structure by selecting the unique structure of a protein from among a relatively small number of hydrophobically stabilized conformations. Disulfide bonding can form within and between polypeptide chains as proteins fold to its native conformation. Metal ions may also function to internally cross link proteins.
Factors that cause denaturing[edit | edit source]
Extreme temperatures will result in the unfolding of a polypeptide chain leading to a change in structure and often a loss of function. If the protein functioned as an enzyme denaturing will cause that protein to lose its enzymatic activity. As the temperature of a solution containing the protein is raised, the extra heat causes twisting and bending of bonds. As proteins begin to denature the secondary structure of the protein is lost and adopts a random coil configuration. Covalent interaction between amino acid side chains such as disulfide bonds are also lost.
At high or low pH levels the protein will denature due to the lose or gain of a proton and, therefore, will lose their charge or become charged, depending on which way the pH is changed and by how much. This will eliminate many of the ionic interactions that were necessary for maintenance of the folded shape of the protein. As a result the change in structure will cause a change or loss of function.
Determination of Primary Structure: Amino Acid Sequencing[edit | edit source]
After the polypeptide has been purified, the composition of the polypeptide should be established. To determine which amino acid and how much of each is present, the entire strand is degraded by amide hydrolysis (6N HCl, 1100C, 24hr) to produce a mixture of all free amino acid residues. The mixture is separated and its composition recorded by amino acid analyzer. The amino acid analyzer establishes the composition of a polypeptide by giving a chromatogram, which records the peaks of each amino acid presents in the sequence. However, the amino acid analyzer can only give the composition of a polypeptide, not the order in which the amino acids are bound to one another.
To determine the amino acid sequence, it usually starts from the determination of the amino terminal of the polypeptide. The procedure is known as Edman degradation, and the reagent employed is phenyl isothiocyanate.
In Edman degradation, the terminal amino group adds to the isothiocyanate reagent to produce a thiourea derivative. Treating with mild acid, the tagged amino acid is turned into a phenylthiohydantoin, and the remainder of polypeptide is unchanged. Since the phenylthiohydantoins of all amino acid are known, the amino terminal of the original polypeptide can be identified easily. However, Edman degradation can only be used to identify the amino end of the polypeptides; therefore, for polypeptides that are made up by hundreds of amino acids, it is not a practical method in general. In addition, multiple degradation rounds will build up impurities which will seriously affect the yield of peptide. High yield means not completely quantitative, and with each step of degradation, incompletely reacted peptide will mix with the new peptide, resulting in a intractable mixture.
In other words, secondary structure refers to the spatial arrangement of amino acid residues that are nearby in the sequence. The alpha helix, and beta strands are elements of secondary structure.
Secondary Structure[edit | edit source]
Secondary structures of proteins are typically very regular in their conformation. They are the spatial arrangements of primary structures. Alpha Helices and Beta Pleated Sheets are two types of regular structures. An interesting bit of information is that certain amino acids making up the polypeptide will actually prefer certain folding structures. The Alpha Helix seems to be the default but due to interactions such as sterics, certain amino acids will prefer to fold into Beta pleated sheets and so on. For example, amino acids such as Valine, Isoleucine, and Threonine all have branching at the beta carbon, this will cause steric clashes in an alpha helix arrangement. Glycine is the smallest amino acid and can fit into all structures so it does not favor the helix formation in particular. Therefore, these amino acids are mostly found where their side chains can fit nicely into the beta configuration.
The structure of polypeptide main chains is mostly of hydrogen-bonding; each residue has a carbonyl group that is a good hydrogen- bond acceptor; nitrogen- hydrogen group, a good hydrogen- bond donor.
Alpha helix look like the outside of structure. + Right hand appeared in right bottom of Rachamanda plot often
+ Left hand (LOOP): rare on the left top of Ramachandran plot
Alpha Helix[edit | edit source]
Structure[edit | edit source]
The general physical properties of an alpha helix are:
- 3.6 residues per turn
- Translation (rise) of 1.5 A
- Rotation of 100 degrees
- Pitch (or height) of 5.4A (1.5A*3.6 residues)
- Screw sense = clockwise (usually) because it would be less sterically hindered
- Inside the helix consist of the coiled backbone and the side chains project outward in helical array
- Hydrogen bonding between the 1st carbonyl to the hydrogen on the 4th amino
- The shorthand drawing of the alpha helix is a ribbon or rod
- Alpha helix falls within quadrant 1 (left-handed helix) and 3 (right-handed helix) in the Ramachandran diagram
Supersecondary Structure of Alpha Helix[edit | edit source]
I. Coiled coil
An alpha coiled coil consists of two or more alpha helices intertwined, creating a stable structure. This structure provides support to tissues and cell, contributing to the cell cytoskeleton and muscle proteins such as myosin and tropomyosin. Alpha keratin consists of heptad repeats (imperfect repeats of 7 amino acid sequences). This facilitates bonding between the two or more helices.
Collagen is another type of fibrous protein that consists of three helical polypeptide chains. It is the most abundant protein found in mammals, making up a large component of skin, bone, tendon, cartilage, and teeth. Wrinkles are also caused by the degradations of this protein. In the structure of collagen, every third residue in the polypeptide is glycine because it is the only residue that is small enough to fit in the interior position of the superhelical cable. Unlike normal alpha helices, each collagen helix is stabilized by steric repulsion of the pyrrolidine rings of the proline and hydroxyproline residues. However, the three strands intertwined are stabilized by hydrogen bonding.
Alpha Tertiary[edit | edit source]
Motifs are simple combinations of the secondary structure such as the helix-turn-helix, which consist of two helices separated by a turn. The helix-turn-helix motif are usually found in DNA-binding proteins.
Domains, or compact globulars, consist of multiple motifs.They are polypeptide chains folded into two or more compact regions connected by turns or loops. Their structure is spherical, which is beneficial for the protein because it conserves space. Generally, inside the globular protein consist of hydrophobic amino acids such as leucine, valine, methionine, and phenylalanine. The outside consists of amino acids with hydrophilic tendencies such as aspartate, glutamate, lysine, and arginine. An example of a globular protein is myoglobin, which is the oxygen carrier in muscle. It is an extremely compact molecule made of only alpha helices (70%) except for loops and turns (30%).
Transmembrane and Non-Transmembrane Hydrophobic Helix[edit | edit source]
Studying the topography of transmembrane and non-transmembrane helix have helped answer many questions about membrane protein insertion. Specifically, studying the sequence and lipid dependence of the topography provide insights into post-translational topography changes. Furthermore, studying topography has lead to the design of hydrophobic helices that have biomedical applications. For example, a tumor marker called pHLIP peptide has been designed.
Different tests have been used to show the various effects on the hydrophobic helices. For example, hydrophilic residues such as tryptophan and tyrosine destabilize the transmembrane state. The hydrophilic domains cannot cross the membrane so it blocks any transmembrane and non-transmembrane equilibration. Furthermore, charged ionized residues also destabilize the transmembrane state. Stabilization of the transmembrane is also achieved in helix-helix interaction. Moreover, anionic lipids promote membrane binding of hydrophobic peptides and proteins.
Alpha helices, beta strands, and turns are formed by a regular pattern of hydrogen bonds between the peptide N-H and C=O groups of amino acids that are near one another in the linear sequence. Such folded segments are called secondary structure.
The alpha-helix consists of a single polypeptide chain in which the amino group (N-H) hydrogen bonds to a carboxyl group (C=O) 4 residues away. The alpha - helix is a rod-like structure. The tightly coiled backbone of the chain forms the inner part of the rod and the side chains extend outward in a helical array. This results in a clockwise coiled structure, which is known as a "right handed" screw sense. This folding pattern, along with the beta-pleated sheets were actually proposed by Linus Pauling and Robert Corey half a decade before people could actually see it. Most of the alpha strands are located in the lower left corner or upper right corner of the Ramachandran diagram . Essentially, most of the alpha helices are found in the right-hand helices area. An alpha helix is especially suited for cross-membrane proteins because all of the amino hydrogen and carbonyl oxygen atoms of the peptide backbone can interact to form intrachain hydrogen bonds while its aliphatic side chains can stabilize in hydrophobic environment of cell membrane.
Alanine, leucine and glutamic acid (existed as glutamate at physiological pH) are the most common residues present in alpha-helices.
The alpha-helix content of protein ranges widely, from none to almost 100%.
In general, the alpha helix is the "normal" shape of a polypeptide chain; however, features of certain amino acids disrupt alpha helix formation and instead favor beta strand formation. Amino acids with branching at the beta carbon (i.e. valine, threonine, and isoleucine) are problematic because they crowd the peptide backbone. H-bond accepting/donating groups attached to the beta carbon (i.e. serine, asparagine, and aspartate) can bond with backbone amine and carboxyl groups, again interfering with alpha helix formation.
While individual amino acids may favor one form or another, predicting the 2° structure of even a short (<7 amino acid) peptide strand is only 60-70% accurate. Such variability suggests other factors, like tertiary interactions with amino acids further down the chain, influence the folding into its observed 3° structure.
- Around ʊ = 120° and ϕ = -120°
- You have the angle, and you form the zigzag
The zigzag have the distance between amino acids is 3.5 Angstrom
Beta Pleated Sheet[edit | edit source]
In contrast to the alpha helical structure, Beta Sheets are multiple strands of polypeptides connected to each other through hydrogen bonding in a sheet-like array. Hydrogen bonding occurs between the NH and CO groups between two different strands and not within one strand, as is the case for an alpha helical structure. Due to its often rippled or pleated appearance, this secondary structure conformation has been characterized as the beta pleated sheet. The beta strands can be arranged in a parallel, anti-parallel, or mixed (parallel and anti-parallel) manner.
The anti-parallel configuration is the simplest. The N and C terminals of adjacent polypeptide strands are opposite to one another, meaning the N terminal of one peptide chain is aligned with the C terminal of an adjacent chain. In the anti-parallel configuration, each amino acid is bonded linearly to an amino acid in the adjacent chain.
The parallel arrangement occurs when neighboring polypeptide chains run in the same direction, meaning the N and C terminals of the peptide chains align. As a result, an amino acid cannot bond directly to the complementary amino acid in an adjacent chain as in the anti-parallel configuration. Instead, the amino group from one chain is bonded to a carbonyl group on the adjacent chain. The carbonyl group from the initial chain then hydrogen bonds to an amino group two residues ahead on the adjacent chain. The distortion of the hydrogen bonds in the parallel configuration affects the strength of the hydrogen bond because hydrogen bonds are strongest when they are planar. Therefore, due to this distortion of hydrogen bonds, parallel beta sheets are not as stable as anti-parallel beta sheet (exp: formation of parallel beta sheet with less than 5 residues is very uncommon).
The side chains of beta strands are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the strand. The distance between amino acids in a beta strand is 3.5 Å which is longer in comparison to the 1.5 Å distance in alpha strands. Because of this, beta sheets are more flexible than alpha helices and can be flat and somewhat twisted. The average length of beta sheets in a protein is 6 amino acid residues. The actual length ranges from 2 to 22 residues.
Beta sheets are graphically found in the upper left quadrant of a Ramachandran plot. This corresponds to ψ angles of 0° to 180° and Φ angles of -180° to 0°.
Visual representations in 3D models for beta sheets are traditionally denoted by a flat arrow pointing in the direction of the strand.
Loop is everything, but what is alpha helix and beta-strand does. It is related to secondary structure of protein.
Turn and Loop[edit | edit source]
Polypeptide chains can change direction by making reverse turns and loops. Alpha helices and beta strands are connected by these turns and loops. Most proteins have compact, globular shape owing to reversals in the direction of their polypeptide chains, which allows the polypeptide to create folds back onto itself. In many reverse turns, the CO group of residue i of a polypeptide is hydrogen bonded to the NH group of residue i+3. A turn helps to stabilize abrupt directional changes in the polypeptide chain. Loops are more elaborate chain reversal structures that are rigid and well defined. Loops and turns generally lie on the surfaces of proteins so they often participate in interactions between proteins and other molecules. In a loop, there are no regular structures as can be found in helices or beta strands.
Two hypotheses have been proposed for the role of turns in protein folding. In one view, turns play a critical role in folding by bringing together interactions between regular secondary structure elements. This view is supported by mutagenesis studies indicating a critical role for particular residues in the turns of some proteins. Also, nonnative isomers of X-Proline peptide bonds in turns can completely block the conformational folding of some proteins. In the opposing view, turns play a passive role in folding. This view is supported by the poor amino-acid conservation observed in most turns. Also, non-native isomers of many X-Pro peptide bonds in turns have little or no effect on folding.
Beta Hairpin Turns[edit | edit source]
A motif is when secondary structure elements combine in specific geometric arrangements. Beta hairpin turns are one type of arrangement; they are one of the simplest structures and then are found in globular proteins. Upon turning, the antiparallel strand can bind effectively through hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl carbon and the peptide backbone nitrogen. It has been shown that 70% of beta-hairpins are less than seven residues long; the majority being 2 residues long. There are two types of two-residue beta hairpin turns. The first, Type I, forms a left-handed alpha-helical conformation. This left-handed conformation has a positive phi angle due to the properties of the aforementioned amino acids. Glycine does not have a side chain to sterically interfere with the turned amino acid sequence. Asparagine and aspartate both readily form hydrogen bonds with the carbonyl oxygen as a hydrogen bond acceptor. The second amino acid in the Type I turn is usually glycine due to steric hindrance that would result using any amino acid with a side chain. In a Type II beta hairpin turn, the first residue can only be glycine due to steric hindrance. However, the second residue is usually polar, such as serine or threonine.
Fibrous proteins[edit | edit source]
Fibrous protein such as alpha-keratin and collagen consist of two right handed alpha helix intertwined to form a type of left handed super-helix called an alpha coiled coil. The two helices in this type of protein usually cross-linked by weak interaction such as Van der Waals forces force and ionic interaction. The side chain interaction can be repeat every seven residues, forming heptad repeats. Another form of fibrous protein, that of collagen, exists as three helical polypeptide chains. These chains are relatively long, ~1000 residues, and because of overcrowding, glycine appears once every three residues. While the helix is stabilized by the steric repulsions, the three strands are stabilized by hydrogen bonding. These protein usually serve structural roles in organisms, alpha-keratin is commonly found in the cytoskeleton of a cell, as well as certain muscle proteins. Collagen is often found in teeth, skin, and tendons.
Secondary Structure Prediction[edit | edit source]
The science of predicting what polypeptide chain will conform to which secondary structure group (alpha-helix, beta-sheet/strand or turns/loops) is not particularly exact. However, various frequencies of secondary structure formation of certain amino acids have been recorded in actual scientific experimentation, and these values can allow scientists to predict the folding of a protein based on its amino acid composition with about 60-70% accuracy. Stretches of six or less residues can usually be predicted with this accuracy. Although, certain amino acids tend to fold in its preferred conformation, there are of course exceptions and so secondary structure prediction is not always accurate. Tertiary interactions, interactions with residues further apart from each other, can also determine the folding structures. Each amino acid has a preference for either secondary structure, but it normally is only a small preference towards one in comparison to another, therefore, this unfortunately does not mean much. Amino acids can appear in an alpha-helix in one protein and also in a beta-sheet in another. Due to the unpredictability of the secondary structure based on the sequence of amino acids, secondary structures are being analyzed and predicted in relations to a similar family of sequences.
Various techniques have risen throughout history in the study of secondary structural prediction. With the aid of computers, prediction has been a pursued research topic in bioinformatics and many approaches continue to be proposed. After Linus Pauling and Robert Corey discovered the periodic alpha helix and beta sheet structures within proteins in 1951, further elucidation of protein structure prediction began to grow. A major method in secondary structure prediction was the Chou-Fasman method; it yielded a 50-60% accuracy. This method based its predictions on assigning a set of prediction values to a certain amino acid residue and then applied an algorithm to that value. Shortly after, further improvements were made on this method, the GOR method, which was developed in the late 1970s and utilized information theory|entropy and information concepts for secondary structure prediction. When devised, the method was about 65% accurate, however, improvements have also been made to it. There are deductive techniques in which similar sequences are found in already identified proteins. This method is accomplished by having computer software search databases of identified proteins. Opposite of that would be the Ab initio method, which builds 3-dimensional models without looking at similar residue sequences. This method is based on hydrogen bonding principals and localization.
Other methods and factors of folding prediction include analyzing the basic chemical tendencies of the side chains of amino acids to determine its preference in secondary structure. The alpha-helix is taken as the default structure, thus amino acids that destabilize alpha-helices are often found in beta-pleated sheets or loops and turns. For instance, valine, threonine, and isoleucine will often destabilize the helix because of branching of the beta carbon. These three amino acid residues are more often found in beta-pleated sheets, where their side chains will lie in a separate plane than the main chain. There are also amino acid residues that prefer neither alpha-helices nor beta-pleated sheets, for example, Proline has a restricted phi angle of ~60° degrees and no NH group, all due to the fact that it is cyclic. This will disrupt both alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets, thus is found mostly in loops and turns. A counter-intuitive example is glycine which, according to its small size, theoretically can fit in any structure easily, but in reality it tends to avoid alpha-helices and beta-sheets also. The folding definitely also relies on chemical interactions between the side chains so the surrounding amino group interactions also affect the tendency of folding. These tendencies are reflected in the frequencies of secondary structure for individual amino acids.
The relative tendencies of secondary structures for particular amino acids are listed below:
alpha-helix: Glu, Ala, Leu, Met, Lys, Arg, Gln, His
beta-sheet: Val, Ile, Tyr, Cys, Trp, Phe, Thr
turns and loops: Gly, Asn, Asp, Pro, Ser
Torsion Angles[edit | edit source]
Torsion angles are also called dihedral angles. The torsion angle is the measure in degrees in bonds between atoms. Folding of proteins are influenced by the degree of rotation amino bonds can hold. There are two different types of torsion angles existing in polypeptide bonds. Phi, φ is the angle between the α-carbon and the nitrogen atom of a peptide bond. The other bond is called psi, ψ which is the angle between the α-carbon and the carbonyl group. To measure φ, one must look from the nitrogen atom towards the α-carbon to measure if the angle is negative or positive. The angle is negative if the α-carbon rotates counterclockwise and vice versa. Furthermore, to measure ψ, one must look from the nitrogen atom towards the carbonyl group. Likewise, the angle is negative if the carbonyl group rotates counterclockwise and vice versa.
Ramachandran Diagram[edit | edit source]
The Ramachandran Diagram, created by Gopalasamudram Ramachandran, helps to determine if amino acids will form alpha helices, beta strands, loops or turns. The Ramachandran Diagram is separated into four quadrants, with angle ϕ as the x axis and angle ψ as the y-axis. The combinations of torsion angles will put the amino acids in specific quadrants, which determine whether it will form an alpha helix, beta strand, loop, or turn. Those that fall in quadrants 1 and 3 a few times in a row form alpha helices, and those that repeat in quadrant 2 form beta strands. Quadrant 4 is generally disfavored because of steric hindrance. Also, it is mostly impossible because the different torsion angles combinations in quadrant 4 can't exist because they cause collisions between the atoms of the amino acids. If the amino acids land in the different quadrants, with no repeats, then they become loops or turns. Furthermore, the principle of steric exclusion states that two atoms cannot occupy the same place simultaneously.
Myoglobin is one of example of tertiary structure. Myoglobin is an extremely compact molecule. It is oxygen carrier in muscle is a single polypeptide chain of 153 amino acids. The capacity of myoglobin to bind oxygen depends on the presence of HEME, a non polypeptide PROSTHETIC group consisting of protoporphyrin IX and a central iron atom.
Tertiary Structure[edit | edit source]
The tertiary structure of a protein is the three-dimensional structure of the protein. This three-dimensional structure is mostly determined by the amino acid sequence, which is denoted by the primary structure of the protein, however the amino acid sequence cannot entirely predict on how the three-dimensional structure is formed. Another contributing factor to the final shape of the tertiary structure is based on the environment in which the protein is synthesized. The tertiary structure is stabilized by the sequence of hydrophobic amino acid residues in the backbone of the protein. The interior consists on hydrophobic side chains while the surface consists of hydrophilic amino acids that interact with the aqueous environment.
Tertiary structure is formed by interactions between side chains of various amino acids - in particular disulfide bonds formed between two cysteine groups. At this stage, some proteins are complete, while other proteins incorporate multiple polypeptides subunits which creates the quaternary structure.
Nucleation-condensation model. The tertiary folding process is very structured with key intermediates. When a protein starts to fold, localized areas of the protein first begin folding. Then, the individual localized folds come together to complete the tertiary structure. The key concept is that when a correct fold is achieved, that fold is retained until all other parts of the protein are also correctly folded. This folding process follows reason because a random trial and error folding process would not only take much more time to complete, but also would require much more input energy.
Tertiary structure refers to the spatial arrangement of amino acid residues that are far apart in the sequence and to the pattern of disulfide bonds. Tertiary structure is also the most important protein structure that is used in determining the enzymatic activity of proteins.
Structure[edit | edit source]
Cysteine, an amino acid containing a thiol group, is responsible for the disulfide bonds that hold a tertiary structure together. In the tertiary structure, when two helices come together, they may be linked by these disulfide bonds. A tertiary structure with fewer disulfide bonds form less rigid structures that are flexible, but still strong and can resist breakage such as hair and wool. While tertiary structures that contain more crossed disulfide bonds, formed by cysteine residues, lead to stronger, stiffer and harder structures such has exoskeletons. Others examples of protein that contain more disulfide bonds include claws, nails, and horns.
A structure made of two a-helices such as keratin can be found in living organisms. Immunoglobulin, also known as antibodies, is an example of an all beta-sheet protein fold. It consists of approximately 7 anti-parallel beta-strands arranged in 2 beta-sheets. For instance, if a cysteine is mutated to another amino acid it can code to a different protein which would lead to incorrect folding.
Domains[edit | edit source]
Some polypeptide chains fold into several compact regions. These regions in a polypeptide chain are called domains and generally range from 30 to 400 amino acids. On average, domains contain roughly 100 amino acids. Each domain forms its own tertiary structure which contributes to the overall tertiary structure of the protein. These domains are independently stable. Stabilization is caused by metal ions or disulfide bridges that cause the folding of polypeptide chains. Different proteins may have the same domains even if the overall tertiary structure is different.
There are four types of domains:
- All-α domains - Domains made purely from α-helices.
- All-β domains - Domains made purely from β-sheets.
- α+β domains - Domains made both of α-helices and β-sheets.
- α/β domains - Domains made from both α-helices and β-sheets layered in a β,α,β fashion with a α-helix sandwiched in between 2 β-sheets.
Mutations[edit | edit source]
In order for a protein to be functional (except in food), it must have an intact tertiary structure. If a tertiary structure of a protein is disrupted, it is said to be denatured. Once a protein is denatured, it will not be able to perform its intended or original function. A primary cause for an alteration of the tertiary structure is a mutation in the gene encoding a protein. The mutation in the gene can cause a domino effect that will lead to the degradation of the tertiary structure. Degradation can cause several diseases, one of which is called cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is brought about by a mutation of a genes called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). This disease causes the exocrine glands to overproduce mucus. Most commonly, CF patients suffer from lung failure by the age of early 20-30. Diabetes insipidus, familial hypercholesterolemia, and Osteogenesis imperfecta are also diseases that originate from degraded proteins. A mutation in the tertiary structure itself, rather than from a mutation in the nucleotide sequence can also lead to diseases. Such mutated proteins can also aggregate and become insoluble deposits called amyloids, and therefore lose the ability to function. A common mutation is when a hydrophobic R group folds in, rather than out, in a hydrophobic environment. The inherited form of Alzheimer's disease is one disease that is caused by mutated tertiary structure. Another disease includes mad cow disease, which is caused due to a-helix (which are soluble) mutating into b-sheets (which are insoluble and cause amyloid deposits).
Folding[edit | edit source]
The folding of a protein is dependent on the amino acid sequence laid out in the primary structure. It is also dependent on the environment in which the folding occurs. In a hydrophobic environment, the hydrophobic side chains of the amino acids of the protein fold out while the hydrophilic side chains fold in and vice versa for a hydrophilic environment. An example of a protein that is folded in a hydrophobic environment is Porin. Its hydrophilic side chains are folded in which creates a channel for water to pass through. Amino acids that have nonpolar/hydrophobic side chains such as leucine, valine, methionine, phenylalanine, and isoleucine would be folded out in the folding of the protein in a hydrophobic environment. Likewise, in a hydrophilic environment, amino acids with polar side chains such as glutamine and asparagine fold outwards and the hydrophobic side chains would fold inwards.
Determination of Tertiary Structure[edit | edit source]
The tertiary structure of a protein is determined through X-Ray Crystallography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy. X-ray Crystallography was the first method used to determine the structure of proteins. X-ray crystallography is one of the best methods because the wavelength of an x-ray is similar to that of covalent bonds found throughout proteins, creating a clearer visualization of a molecule's structure. The scattering of x-rays by electrons is analyzed to determine the structure of proteins. In order to use x-ray crystallography, the protein in question must be in crystal form. Some proteins crystallize readily, while others do not. For those proteins that do not crystallize readily, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy must be used to determine its structure. NMR spectroscopy uses the spin of nuclei with a magnetic dipole and chemical shifts to determine a molecule’s relative position.
Hemoglobin is one of example of quaternary structure. Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in blood, consists of two subunits of one type (designated alpha) and two subunits of another (designated beta).
Quaternary Structure[edit | edit source]
A quaternary structure refers to two or more polypeptide chains held together by intermolecular interactions to form a multi-subunit complex. The interactions that hold together these folded protein molecules include disulfide bridges, hydrogen bonding, hydrogen bonding interactions, hydrophobic interactions interactions and London forces. These forces are usually conveyed by the side chains of the peptides.
These polypeptide chains are the subunits of a protein, capable of taking part in a variety of functions such as serving as enzymatic catalysts, providing structural support in the cytoskeletons of cells, and even composing the hair on our heads.
The peptides of the protein can be identical or different. Insulin is a dimer consisting of two identical peptides, while Hemoglobin is a tetramer consisting of two identical alpha subunits and two identical beta subunits.
Naming Quaternary Structures[edit | edit source]
In naming quaternary structures, the number of subunits (tertiary structure) and the suffix -mer (Greek for "part, subunit")are used:
- 1 subunit = Monomer
- 2 subunits = Dimer
- 3 subunits = Trimer (These are sometimes viewed as cyclic trimers. For example: aliphatic and cyanic acids)
- 4 subunits = Tetramer
The pattern continues with pent-, hex-, hept-, oct-, and so forth.
Dimers[edit | edit source]
- Dimer – alpha chain and beta chain
- Linked by 2 disulfide bridges
- HIV Protease
- Composed of identical subunits
Trimer[edit | edit source]
- Composed of 3 helical polypeptide chains
- Glycine appears at every third residue because there is no space in center of the helix
- Stabilized by steric repulsion of the pyrrolidine rings of the proline and hydroxyproline residues
- Hydrogen bonds hold together the strands of the collagen fibers
Tetramer[edit | edit source]
- Consists of 2 alpha and 2 beta groups
- Has a globular shape
- Has reverse turns that contribute to circular shape of the protein
- Made of 6 alpha helices
- Form hydrophobic loops
- Forms tetramers in the cell membrane with each monomer acting as water channels
Breaking Apart the Quaternary Structure[edit | edit source]
The quaternary structure of a protein can be denatured by breaking the covalent and non-covalent forces that keep it together. Heat, urea or guanidinium chloride will denature a protein by disrupting the non-covalent forces, while beta-mercaptoethanol will break disulfide bridges by reducing the bridges.
Protein Folding[edit | edit source]
Proteins are either folded, or not. There does not exist a stage where a protein is "half-folded". This can be observed by slowly adding denaturant to a protein. This will result in a sharp transition, from the folded state to the unfolded state, suggesting there only exist these two forms. This is a result of cooperative transition.
For instance, if a protein is put in a denaturant where only one part of the protein is unstable, the entire protein will unfold. This is due to the domino effect where destabilizing one part of the protein will in turn destabilize the remainder of the structure. When a protein is in conditions which correspond to the middle of the transition between folded and unfolded, there is a 50/50 mixture of folded and unfolded protein, instead of 'half-folded' protein.
After all is said about being in one structure or the other, there must be something in between them on an atomic level. Unfortunately, this is an area that is still under development, and much research is still being done. Theories such as the condensation Nucleation Principle are concerned with this area of protein folding.
The properties of quaternary structure:
- Polypeptide chains can assemble into multisubunit structure
- Refers to the spatial arrangement of subunits and the nature of their interactions
Analogy[edit | edit source]
If one takes each student in a class to be a different amino acid, each right hand to be an alpha-carboxyl group, each left hand to be an alpha-amino group, and the head to be the R group; then by joining right hands to left hands, the class will form a polypeptide. The "bonds" joining the hands will be peptide bonds. This can be considered the primary structure of a protein.
If one then takes students and "attract" them to other students 4 "bonds" away, this structure will then fold into a secondary structure; namely the alpha-helix. If the students were put into lines and were attracted to respective students in another line, they would form a beta-pleated sheet.
Now imagine that the heads, or R groups, vary in areas such as personalities, or polarity, like will attract like. The people who are more compatible will then gather together, for instance, hydrophobic areas will usually gather together in the center while surrounded by hydrophilic areas. This makes up the tertiary structure.
Now add in a different class, the people from the new class would have their own tertiary structure, these new people will then come in and react with the original class to form quaternary structures.
Human attempt to manipulate protein assemblies (Quaternary Structures)[edit | edit source]
Controlling the quaternary structures is currently catching more and more interest in academics. There are many advantages in manipulating protein assemblies. Firstly, people are able to grow/synthesize enzymes that are beneficial to human. Yet, to get these enzymes to work is the hard part. For example, nitrogenase, the enzyme that can fix nitrogen gas to yield ammonia, can only work under aerobic environment and coupled with ATP as energy source. In addition, researchers have revealed that nitrogenase is compose of two proteins, one for ATP coupling electron source and the other is the reactive center for nitrogen fixation. The two protein assemble to work as a whole. Recently, scientists remove the ATP coupling protein and replace it with a Ruthenium complex. It turned out that Ruthenium complex can provide electrons with light exposure. Now scientists don't have to deal with the complicate chemistry of coupling ATP, but just shine lights on engineered nitrogenase to get it work! Secondly, protein assemblies can have a lot of clinical/material applications. Ferritin is a family of high-order protein assembly family, usually 12mers or 24mers. Previous researches showed it can absorb large amount of Fe ion. Many researchers are working to control the association and dissociation of Ferritins, seeking for solutions of drug delivery, gas storage, metal harvest and etc. Many approaches have been developed to control protein assembling. Some of them include the following:
1. Transition metal-directed. Metal centers in protein are important, not only because they are reactive centers, but also they help stabilize the shape of protein by coordination. Many amino acids are ligands by themselves. Cysteine, Histidine, lysine are the common ones. Plus, researchers can engineer inorganic ligands onto proteins by cysteine substitution. Thus, introducing inorganic ligands much broaden the horizon of protein assemblies.
Metal-ligand bonding has several properties. Most obviously, it is a strong interaction. It is stronger than hydrogen bond and weaker than covalent bond. Therefore metal-ligand bond is strong yet not so strong that it is still reversible. Spatially speaking, metals have its coordination orientation, mostly, octahedral and tetrahedral. This property provides human great convenience in arranging proteins spatially.
2. Hydrophobic interaction. In aqueous environment, amino acid with hydrophobic side chains tend to aggregate together to minimize the exposure to water. Researchers utilize this character and engineer certain matching pair of non-polar amino acids onto proteins to obtain protein oligomers in water solution.
3. Salt bridges. It is well known that amino acids have different pI's. So at certain pH, some amino acids are negatively charged, some are positively charged. If an area on a protein is occupied by mostly negatively charged amino acid and another area is occupied by positively charged amino acids, proteins can aggregate by electrostatic attraction. However, this technique is usually not so selective.
More technique to direct protein assemblies are being investigated, such as coiled-coil. Mankind's potential to control quaternary structures is promising. | <urn:uuid:99edc5de-dd3d-4982-a6c5-17edc9add0e7> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Structural_Biochemistry/Proteins/Structures | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.931663 | 9,374 | 3.578125 | 4 |
The alternator operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction: the rotor rotates inside the stator. The rotor winding is powered through sliding rings from the voltage regulator. Voltage is supplied to the rotating rotor by using two carbon brushes (+ and -), to which both ends of the rotor winding are connected.
The flowing current generates an electromagnetic field around the rotor, which rotates with it. This field, interacting with the stator windings, induces an electromotive force (source voltage) in them.
The alternator’s stator produces alternating current, so the device is a three-phase synchronous alternator of alternating current.
The following diagram illustrates the current in the alternator before the ‘rectifier’:
Similar to the power grid, the current flowing from the alternator windings on individual phases is shifted by 120° relative to each phase. The generated alternating current is passed to a rectifier that converts the alternating current into a direct current. The value of this current changes during the period (360° for a single-pole waveform, 180° and 360° for a two-pole waveform), but its direction does not change.
It is a ‘directed’ but pulsating current (also referred to as undulating), although some describe it as a direct current, which is not entirely accurate.
The difference between alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) has been illustrated in the following diagram:
In the case of all power devices, including alternators, this phenomenon is highly undesirable, especially for powering sensitive electronic circuits (measurement circuits). The rectification system used in the alternator is a bridge rectifier system (Graetz bridge).
The number of diodes used depends on the number of stator outputs for different alternator connection configurations – this is about the current efficiency of the alternator. Regardless of the number of diodes used, we indeed achieve higher efficiency and current output, but we still have to deal with current pulsation.
Comparing this phenomenon to the power grid (50Hz), where the period of a single sine wave is equal to 1/50Hz, using a rectifying Graetz bridge (two-bridge) will result in a doubled sum of pulsations at a frequency of 100Hz (two halves of a wave for one 360° period). For a three-phase Graetz bridge, this will be 300Hz (six halves of a wave for one 360° period).
When applying these data to the alternator, where the minimum frequency of the generated current is 100Hz and this value changes with the increase in the rotor rotation speed, the frequency of this alternating current (and naturally the voltage) also increases.
As a result, at the output of the rectifying bridge, the pulsation value will always be six times the measured frequency of the alternating current (frequency measurement of one phase x 6 = pulsation frequency). Therefore, the voltage-time graph is practically drawn in the same way as in the case of direct current.
Furthermore, pulsation in the case of a three-phase current is not as ‘deep’ as in the case of a single-phase rectifier, where it practically starts from zero of the sine wave to its maximum value. Voltages in individual windings (phases) ‘overlap’, resulting in a voltage with a small pulsation of about 1V. Some alternator models, to minimise pulsations, are equipped with a capacitor that acts as a capacitive filter, smoothing the current waveform.
Ultimately, a well-functioning and appropriately sized battery serves as an effective voltage stabiliser.
In summary, the phenomenon of current pulsation occurs in the alternator, but due to the high frequency of the generated current and the small range of pulsating voltage, it is noticeable only in diagnostic devices.
It’s important to note that noticeable pulsations become apparent, especially when dealing with a faulty rectifier bridge in the alternator, and the alternator is subjected to a higher current demand at the same time.
In such cases, the battery may be unable to filter/stabilise the pulsations, and this phenomenon may be visible to the naked eye, for example, through flickering lights in a vehicle.
Click here for more information about alternators. | <urn:uuid:bc0e94db-477a-4cb0-a7a2-116b410c8158> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://garagewire.co.uk/news/company/as-pl/exploring-issue-current-pulsation-alternator/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.910485 | 893 | 3.8125 | 4 |
This number is then compared to other U.S. children of the same age and sex to determine the BMI percentile. For example, a BMI percentile of 65 means that the child's weight is greater than that of 65% of other children of the same age and sex. Pediatricians plot this number on a
standardized growth chart for a visual comparison, and to help track growth trends over time.
The best way to know your child's BMI percentile is to have their pediatrician measure and discuss the results with you. Your pediatrician will talk with you about how you can develop and support healthy habits at home.
What are BMI percentile categories?
Underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese are terms used to describe where your child's BMI is on the BMI curve. Keep in mind, these words do not describe your child.
If your child or teen is in a group at increased health risk, such as underweight, overweight or obese, your pediatrician may ask more questions about their medical history. They may also order lab studies and other tests to check for possible health complications.
What does your child's BMI percentile mean?
To find out which category a child is in, pediatricians use both the BMI number and the percentile. The BMI percentile-ranges and weight status categories:
BMI percentile range
Less than 5th percentile
5th to 84th percentile
85th to 94th percentile
|At or above 95% percentile
Ideally, children should fall in the target ranges between the 5th and 85th percentiles. Percentiles outside this range can put kids at higher risk for health problems.
Children below the 5th percentile could have a nutritional shortfall—either not taking in enough calories or burning up more calories than they are getting, or both. Likewise, children above the 85th percentile may have problems with how their bodies balance energy intake and output. This may be tied to a variety of factors: nutrition, the way their bodies handle calories or other body functions, a lack of physical activity or a combination of these. There are also medical conditions and medications that can cause kids to gain or lose weight more easily. Most children have multiple contributing factors to their body weight.
Obesity & health risks
Obesity is a chronic disease that can put children at risk for health problems, both short-term and into the future. Scientists have found obesity to be a risk factor for severe illness with
COVID-19 infection, for example. It can raise the risk for other chronic diseases such as
diabetes, hypertension, chronic joint pain and sleep apnea, for example. It also increases risk for emotional stress such as bullying and low self-esteem.
We also know that children with obesity are more likely to have obesity later in life as adults. However, it is never too late to make healthy and positive changes for your family!
Every family should aim to incorporate a
balanced and nutritious diet and
daily exercise in a child's routine. Some children with obesity will need more than this. Your pediatrician can offer guidance and connect you with resources to help meet these goals. If your child falls outside of the 5th and 85th BMI percentiles, talk with your pediatrician about the best treatment options tailored to their individual needs.
BMI is just one piece of the health puzzle
A child's BMI is a valuable screening tool. But it's only one piece of the puzzle to find out if a child is at a healthy weight. First, it is important to know that BMI is not a perfect measurement. For example, shorter children with a muscular build may have a high BMI but little body fat. Athletes may also have a high BMI due to higher muscle mass.
In general, though, BMI percentiles higher than 95% are a reliable sign that a child has excess body fat and is at risk for health complications.
Preventing obesity is critical for children's overall health and well-being, now and as they grow and become adults. BMI is a useful tool that helps your pediatrician decide if more tests are needed. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's weight.
About Dr. Kirkilas
Gary Kirkilas, DO, FAAP, is a general pediatrician at Phoenix Children's Hospital with a unique practice. His office is a 40-foot mobile medical unit that travels to various homeless shelters in Phoenix providing free medical care to families. He and his lovely wife, Mary (a pediatric emergency doctor), have three wonderful (most of the time) children and two dachshunds. | <urn:uuid:2589d746-4d9a-4a92-9ba9-b60e201176fc> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/obesity/Pages/Body-Mass-Index-Formula.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.953262 | 941 | 3.625 | 4 |
Learning to play the guitar can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have some musical background, understanding how to play the guitar notes is essential. In this article, we will guide you through the process of playing guitar notes and provide answers to some frequently asked questions.
Playing guitar notes involves understanding the musical alphabet and the placement of notes on the guitar fretboard. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
1. Learn the musical alphabet: The musical alphabet consists of the letters A-G, which represent the different notes. After G, the cycle starts again with A. It’s important to familiarize yourself with this alphabet, as it will help you understand the placement of notes on the guitar.
2. Understand the guitar fretboard: The guitar fretboard is divided into frets, which are the metal strips running perpendicular to the strings. Each fret represents a different note. The first fret is closest to the headstock, while the higher numbered frets are closer to the body of the guitar.
3. Memorize the open strings: The open strings on a standard tuned guitar are E, A, D, G, B, and E (from the thickest to the thinnest string). These open strings serve as a reference point for playing other notes on the guitar.
4. Learn the natural notes on the guitar: The natural notes on the guitar are A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. These notes are played on the open strings and at various positions on the fretboard.
5. Start with basic chords: Chords are a combination of multiple notes played simultaneously. Begin by learning basic chords such as C, G, and D. Practice transitioning between these chords to improve your finger dexterity and coordination.
6. Understand sharps and flats: Sharps (#) and flats (b) are used to represent notes that fall between the natural notes. For example, A# (A sharp) is the same as Bb (B flat). These alterations can be found on different frets.
7. Practice scales: Scales are sequences of notes played in ascending or descending order. Begin with the major scale, which is a fundamental scale used in many musical genres. Practice playing the major scale pattern in different positions on the fretboard.
8. Use guitar tablature: Guitar tablature, or tabs, is a system that represents the placement of notes on the guitar fretboard. It uses numbers on horizontal lines to indicate which frets to press and which strings to play.
9. Develop finger strength and dexterity: Regularly practice exercises that improve finger strength and dexterity. This will make playing notes and chords easier over time.
10. Seek professional guidance: Consider taking guitar lessons from a qualified instructor who can provide personalized guidance and feedback.
Now, let’s address some frequently asked questions about playing guitar notes:
1. How long does it take to learn guitar notes?
Learning guitar notes is a gradual process that varies from person to person. With regular practice, it generally takes a few months to become comfortable with the basics.
2. Do I need to learn music theory to play guitar notes?
While learning music theory can enhance your understanding, it is not a requirement. Many guitarists have learned to play by ear or using tabs.
3. Can I learn guitar notes on my own?
Yes, there are plenty of online resources and tutorials available to help you learn guitar notes on your own. However, a qualified instructor can provide valuable guidance and accelerate your learning process.
4. How often should I practice guitar notes?
Consistency is key. Aim to practice for at least 15-30 minutes every day. Regular practice will help you progress faster.
5. Can I use an electric guitar to learn guitar notes?
Absolutely! The notes and techniques are the same across different types of guitars. However, electric guitars may have some additional features like pickups and effects that can enhance your playing.
6. Should I start with an acoustic or electric guitar?
The choice between an acoustic or electric guitar depends on your personal preference and the style of music you want to play. Both can be used to learn guitar notes effectively.
7. Are there shortcuts to learning guitar notes?
While there are no shortcuts to mastering any skill, there are techniques and exercises that can help you progress faster. Focus on consistent practice and gradually challenge yourself with more complex music.
8. How can I improve my finger strength for playing guitar notes?
Practice exercises such as finger stretching, finger strength builders, and playing scales can improve your finger strength and dexterity.
9. Can I play guitar notes without reading sheet music?
Yes, many guitarists rely on tabs and chord charts instead of traditional sheet music. Tabs are easier to learn and can help you play your favorite songs faster.
10. Are there any specific exercises to improve note recognition on the fretboard?
Yes, exercises like playing scales, playing the same melody in different positions on the fretboard, and memorizing the notes on each fret can help improve note recognition.
11. How can I improve my speed while playing guitar notes?
Start slowly and gradually increase your speed. Use a metronome to practice playing at a steady tempo and focus on accuracy before increasing your speed.
12. Can I play guitar notes with a pick or my fingers?
You can play guitar notes using either a pick or your fingers. Experiment with both techniques to find what works best for you.
13. Can I learn guitar notes without learning chords?
While chords and notes are interrelated, it is possible to focus solely on learning guitar notes before diving into chords. However, chords are an essential aspect of playing the guitar and should be learned eventually.
14. Can I play guitar notes by ear?
Yes, many guitarists learn to play by ear. Developing your ear training skills can help you figure out melodies and solos without relying on sheet music or tabs.
In conclusion, learning how to play guitar notes is an exciting journey that requires dedication and practice. By understanding the musical alphabet, the placement of notes on the fretboard, and practicing regularly, you can become proficient in playing guitar notes. Remember to have patience, seek guidance when needed, and enjoy the process of learning this versatile instrument. | <urn:uuid:5a12b524-9986-4adc-b869-6519322eafd8> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://jstationx.com/how-to-play-the-guitar-notes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.95313 | 1,314 | 3.609375 | 4 |
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
- Explain phenomena involving heat as a form of energy transfer
- Solve problems involving heat transfer
We have seen in previous chapters that energy is one of the fundamental concepts of physics. Heat is a type of energy transfer that is caused by a temperature difference, and it can change the temperature of an object. As we learned earlier in this chapter, heat transfer is the movement of energy from one place or material to another as a result of a difference in temperature. Heat transfer is fundamental to such everyday activities as home heating and cooking, as well as many industrial processes. It also forms a basis for the topics in the remainder of this chapter.
We also introduce the concept of internal energy, which can be increased or decreased by heat transfer. We discuss another way to change the internal energy of a system, namely doing work on it. Thus, we are beginning the study of the relationship of heat and work, which is the basis of engines and refrigerators and the central topic (and origin of the name) of thermodynamics.
Internal Energy and Heat
A thermal system has internal energy, which is the sum of the microscopic energies of the system. This includes thermal energy, which is associated with the mechanical energies of its molecules and which is proportional to the system’s temperature. As we saw earlier in this chapter, if two objects at different temperatures are brought into contact with each other, energy is transferred from the hotter to the colder object until the bodies reach thermal equilibrium (that is, they are at the same temperature). No work is done by either object because no force acts through a distance (as we discussed in Work and Kinetic Energy). These observations reveal that heat is energy transferred spontaneously due to a temperature difference. Figure 1.9 shows an example of heat transfer.
The meaning of “heat” in physics is different from its ordinary meaning. For example, in conversation, we may say “the heat was unbearable,” but in physics, we would say that the temperature was high. Heat is a form of energy flow, whereas temperature is not. Incidentally, humans are sensitive to heat flow rather than to temperature.
Since heat is a form of energy, its SI unit is the joule (J). Another common unit of energy often used for heat is the calorie (cal), defined as the energy needed to change the temperature of 1.00 g of water by —specifically, between and , since there is a slight temperature dependence. Also commonly used is the kilocalorie (kcal), which is the energy needed to change the temperature of 1.00 kg of water by . Since mass is most often specified in kilograms, the kilocalorie is convenient. Confusingly, food calories (sometimes called “big calories,” abbreviated Cal) are actually kilocalories, a fact not easily determined from package labeling.
Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
It is also possible to change the temperature of a substance by doing work, which transfers energy into or out of a system. This realization helped establish that heat is a form of energy. James Prescott Joule (1818–1889) performed many experiments to establish the mechanical equivalent of heat—the work needed to produce the same effects as heat transfer. In the units used for these two quantities, the value for this equivalence is
We consider this equation to represent the conversion between two units of energy. (Other numbers that you may see refer to calories defined for temperature ranges other than to .)
Figure 1.10 shows one of Joule’s most famous experimental setups for demonstrating that work and heat can produce the same effects and measuring the mechanical equivalent of heat. It helped establish the principle of conservation of energy. Gravitational potential energy (U) was converted into kinetic energy (K), and then randomized by viscosity and turbulence into increased average kinetic energy of atoms and molecules in the system, producing a temperature increase. Joule’s contributions to thermodynamics were so significant that the SI unit of energy was named after him.
Increasing internal energy by heat transfer gives the same result as increasing it by doing work. Therefore, although a system has a well-defined internal energy, we cannot say that it has a certain “heat content” or “work content.” A well-defined quantity that depends only on the current state of the system, rather than on the history of that system, is known as a state variable. Temperature and internal energy are state variables. To sum up this paragraph, heat and work are not state variables.
Incidentally, increasing the internal energy of a system does not necessarily increase its temperature. As we’ll see in the next section, the temperature does not change when a substance changes from one phase to another. An example is the melting of ice, which can be accomplished by adding heat or by doing frictional work, as when an ice cube is rubbed against a rough surface.
Temperature Change and Heat Capacity
We have noted that heat transfer often causes temperature change. Experiments show that with no phase change and no work done on or by the system, the transferred heat is typically directly proportional to the change in temperature and to the mass of the system, to a good approximation. (Below we show how to handle situations where the approximation is not valid.) The constant of proportionality depends on the substance and its phase, which may be gas, liquid, or solid. We omit discussion of the fourth phase, plasma, because although it is the most common phase in the universe, it is rare and short-lived on Earth.
We can understand the experimental facts by noting that the transferred heat is the change in the internal energy, which is the total energy of the molecules. Under typical conditions, the total kinetic energy of the molecules is a constant fraction of the internal energy (for reasons and with exceptions that we’ll see in the next chapter). The average kinetic energy of a molecule is proportional to the absolute temperature. Therefore, the change in internal energy of a system is typically proportional to the change in temperature and to the number of molecules, N. Mathematically, The dependence on the substance results in large part from the different masses of atoms and molecules. We are considering its heat capacity in terms of its mass, but as we will see in the next chapter, in some cases, heat capacities per molecule are similar for different substances. The dependence on substance and phase also results from differences in the potential energy associated with interactions between atoms and molecules.
A practical approximation for the relationship between heat transfer and temperature change is:
where Q is the symbol for heat transfer (“quantity of heat”), m is the mass of the substance, and is the change in temperature. The symbol c stands for the specific heat (also called “specific heat capacity”) and depends on the material and phase. In the SI system, the specific heat is numerically equal to the amount of heat necessary to change the temperature of kg of mass by . The SI unit for specific heat is or . (Recall that the temperature change is the same in units of kelvin and degrees Celsius.)
Values of specific heat must generally be measured, because there is no simple way to calculate them precisely. Table 1.3 lists representative values of specific heat for various substances. We see from this table that the specific heat of water is five times that of glass and 10 times that of iron, which means that it takes five times as much heat to raise the temperature of water a given amount as for glass, and 10 times as much as for iron. In fact, water has one of the largest specific heats of any material, which is important for sustaining life on Earth.
The specific heats of gases depend on what is maintained constant during the heating—typically either the volume or the pressure. In the table, the first specific heat value for each gas is measured at constant volume, and the second (in parentheses) is measured at constant pressure. We will return to this topic in the chapter on the kinetic theory of gases.
|Specific Heat (c)
|Concrete, granite (average)
|Human body (average at )
|Ice (average, )
In general, specific heat also depends on temperature. Thus, a precise definition of c for a substance must be given in terms of an infinitesimal change in temperature. To do this, we note that and replace with d:
Except for gases, the temperature and volume dependence of the specific heat of most substances is weak at normal temperatures. Therefore, we will generally take specific heats to be constant at the values given in the table.
Calculating the Required HeatA 0.500-kg aluminum pan on a stove and 0.250 L of water in it are heated from to . (a) How much heat is required? What percentage of the heat is used to raise the temperature of (b) the pan and (c) the water?
StrategyWe can assume that the pan and the water are always at the same temperature. When you put the pan on the stove, the temperature of the water and that of the pan are increased by the same amount. We use the equation for the heat transfer for the given temperature change and mass of water and aluminum. The specific heat values for water and aluminum are given in Table 1.3.
- Calculate the temperature difference:
- Calculate the mass of water. Because the density of water is , 1 L of water has a mass of 1 kg, and the mass of 0.250 L of water is .
- Calculate the heat transferred to the water. Use the specific heat of water in Table 1.3:
- Calculate the heat transferred to the aluminum. Use the specific heat for aluminum in Table 1.3:
- Find the total transferred heat:
SignificanceIn this example, the heat transferred to the water is more than the aluminum pan. Although the mass of the pan is twice that of the water, the specific heat of water is over four times that of aluminum. Therefore, it takes a bit more than twice as much heat to achieve the given temperature change for the water as for the aluminum pan.
Example 1.6 illustrates a temperature rise caused by doing work. (The result is the same as if the same amount of energy had been added with a blowtorch instead of mechanically.)
Calculating the Temperature Increase from the Work Done on a SubstanceTruck brakes used to control speed on a downhill run do work, converting gravitational potential energy into increased internal energy (higher temperature) of the brake material (Figure 1.11). This conversion prevents the gravitational potential energy from being converted into kinetic energy of the truck. Since the mass of the truck is much greater than that of the brake material absorbing the energy, the temperature increase may occur too fast for sufficient heat to transfer from the brakes to the environment; in other words, the brakes may overheat.
Calculate the temperature increase of 10 kg of brake material with an average specific heat of if the material retains 10% of the energy from a 10,000-kg truck descending 75.0 m (in vertical displacement) at a constant speed.
StrategyWe calculate the gravitational potential energy (Mgh) that the entire truck loses in its descent, equate it to the increase in the brakes’ internal energy, and then find the temperature increase produced in the brake material alone.
SolutionFirst we calculate the change in gravitational potential energy as the truck goes downhill:
Because the kinetic energy of the truck does not change, conservation of energy tells us the lost potential energy is dissipated, and we assume that 10% of it is transferred to internal energy of the brakes, so take . Then we calculate the temperature change from the heat transferred, using
where m is the mass of the brake material. Insert the given values to find
SignificanceIf the truck had been traveling for some time, then just before the descent, the brake temperature would probably be higher than the ambient temperature. The temperature increase in the descent would likely raise the temperature of the brake material very high, so this technique is not practical. Instead, the truck would use the technique of engine braking. A different idea underlies the recent technology of hybrid and electric cars, where mechanical energy (kinetic and gravitational potential energy) is converted by the brakes into electrical energy in the battery, a process called regenerative braking.
In a common kind of problem, objects at different temperatures are placed in contact with each other but isolated from everything else, and they are allowed to come into equilibrium. A container that prevents heat transfer in or out is called a calorimeter, and the use of a calorimeter to make measurements (typically of heat or specific heat capacity) is called calorimetry.
We will use the term “calorimetry problem” to refer to any problem in which the objects concerned are thermally isolated from their surroundings. An important idea in solving calorimetry problems is that during a heat transfer between objects isolated from their surroundings, the heat gained by the colder object must equal the heat lost by the hotter object, due to conservation of energy:
We express this idea by writing that the sum of the heats equals zero because the heat gained is usually considered positive; the heat lost, negative.
Calculating the Final Temperature in CalorimetrySuppose you pour 0.250 kg of water (about a cup) into a 0.500-kg aluminum pan off the stove with a temperature of . Assume no heat transfer takes place to anything else: The pan is placed on an insulated pad, and heat transfer to the air is neglected in the short time needed to reach equilibrium. Thus, this is a calorimetry problem, even though no isolating container is specified. Also assume that a negligible amount of water boils off. What is the temperature when the water and pan reach thermal equilibrium?
StrategyOriginally, the pan and water are not in thermal equilibrium: The pan is at a higher temperature than the water. Heat transfer restores thermal equilibrium once the water and pan are in contact; it stops once thermal equilibrium between the pan and the water is achieved. The heat lost by the pan is equal to the heat gained by the water—that is the basic principle of calorimetry.
- Use the equation for heat transfer to express the heat transferred from the pan in terms of the mass of the pan, the specific heat of aluminum, the initial temperature of the pan, and the final temperature:
- Express the heat gained by the water in terms of the mass of the water, the specific heat of water, the initial temperature of the water, and the final temperature:
- Note that and and that as stated above, they must sum to zero:
- Bring all terms involving on the left hand side and all other terms on the right hand side. Solving for
and insert the numerical values:
SignificanceWhy is the final temperature so much closer to than to ? The reason is that water has a greater specific heat than most common substances and thus undergoes a smaller temperature change for a given heat transfer. A large body of water, such as a lake, requires a large amount of heat to increase its temperature appreciably. This explains why the temperature of a lake stays relatively constant during the day even when the temperature change of the air is large. However, the water temperature does change over longer times (e.g., summer to winter).
If 25 kJ is necessary to raise the temperature of a rock from how much heat is necessary to heat the rock from ?
Temperature-Dependent Heat CapacityAt low temperatures, the specific heats of solids are typically proportional to . The first understanding of this behavior was due to the Dutch physicist Peter Debye, who in 1912, treated atomic oscillations with the quantum theory that Max Planck had recently used for radiation. For instance, a good approximation for the specific heat of salt, NaCl, is The constant 321 K is called the Debye temperature of NaCl, and the formula works well when Using this formula, how much heat is required to raise the temperature of 24.0 g of NaCl from 5 K to 15 K?
SolutionBecause the heat capacity depends on the temperature, we need to use the equation
We solve this equation for Q by integrating both sides:
Then we substitute the given values in and evaluate the integral: | <urn:uuid:cb9cf0d9-82b2-45d6-88e5-97dde8d217af> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-2/pages/1-4-heat-transfer-specific-heat-and-calorimetry | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.937901 | 3,381 | 3.890625 | 4 |
Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy
As the world becomes more aware of the environmental impact of traditional forms of energy, solar energy has emerged as a clean and sustainable alternative. Solar energy, which is derived from the sun’s rays, has numerous environmental benefits that make it an attractive option for individuals, businesses, and governments alike. Here are the environmental benefits of solar energy.
Solar Energy Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is the largest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. This makes solar energy an excellent alternative for generating electricity because it is a clean and renewable source of power.
Unlike coal and natural gas, solar power doesn’t produce any harmful emissions, such as carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change. These not only harm our natural environment, but also put human lives and communities at risk.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) , a typical solar system installed in a US household can reduce carbon emissions by 3-4 tons annually. That’s like planting 100 trees every year. Larger commercial and utility-scale solar systems can reduce even more carbon emissions, making a greater impact on the environment.
It Helps Conserve Water
Many individuals around the world rely on natural water reservoirs, like lakes, rivers, and groundwater aquifers, for freshwater. Unfortunately, climate change is causing many of these resources to dry up which can negatively impact both humans and the environment.
The use of solar power can help us conserve this natural resource as it requires zero to little water as compared to traditional power plants that require large volumes of water to generate electricity.
Solar Reduces Air Pollution
One of the major benefits of using solar power is that it doesn’t release harmful substances such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter into the atmosphere, unlike fossil fuels. These emissions have been linked to serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems in humans and can also cause environmental damage.
For instance, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are two of the main pollutants produced by the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil. When these substances are released into the atmosphere, they can react with other compounds to form acid rain, which can damage crops, forests, and bodies of water. Particulate matter, on the other hand, can cause health issues.
Making the Switch to Solar Energy
Growing environmental and climate concerns are driving more people to solar power, which is a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional power. By investing in solar power, homeowners and businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and help preserve the planet for many generations to come. Sun Services USA is a leading solar power provider that can help you make that transition, and you can get started by requesting a free quote which you’ll receive within 1 business day. | <urn:uuid:9cc57633-eb9e-44f4-b7ef-63c2025d915e> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://sunservicesusa.com/solar/benefits-of-solar/environmental-benefits-of-solar-energy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.943644 | 582 | 3.578125 | 4 |
In the day and age where children can name more celebrities and series over fruits and trees, it is not just a necessity but an imperative for us to educate ourselves about the environment and its functionality. So today we pick wetlands, not just because today, 2nd February is observed as World Wetlands Day but also because our nation is finally taking the long pending efforts to conserve its wetlands.
Wetlands are more than Mangroves
Mangroves have been much talked about and discussed for them to be very famous amongst everyone, but they are merely a part of an ecosystem called wetlands. The most saturated part of land, in which water is the primary factor controlling the environment of human, plant and animal lives are all wetlands. From lakes to mangroves to even man-made salt pans, wetlands are unique ecosystems that serve as a vital link between land and water. They play a crucial role in maintaining a balance in nature by providing a habitat for diverse plant and animal species. Additionally, wetlands act as natural sponges, absorbing excess rainwater and preventing flooding in surrounding areas. These areas also act as water purifiers, ensuring the water we use is clean and safe. Even though wetlands cover only 6% of earth, they inhabit around 40% of plants and animals.
India’s Kidneys in Danger
Wetlands, often referred to as the Earth’s kidneys, are facing a severe threat in India according to WWF India (World Wide Fund for Nature-India). Despite their crucial ecological role, many wetlands in the country are endangered due to human activities, urbanisation, and climate change. Encroachment, pollution from industrial and domestic sources, and unsustainable land-use practices have significantly degraded these vital ecosystems. Wetlands play a pivotal role in maintaining water balance by storing and regulating water flow. The loss of wetlands exacerbates water scarcity issues in various regions. Climate change further intensifies the challenges, with rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns affecting the health and resilience of wetland ecosystems.
Threatened Wetlands in India
Chilika Lake, Odisha: Asia’s largest brackish water lake faces threats from agricultural runoff, overfishing, and industrial pollution, endangering its biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities.
Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir: Urbanisation and improper waste management have led to the deterioration of Dal Lake, impacting its water quality and ecosystem health.
Asan Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand: This wetland is under threat due to habitat destruction and encroachment, posing a risk to the unique biodiversity it supports.
What is India Doing?
India was a part of the Ramsar Convention, held in Iran’s Ramsar city back in the early 70s. They set the framework for conservation of wetlands and India in a desperate effort to conserve its wetlands is listing it in the Ramsar List. With 80 wetlands already recognised in this list the latest 5 have been added just few days before the World Wetlands Day celebrations slated to happen at Madhya Pradesh, Indore’s Sirpur Lake. The five newly listed wetlands are – Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Aghanashini Estuary, Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve from Karnataka and Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest from Tamil Nadu. Out of the 80 listed wetlands in India, the maximum sites come from the state of Tamil Nadu (16 sites), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).
The Ramsar Convention recognises the ecological importance of different wetland types and emphasises their value in terms of biodiversity, water resources, and overall environmental health. Therefore, both broader wetland ecosystems and specific components like marshes and swamps are considered within the scope of the Ramsar Convention. The goal is to protect and sustainably manage these diverse wetland environments for the benefit of present and future generations.
The endangerment of wetlands in India is a pressing environmental issue that requires immediate attention and action. The loss of these vital ecosystems not only affects biodiversity but also contributes to water scarcity and climate change challenges. Through concerted efforts, it is possible to reverse the damage and ensure the sustainability of India’s wetlands for future generations. | <urn:uuid:3cc189b2-3c7e-4aaa-900b-044fcc05e308> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://thecsrjournal.in/indian-wetlands-get-globally-listed/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.93694 | 858 | 3.734375 | 4 |
The European hedgehog is one of our most beloved mammals, but populations have declined dramatically in recent years. To combat this, researchers and conservationists have launched various projects to monitor hedgehog populations, to inform initiatives to protect hedgehogs in the wild. These include “The Danish Hedgehog Project”, a citizen science project led by Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen.
During 2016, The Danish Hedgehog Project asked Danish citizens to collect any dead hedgehogs they found to better understand how long individual Danish hedgehogs typically lived for. Over 400 volunteers collected an astonishing 697 dead hedgehogs originating from all over Denmark, with a roughly 50/50 split from urban and rural areas.
The world’s oldest hedgehog
The research team determined the age of the dead hedgehogs by counting growth lines in thin sections of the hedgehogs’ jawbones – a method similar to counting year rings in trees. During hibernation, bone growth is reduced markedly or even stopped. This causes the bone to become denser, resulting in growth lines where one line represents one hibernation.
The results showed that the oldest hedgehog in the sample was 16 years old - the oldest scientifically documented European hedgehog ever found, and 7 years older than the previous record holder, which lived for 9 years. Two other individuals lived for 13 and 11 years respectively.
But despite these long-lived individuals, the average age of the hedgehogs was only around two years, and about a third (30%) of the hedgehogs died at or before the age of one year. Over half had been killed when crossing roads, others at a hedgehog rehabilitation centre (for instance, following a dog attack) or of natural causes in the wild.
The research also showed that male hedgehogs in general lived longer than females, which is uncommon in mammals. Male hedgehogs were also more frequently killed in traffic, especially in rural areas and during the month of July, which is the peak of the mating season for hedgehogs in Denmark. Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen said:
The tendency for males to outlive females is likely caused by the fact that it is simply easier being a male hedgehog. Hedgehogs are not territorial, which means that the males rarely fight. And the females are raising their offspring alone. Sadly, many hedgehogs are killed in traffic each year, especially during the mating season in the summer, as the hedgehogs are walking long distances and are crossing more roads in their search for mates.
Inbreeding does not appear to affect longevity in hedgehogs
The researchers also took tissue samples to investigate whether the degree of inbreeding influenced how long European hedgehogs live for. Inbreeding can reduce the fitness of a population by allowing hereditary, and potentially lethal, health conditions to be passed on between generations. Surprisingly, the results showed that inbreeding did not seem to reduce the expected lifespan of the hedgehogs. Dr Rasmussen said:
Sadly, many species of wildlife are in decline, which often results in increased inbreeding, as the decline limits the selection of suitable mates. Our research indicates that if the hedgehogs manage to survive into adulthood, despite their high degree of inbreeding, which may cause several potentially lethal, hereditary conditions, the inbreeding does not reduce their longevity. That is a rather groundbreaking discovery, and very positive news from a conservation perspective.
To read more about this research, published in Animals, visit: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040626. | <urn:uuid:356c9516-7628-4b96-bbb4-e84c1ba39d95> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.biology.ox.ac.uk/article/worlds-oldest-european-hedgehog-found-in-citizen-science-project | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.963627 | 721 | 3.78125 | 4 |
‘Kala’ can be termed as layer or sheathin the context of anatomy and structural understanding of human body. Locations, enumerations, examples, and clinical utilities of kala are described in ayurvedic classical texts like Sushruta Samhita, Sharangadhara Samhita and Ashtanga Sangraha. Kala can be noticed by their functions in the body. The primary function of kala is to hold, to support or to protect the body components (dhatu) and its related structures.
1 Department of Rachana Sharir, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
2 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
3 Department of Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
|Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
|Date of publication:
|May 18, 2023
The Sanskrit term ‘Kala’ means time, a small part of anything, a symbolic expression for sixteen, and a black or dark color as mentioned in Panini.
A specific tin coating procedure termed as ‘kalyalepa’ or ‘kalai’ is applied on utensils of brass and copper. ‘Kalai’ means white wash or tin. The main purpose of kalai is to prevent utensils from rusting and oxidization. It serves as barrier between food and utensils. Similarly, kala is a barrier between body tissues (dhatu) and organs (ashaya) in the human body.
Definition and development of kala
Kala is the innermost tissue/viscera (dhatu) lining that separates it from the inner cavity (ashaya). It can also be considered as an interface between them. [Su.Sa. ShariraSthana Dalhana 4/4]
The sticky substance (shleshma) between tissue and its lumen (dhatu and ashaya) gets digested by its own dhatwagni and converts into a thin sheath-like structure known as ‘kleda’.[SharangdharaSamhita Purvakhanda 5] The kleda or moisture present in between dhatu and inner cavity(ashaya), reacting to its heat gets converted into kala. Here, the term ‘kala’ refers to a small quantity of essence of tissue (dhatu) or tissue fluid (dhatu rasa) that oozes from it. It is similar with the liquid that oozes from tree after cutting. It envelops muscular tissue (snayu), mucus (shleshma) and serous layer (jarayu). [Ash. Sa. ShariraSthana 5/34]
For a better understanding of kala, it can be correlated with the section of wood, the thin layer that lies in between the core portion of a trunk and the outer thick bark of a tree. Similarly, the section on the fleshy part of the body reveals the internal structure of dhatu. [Su.Sa. ShariraSthana Dalhana4/6] The word ‘snayu’ refers to fibrous sheath, shleshma refers to the mucus membrane, and jarayuas a serous layer. Kala can be correlated with membrane, septum, sheath, layers of the body or cell membrane of each cell.
The topic of kala sharira is elaborated with different examples from the environment to illuminate the ideas and structure of kala. Intellectual visualization and comparative tools can be seen in the kala sharira description.
Number of kala
In samhitas, the total number of kala mentioned is seven. Only slight variation can be seen in their names. [Su.Sa. ShariraSthana Dalhana 4/4], [Ash. Sa. Sharirasthana 5], [Sharangdhara Sa Purvakhanda 5/6]. It is given in table no.1 :
Kala is thin, sheath like structure covered by mucus (shleshma). Anatomically, it is a thin lining of epithelium or mucus membrane (that lines the cavities of viscera) and endothelium (that lines the blood vessels, ducts etc). As the transverse section of the wood shows its innermost tissue separated from the cortex by a thin layer, the same way one can study the structure of kala is by taking a section of tissue (dhatu). [Su.Sa. ShariraSthana Dalhana 4/6]
Kala is differentiated as covered with ligaments (snayupratichhinna), the continuation of fetal coverings (jarayusantata) and coated with mucus membrane (shleshma veshthita). All these structures may or may not be necessarily present in each kala. Even one or two of the above-mentioned structures may be visible in the existing kala. This can be observed in cadaveric dissectionup to a certain extent. [Su.Sa. ShariraSthana Dalhana 4/7]
- Mamsadharakala: The first kala is mamsdhara kala. Within the mamsa dhatu, the network of vessels and nerves (sira&dhamani), tendons or ligaments (snayu), and capillaries (srotasa) are spread. To explain this structure, Sushruta correlated it with the lotus plant, as its stem and roots are firmly embedded in muddy water, similarly, branches of vessels, nerves, and capillaries are embedded in this kala [Su.Sa. ShariraSthana 4/7] [Ash SaSharirsthan. 5/35]. The mamsadhara kala provides anatomical support and forms the protective shield covering of all these delicate structures.[Su.Sa. ShariraSthana 4/7]
Mamsadhara kala includes the innermost layer of skin i.e., dermis (mamsadharatwacha), superficial and deep fascia, intermuscular septum, epimysium, perimysium, and endomysium.
- Raktadharakala/ asrugdhara kala: The second kala is raktadhara kala, which is found mainly in the blood vessels, sinusoids of the liver, and spleen. To elucidate this kala, a perfect simile is latex-yielding trees. If the branches of such trees are cut, we can see the milky sap coming out of them. Similarly, when the incision is given on the body, we can see blood oozing from it. From this, we can state that raktadharakala is located deep within the mams. [Su.Sa. ShariraSthana 4/9-10] [Ash. Sa. ShariraSthana 5/36].
The raktadharakala allows blood to flow through various blood vessels, capillary networks, and sinusoids in the liver and spleen. The tunica intima of blood vessels can be considered raktadharakala.
- Medodhara kala:The third kala is medodhara kala. Medadhatu is present in all individuals, in abdomen and small bones. While large bones contain bone marrow (majja). [Su. Sa. ShariraSthana 4/11] Sushruta identified bone marrow (majja) of two types: red bone marrow (saraktameda) is seen in short bones and yellow bone marrow (peetmajja) is seen in long bones.
Medadhatu is distributed all over the body, especially in the abdomen and small bones. Medadhatu of small bones is called saraktameda. It is red. That within large bones is called peetmajja (yellow). Similarly, the meda dhatu inside the skull bones and brain is called ‘mastulunga’.
Hence, medodhatu is present over the entire body, especially in the abdominal region in the form of omentum, mesentery, and mesocolon. It can also be correlated with the endosteum of the bones.
- Shleshmadhara kala: The fourth kala is known as ‘shleshmadharakala’. It is present in the joints, especially in movable joints (cheshtavanta sandhi). It is compared with the smooth functioning of wheel around its axis. The lubricant achieves this smooth function, allowing the wheel to move around its axis without friction. Similarly, the shleshma with shleshmadhara kala present in the joint facilitates their proper and smooth action. Thus, shleshmadhara kala prevents excessive friction and permits free and smooth movements. This kala can be correlated with synovial fluid and the membrane of the joints.
- Purishadharakala: The fifth Kala is purishdhara kala, also known as maladhara kala. In Sharangadharasamhita, this kala is called antradharakala. This kala includes the viscera surrounding the liver, the biliary apparatus (yakrutasamantat), and small and large intestines. The purishdhara kala lies in the large intestine (pakwashaya), predominantly in the caecum (unduka). This part separates fecal matter (mala) and chyle (ahara rasa). The primary role of maladhara kala is the segregation of water and other essential and non-essential materials. [Su.Sa. ShariraSthana 4/16-17]
This kala can be correlated with mucosal membrane of the gastro-intestinal tract.
- Pittadharakala:The sixth kala is pittadharakala. It receives all four kinds of food; ashita(chewed), khadita(swallowed), peeta(drinks), and leedha(licked) from mouth to the stomach. It retains the food until its complete digestion in proximal part of the digestive tube up to the ileum. Further, the digested food is propelled toward the larger intestine. This digestion and absorption of food in a given time is accomplished by pachakapitta in pittadharakala. [Su.Sa. ShariraSthana 4/18-19] The pittadhara kala site is between the stomach (amashaya) and the large intestine (pakvashaya). This part of annavaha srotasa is known as ‘grahani’.
This kala can be correlated with the epithelium of digestive glands, enzymes, mucous membrane of the digestive tube, its villi, and lacteals responsible for digestion.
- Shukradharakala:The seventh Kala is shukradhara kala, present all over the body of all living beings. Jaggery and ghee are present in the sugarcane juice and milk, respectively, but it is difficult to identify their presence. Similarly, the shukra is present in the entire body, and it can be understood only by its function. Semen is ejaculated through the male urethra during coitus. Shukradhara kala can be correlated with the inner lining of the seminal vesicle, ejaculatory duct, vas difference, epididymis and seminiferous tubule in the testis.
It is difficult to quote references to shukradhara kala in females as observed in Ayurveda texts. But it may be correlated with the development of anasthigarbha (boneless embryo) formed by ejaculation in females only. It is mentioned in Shukrashonita Shuddhi ShariraAdhyaya.[Su. Sa. ShariraSthan 2/49]
Importance of kala in the prevention and preservation of health
The primary functions of kala are protection, secretion, and absorption.
The epidermis and dermis layer of skin, superficial and deep facia, and intermuscular septa can be considered mamsadhara kala. These structures protect and envelop the underlining tissues, muscles, vessels, nerves, organs, glands etc.
The omentum, mesentery, and mesocolon are considered medodharakala. In contemporary science, the omentum is the policeman of the abdomen. Similarly, the medodhara kala works as the protective layer of abdominal viscera. And also, the endosteum and periosteum, the protecting layer of bone, can be correlated with medodhara kala.
The synovial membrane and fluid within the movable joint prevent friction during its movement and protect the articulating ends of bones.
The mucus membrane of the gastrointestinal tract protects the submucosal and muscular layer from hydrochloric acids and other digestive enzymes.
Similarly, the meninges, pleura, and pericardium act as shock absorbers and protect the vital organs, brain, lungs, and heart. Also, we may consider the endometrium and hyaloid membrane of the eyeball in this context.
The pleural fluid is secreted by the mesothelial cells of the pleura, the pericardial fluid by the serous layer of the pericardium, the peritoneal fluid by its serous layer, digestive juices and enzymes, cerebrospinal fluid secreted by choroid plexus, all these can be considered as secretions of various kala.
The arachnoid villi and granulation of arachnoid matter absorb CSF from subarachnoid space. Similarly, the digested food (chyle) is absorbed from the intestinal villi.
Preservation of health of kala and its treatment guidelines
In healthy conditions, the kala prevents our body from various disorders. A few examples are stated below,
- In intestinal perforation, the omentum seal that specific area, thus preventing the oozing of intestinal contents and avoiding further complications. The peritoneum protects abdominal viscera from various infections as there is the presence of abundant lymphoid follicles
- In partial splenic rupture, the peritoneum covers the affected area and prevents bleeding.
- The mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract has the specific peculiarity of profuse proliferation that helps to reduce the deepening of ulcers.
- The fibrous layer of pericardium prevents excessive expansion of myocardium and reduces the chances of cardiomegaly.
- The recesses of pleural cavity; the costodiaphragmatic and costomediastinal recesses provide dead space for lung expansion during inhalation.
- The synovial fluid nourishes articular cartilage and prevents its degeneration.
- The deep facia provides the additional surface area for the attachment of muscle fibers to increase muscle mass and strength.
- The hyaloid membrane in the posterior segment of eyeball contains vitreous humor. It maintains particular pressure that prevents retinal detachment.
- The gut flora maintains a healthy environment for better digestion and absorption.
- The innermost endometrium lining of the uterus shows cyclical changes that lead to forming a bed for the implantation and nourishment of the developing fetus.
Application of kala in agada tantra (forensic medicine and toxicology)
The snake poison successively attacks the seven kala and gives rise to seven poisoning stages. The patient's prognosis with the snake bite depends on the presence of toxin in the respective kala. [Su. Ka.4/39]
In the first phase, the poison vitiates blood, due to which it becomes black and hence causes blackening of skin and feeling as ‘ants are crawling on the body’.
In the second phase, it vitiates muscles, which gives rise to marked blackness, inflammation, and cyst in the body.
In the third phase, it vitiates fat which causes moistening of the bite site, heaviness of the head, and stiffness of eyes. In the fourth phase, the poison enters the thoraco-abdominal cavity. It vitiates dosha, predominantly kapha, which produces drowsiness, salivation, and weakness in joints.
In the fifth phase, it further penetrates bones. It vitiates prana and agni, leading to joint pain, hiccoughs, and a burning sensation. In the sixth phase, it reaches the bone marrow. It highly vitiates the small intestine (grahani) which gives rise to heaviness in the body, diarrhea, cardiac pain, and fainting. In the seventh phase, it enters into semen (shukra) and highly vitiates vyanavayu. It causes the discharge of kapha from minute channels, leading to breaking pain in the waist and back, loss of all movements, excessive salivation and sweating, and finally, death due to respiratory arrest. [Su.Sa.KalpaSthana4/39]
As the snake venom passes deeper into various tissues (dhatus) by piercing several kalas, the patient's prognosis become more and more critical.
In corelation with contemporary science the term kala can be corelate with various serous or mucosal membranes. Mamsadhara kala includes the innermost layer of skin i.e., dermis (mamsadharatwacha), superficial and deep fascia intermuscular septum, epimysium, perimysium, and endomysium. The raktadhara kala allows blood to flow through various blood vessels, capillary network, and sinusoids in the liver and spleen. The tunica intima of blood vessels can be considered raktadhara kala. Medodhatu is present over the entire body especially it is appreciated in the region of abdomen in the form of omentum, mesentery, and mesocolon. It can also be correlated with the endosteum of the bones.
Similarly the shleshmadhara kala can be correlated with synovial fluid and membrane of the joints. Purishadhara kala can be correlated with mucosal membrane of the gastro-intestinal tract especially in the region of large intestine. The pittadharakala can be correlated with the epithelium of digestive glands, enzymes, mucous membrane of the digestive tube, its villi, and lacteals responsible for digestion. Shukradhara kala can be correlated with the inner lining of the seminal vesicle, ejaculatory duct, vas difference, epididymis, and seminiferous tubule in the testis.
Future scope of research in kala sharira
From the treatment point of view, the knowledge of kala sharira proved to be of utmost importance as the site beholds the specific organ. It also reflects the effect on dhatu. Intestinal resection may lead to certain disorders, such as improper digestion and poor absorption of nutrients.Hence it may cause loss of bone density and affect physical and mental health. To reduce such complications, tiktakshirabasti(enema with medicated milk and ghee) may be beneficial. The various psychological disorders can affect the enteric nervous system closely related to pittadharaand purishdhara kala. So, in such cases, psychological consideration should be at its utmost priority. Hence it can be concluded that there is wide scope for research to study cellular changes at the level of kala with the use of modern technologies.
- Vaman ShivramApte. The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary. Bhartiya GranthaNiketan : New Delhi.page 342
- Available from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%81la#cite_note-FOOTNOTEDalal2011185-3
- History of Tin-coating of Metallic Utensils in India | INTACH Intangible Cultural Heritage | <urn:uuid:4322fcdd-931a-409b-b5da-aeadb0c995db> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.32.1/index.php?title=Kala_Sharira | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.878369 | 4,334 | 3.5 | 4 |
Common Name: Octopus
Type: Invertebrate Marine animal
Range: The giant Pacific octopus is common to the intertidal zone to depths of nearly 2,500 feet (750 m). Octopuses range from southern California, northward along the coast of North America, across the Aleutian Islands, and southward to Japan. you could see octopuses in the abundant waters of Costa Rica, Guanacaste waters as well as the crystal clear Tortuga Island to the Nicoya and Osa Peninsula as well as the Curu Wild Life Refuge.
Size: Their size can vary from 12 to 36 in (30.5 to 91.4 cm) according to the species.
Weight: It is weighing from 6.6 to 22 lbs (3 to 10 kg) according to the species.
Diet: Octopuses are Carnivore. The Octopuses feed mostly during the night, they feed fish and crustaceans. The Blue-ringed octopuses kill their prey before eating with a potent toxin that is injected with their bite.
Average life span: Octopuses have comparatively short life span, and several species have a life period as little as 6 months. Giant Octopuses of Pacific Giant might live for a longer period up to 5 years under suitable conditions. Males can live only for a few months after mating, and females will die soon after the eggs are hatched.
Habitat: The octopus inhabits in several diverse area s of the sea including coral reefs, and the ocean bed.
Breeding/Reproduction: The female lays eggs and carries them under her arms for about six months until they hatch. Once it occur the female dies. The female lays about 200,000 eggs. However, it may vary between species and individuals also.
Interesting Facts: All octopuses have 3 hearts, no bones, their blood color is blue. Octopuses have excellent eyesight. However, they can not hear, they can change color.
Octopus belongs to the order of Octopoda. They usually lives on coral reefs as well as open seas and the ocean floor. In the abundant waters of Costa Rica, you could see octopuses in the Guanacaste waters as well as the crystal clear Tortuga Island to the Nicoya and Osa Peninsula well as the Curu Wild Life Refuge. Others are seen in diving areas like Punta Gordo, Cocos Island and Isla Uvita as well as the Cahuita waters and Bat Islands.
These types of species have two eyes as well as eight tentacles or arms. Since they are cephalods by nature they are symmetrical in each side. This Octopus possesses a hard beak and a mouth. It was believed that these creatures don’t have skeletons so they can easily squeeze in tight places like in coral reefs. Each tentacles or arms have fleshy suckers. These helps then grab or hold their prey as well as help them hold into things. These eight tentacles were connected on the octopus body by a tissue called skirt. Each species of octopus differ in sizes. Some are just 2 inches long while other can go as long as 18 feet. It is studied that octopus have three hearts. One heart pumps blood for their two gills while the last heart pumps blood throughout their body. These species are deemed intelligent and malleable. In times of a threat from predators, this octopus can secrete black ink, and can immediately rush though the water. Also they can hide even to narrow coral reefs because they do not have skeletons. Depending on their moods and habitat they can change colors usually from pink to brown.
Octopus main diet includes small crabs, scallops, fishes as well as turtles, crustaceans, snails and other octopus. Usually they will use their tentacles to grasp their prey then bite them through their beak and inject paralysing venom while sucking their prey’s flesh out.
Today most octopuses don’t have declining number of population even though they experience habitat lost. Also octopus is hunted because some countries in Asia and Mediterranean consider them as delicatessen. Some species of octopus like the Giant Octopus is listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as endangered species. | <urn:uuid:0d21e8cb-ede9-4ecc-9dca-03ec975908c0> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.costaricajourneys.com/octopus/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.960731 | 886 | 3.59375 | 4 |
Last Updated on January 2, 2024 by Electricalvolt
Definition: The Series Magnetic Circuit refers to a magnetic circuit consisting of various parts made of different materials and with varying dimensions, all carrying the same magnetic field. To understand the concept of a series magnetic circuit, it is important first to understand the basics of what a magnetic circuit is and its reluctance.
What is a Magnetic Circuit?
The magnetic flux follows a certain closed path in a magnetic material. Thus, the magnetic circuit is a closed path that magnetic flux follows. It is similar to how an electrical circuit provides a path for the flow of electric current. Magnetic materials such as iron cores and coils are the components of a magnetic circuit. You can analyze the behaviors of a magnetic circuit using Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Law, which are applicable to electrical circuits.
Thus, a magnetic circuit is analogous to an electrical circuit, and magnetic flux is analogous to an electric current.
You may read this article to learn more about– Magnetic circuit
What is a Magnetic Reluctance?
The property of the materials and components in a magnetic circuit that offers opposition to the establishment of magnetic flux is known as magnetic reluctance. Magnetic reluctance is analogous to electrical resistance in an electrical circuit. The reluctance of the magnetic circuit opposes the flux, and the electrical resistance opposes the flow of electric current.
You may read this article to learn more about– Magnetic Reluctance.
Series Magnetic Circuit Explanation
Let’s take a composite magnetic circuit made up of three types of magnetic materials with different permeabilities and lengths and an air gap with a permeability (μr ) of 1. Each path in the circuit has its own reluctance. The series magnetic circuit diagram is shown below.
Current I is passed through the solenoid having N number of turns wound on the one section of the circular coil. Φ is the flux set up in the core of the coil.
One section of the magnetic circuit has a circular coil with N turns. When a current I passes through the solenoid, it generates a flux Φ in the core of the magnetic material.
The total reluctance of the circuit is the sum of the individual reluctances of each path, as they are connected in series.
Putting the value of reluctance (S) from equation 1 in equation 2, we get
Since φ=BA, putting the value of flux(φ) in above equation, we get;
Putting the value of B from equation 4 in equation 3,
Procedure for the Calculation of the total MMF of a Series Magnetic Circuit
By following the steps below, you can calculate the total MMF in a series of magnetic circuits.
- List down all the magnetic elements in the series circuit. These could be cores of transformers, coils, or any other magnetic devices.
- Find the value of the different sections’ flux density (B). As we know, B = φ/a where φ is the flux in Weber, and a is the area of the cross-section in m2
- Determine the value of the magnetizing force (H). To determine the magnetizing force (H), we use the formula H = B/µ0µr, where B is the flux density in Weber/m2. The value of µ0 is absolute permeability, which is 4πx10-7. The value of µr is the relative permeability of the material, and if given, we can use it to calculate H. However, if the value of µr is not given, we can determine it from the B-H curve using the value of H.
- The magnetizing force(H) is obtained by multiplying the magnetizing force of each section, H1, H2, H3, and Hg, with their respective sections, l1, l2, l3, and lg.
- To find the total MMF of a series magnetic circuit, add the Hx l values of each section. The total MMF is.
It is essential for engineers and designers working on electromagnetic devices to understand series magnetic circuits. These circuits are crucial in optimizing the performance of magnetic components such as transformers or inductors. By considering the arrangement and properties of magnetic materials, engineers can design efficient and reliable systems that effectively harness the power of magnetic fields in various applications. | <urn:uuid:4e7a2700-9432-47b6-8919-1f526c967d32> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.electricalvolt.com/what-is-series-magnetic-circuit/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.906589 | 902 | 4 | 4 |
There are two types of cucumber beetles: the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) and the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi).
Both of these beetles primarily eat the leaves, flowers, and fruits of cucurbits, which include cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and melons. They can also feed on other plants like beans, corn, peanuts, and potatoes.
Here are some differences between the striped and spotted cucumber beetles:
- Spotted cucumber beetles feed on over 200 different plants, while striped cucumber beetles prefer cucurbits and rarely eat other plants. Striped cucumber beetles lay their eggs at the base of cucurbit plants, and their larvae feed on the roots of these plants.
- Spotted cucumber beetles, on the other hand, lay their eggs primarily on corn and other grasses. The larvae of spotted cucumber beetles don’t cause damage to cucurbit crops. After hatching, the larvae feed on root tissue for several weeks.
- The damage caused by the larvae may not be visible by looking at the aboveground foliage. However, if you try to pull up a plant and it comes out easily due to eaten roots, then you’ll know that there is damage. The larvae pupate in the soil for about a week and then emerge as adult beetles.
- Striped cucumber beetles are yellowish-green or orangeish-green with three black stripes on their backs. Spotted cucumber beetles are also yellowish-green or orangeish-green but have 12 black spots on their backs.
- Both beetles are about 1/4 inch in length.
Cucumber beetles are a significant concern as they can cause significant losses and can also spread diseases.
The adult beetles mainly feed on foliage, pollen, and flowers. However, if they feed on melon rinds late in the season, it can reduce the quality of the produce.
Cucumber beetles spend the winter as adults in protected areas such as plant debris, fence rows, or wood lots. They become active when temperatures start to rise.
The adults feed on plants and the females lay eggs in cracks in the soil near the base of cucurbits. The eggs hatch in a few days, and the larvae feed on the roots and underground parts of the stem. Pupation occurs in the soil, and the next generation of beetles emerges.
It takes about 40 to 60 days for these beetles to go from an egg to an adult.
Cucumber beetles eat the leaves, flowers, and fruit of the host plants. Their larvae feed on the roots and underground parts of the stems. If the beetle population is high, they can also feed on the stems of the plants.
These beetles damage cucurbit crops in three main ways:
1. Their feeding directly affects plant growth, and when they eat flowers, it reduces fruit production.
2. Cucumber beetles can transmit diseases such as mosaics and bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila).
3. The adult beetles can scar the fruit, making it less marketable.
Young cucurbit plants are particularly vulnerable to stunting and bacterial wilt disease, while damage to older plants mainly comes from fruit scarring.
Several insecticides can be used to control cucumber beetles, such as KINGCODE ELITE 50EC, LEXUS 247SC, SINOPHATE 750SP, EPITOME ELITE 500SP, PRESENTO 200SP, PROFILE 440EC, and PENTAGON 50EC. The recommended application rates are provided.
Non-chemical control methods
- Yellow sticky traps can be used to catch cucumber beetles.
- Beetles can be knocked to the ground and collected using a piece of cardboard placed under the plant. Alternatively, a handheld vacuum can be used to remove the beetles.
- Covering seedlings with row covers can help protect them, but the covers should be removed during flowering to allow for pollination.
- Planting resistant varieties whenever possible can be effective.
- Beneficial insects like ladybugs, green lacewing, and spined soldier bugs, which feed on pest eggs, can be introduced.
- Beneficial nematodes can be used to control immature stages of cucumber beetles in the soil.
- Removing garden debris after harvest reduces overwintering sites for the beetles.
- Rotating with non-host crops can help break the pest’s life cycle.
- Proper weed control is important as weeds can harbor pests.
- Planting resistant or tolerant varieties is another effective strategy.
When using any insecticide, it’s recommended to mix it with INTEGRA, a product that improves the efficacy of the insecticide. To prevent resistance buildup, it’s advisable to alternate between different insecticides throughout the crop season. Timely control of the beetles is crucial. | <urn:uuid:ce6cc5ea-5f8d-40da-bcb8-9e46958974aa> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.moibenconnections.com/cucumber-beetle/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.934195 | 1,026 | 4 | 4 |
Savanna hares live mainly solitary lives, though they sometimes form groups of two or three when eating. They have home ranges of 12 to 24 acres (5 to 10 ha).
Savanna hares use their senses of hearing, smell, and sight to avoid predators. These hares have a special pad hidden under each nostril that heightens their sense of smell. Their extremely sensitive hearing allows them to use subtle alarm calls, such as grinding their teeth or drumming their hind feet against the ground, to warn of approaching danger.
Active at night, hares scatter for cover when they are scared or startled. They cannot see directly in front of them, so when they run, they move in a zigzag pattern at speeds of up to 43 miles per hour (70 kph). To throw off their predators, they make sudden leaps to the side. This breaks up their scent trail, making it difficult for predators to follow. They will also hide in warthog dens or aardvark burrows.
Savanna hares, like many hares in Africa, are listed as a species of lower risk by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Humans hunt them for food and for their fur, but this hunting does not appear to threaten their populations. | <urn:uuid:858462b7-60bf-44c7-b9ec-6d9d439c1833> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.mpalalive.org/field_guide/view/african_savanna_hare | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.952067 | 262 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Nature works in its own ways. Sometimes it is gentle and for the rest, it can be cruel as well. Natural disasters are examples of such harsh behaviors of nature. Earthquakes, floods, droughts, tsunamis, tornadoes, etc. are a few examples of natural disasters. The first possible record of a tornado was in July 1643 that struck Lynn, Newbury, and Hampton in Massachusetts, United States, as per the documented record by the author David Ludlam. But do you know there are different types of tornados? Let us know more about what’s an isolated tornado and what does isolated thunderstorms mean. Do invisible tornadoes exist? Let’s find it out.
1. What is a Tornado?
A violently rotating column of air that is simultaneously in contact with the Earth (ground) and a cumulonimbus cloud is known as a tornado. However, in rare cases, a tornado may be connected to the base of a cumulus cloud. You know it by different names like whirlwind, cyclone, or twister. The term tornado was derived from the Spanish word tornado, which means to turn or to have turned. This word came from the Latin word tonare meaning thunder. (See How many Tornadoes in Tennessee per year?)
2. How are Tornadoes Formed?
When the mesocyclone (a vortex of air having a diameter of 2 to 10 miles inside a convective storm) comes below the base of the cloud, the cool and moist air from the lower regions gets absorbed by it. As the warm and cold air meets in the updraft, a rotating wall of cloud is formed. With the intensified updraft, a low-pressure area is developed at the surface pulling down the mesocyclone in the form of a funnel. This is how tornadoes are formed. The information about what’s an isolated tornado around the corner, so read on. (See How are Typhoons formed?)
3. What are Different Types of Tornado?
Depending upon the location and climate, there can be different types of tornadoes as mentioned here. Before moving toward what’s an isolated tornado, take a look at the basic categories of tornadoes:
- Multiple Vortex Tornados: It is the type of tornado that has two or more rotating air columns spinning about their own axes at the same time. They revolve around the same center. This phenomenon is commonly witnessed during an intense tornado.
- Waterspout: According to the National Weather Services, a waterspout is a tornado over water which is further classified as fair-weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts. Fair-weather waterspouts are less severe but very common. They have similar appearances of dust devils and land spouts. Tornadic waterspouts are strong tornadoes formed over water and across the water. They are faster, more intense, and have a longer duration.
- Land Spouts: It is also referred to as a dust-tube tornado, but it is not associated with the mesocyclone. They are like fair-weather waterspouts on land, hence named land spouts. They are weak, and short, with a smooth condensation funnel that does not reach the surface often.
4. What are Different Scales of Rating a Tornado?
The Fujita scales and Enhanced Fujita Scales are used for measuring the intensity and strength of tornadoes. Their strength is determined by the amount of damage they caused. Here is the list of rating scales for a tornado.
- Weak tornado: This tornado hardly damages trees, and on the scale, it is F0 or EF0.
- Strong tornado: This is stronger and damages trees, and vehicles, and blows off roofs. Its rating on the scale is F2 to F3 or EF2 to EF3.
- Violent tornado: It has a rating of F4 to F5 or EF4 to EF5 which means it can damage everything in its path.
- Significant strong/violent tornado: This tornado has the strength to rip off buildings from their foundations and even damage and deform skyscrapers. On the scale, its rating is F2 or F5 or EF2 to EF 5.
- Intense tornado: With a rating of F3 to F5 or EF3 to EF5 this type of tornado is a complete and utterly destructive force that can damage and wipe off entire towns.
5. What’s an Isolated Tornado?
Waterspouts or land spouts can be further categorized into different categories, one of which is an isolated tornado. Usually, when a tornado does not form within a violent tornado, it is termed an isolated tornado. (See In which Point the First Movement of an Earthquake occurs?)
6. Where do Isolated Tornadoes Connect?
An isolated tornado also connects the ground to the clouds in the sky, and they mostly connect with cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds. These tornadoes are intense and strong. They are powered by either of the clouds that are associated with storms and rainstorms. (See What Place in US doesn’t get Tornadoes?)
7. Where are Isolated Tornadoes Common?
Since you know what’s an isolated tornado, now note that an isolated tornado can occur in any place where there are cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds. However, Antarctica is the only region where there are no tornadoes, neither isolated nor other types. This is due to the absence and rarity of the cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds. (See Where Is The Eye Of The Hurricane?)
8. What is the Speed of Isolated Tornadoes?
The possible wind speed in an isolated tornado can be 150 kilometers per hour (93.20 miles per hour) or even more. There have been instances where the isolated tornadoes exceeded the speed of about 300 kilometers per hour (186.45 miles per hour). (Also read Is the Eye of a Hurricane Calm?)
9. What type of Sound is Produced by an Isolated Tornado?
Apart from reading the answer to the question – what’s an isolated tornado, get to know how it sounds. If you have witnessed a tornado, you must be aware that these violently rotating winds produce scary sounds. And an isolated tornado is not an exception in this because it can produce a sound that is below 20 hertz. The type of sound tends to change with the addition of objects and material to the vortex as the tornado travels from one place to another. (See What do Tornadoes Sound like?)
10. What does Isolated Thunderstorms Mean?
Since you are aware of what’s an isolated tornado, do you know what’s an isolated thunderstorm? A thunderstorm refers to a storm that is accompanied by lightning and thunder along with heavy hail or rain. There are different types of thunderstorms, and an isolated thunderstorm is one of them. A condition when there are light winds that do not change with increasing height along with moisture at the middle and lower levels of the atmosphere is referred to as an isolated thunderstorm. (See How are Hurricane and Thunderstorms Similar?)
11. What is Scattered Thunderstorm?
According to the National Weather Service, with all the other conditions remaining the same, the term scattered is used to describe a thunderstorm when there are 30% to 50% (about 0.01 inch) chances of measurable precipitation at a given location.
12. Do Invisible Tornadoes Exist?
Yes, invisible tornadoes exist sometimes even when there is a tornado you cannot see. Such a situation happens when there is no visible funnel that connects the ground to the base of the cloud. After learning about what’s an isolated tornado, get to know about another possibility of invisible tornadoes. There can also be a situation when the funnel is not visible, but you can see the dirt and debris rotating at the ground level. Must read about the 8 sand storms facts.
13. What is the Reason Behind Invisible Tornado?
The funnel of the tornado appears when there is condensation within the vortex as a result of the sudden increase and decrease in the temperature. According to weather experts, an invisible tornado happens to form when the pressure regulation, that is, the lift and drop of the pressure in the vortex of the tornado is too weak to cool and condense. This situation results in a non-visible funnel. However, another possible reason could be the dry air below the base of the clouds. (See What are the Top 10 Worst Hurricanes in U.S. History?) | <urn:uuid:2dc6bb34-b37a-448d-8148-f238284342fc> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.speeli.com/whats-an-isolated-tornado/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.94114 | 1,765 | 3.71875 | 4 |
To understand Scattering, let's do a Small Experiment
Let's take a Laser, and two glasses. One has Sugar Solution (Sugar + Water), and the other has just water.
While passing laser light through the glass, we observe that we cannot see the Ray of Light in both Sugar Solution and Water
Now, in Water, we add milk and Stir it
We now observe that we can see the Ray of Light in the Milk + Water glass.
This is due to Scattering of Light
The milk particles in the Second Glass are big enough to scatter light, and thus we see the Ray of Light in the 2nd Glass
Now, we can Define Scattering of Light
Definition of Scattering of Light
Scattering of light means throwing of light by particles in all possible directions
Did you notice that this Scattering of light is not done by all particles?
There are Sugar particles in the Sugar Solution, but they are very small... so they don't scatter light.
Whereas, the milk particles in Milk are big enough to Scatter light
Now, lets look at a few applications of Scattering of Light | <urn:uuid:18116650-ce59-4e8f-9c8b-8a5d40d7e175> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.teachoo.com/11061/3123/Scattering-of-Light/category/Concepts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.944436 | 234 | 3.875 | 4 |
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Radioactive decay?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is considered radioactive. Three of the most common types of decay are alpha, beta, and gamma decay. The weak force is the mechanism that is responsible for beta decay, while the other two are governed by the electromagnetism and nuclear force.
Radioactive decay is a stochastic (i.e., random) process at the level of single atoms. According to quantum theory, it is impossible to predict when a particular atom will decay, regardless of how long the atom has existed. However, for a significant number of identical atoms, the overall decay rate can be expressed as a decay constant or as half-life. The half-lives of radioactive atoms have a huge range; from nearly instantaneous to far longer than the age of the universe.
The decaying nucleus is called the parent radionuclide (or parent radioisotope), and the process produces at least one daughter nuclide. Except for gamma decay or internal conversion from a nuclear excited state, the decay is a nuclear transmutation resulting in a daughter containing a different number of protons or neutrons (or both). When the number of protons changes, an atom of a different chemical element is created.
There are 28 naturally occurring chemical elements on Earth that are radioactive, consisting of 34 radionuclides (six elements have two different radionuclides) that date before the time of formation of the Solar System. These 34 are known as primordial nuclides. Well-known examples are uranium and thorium, but also included are naturally occurring long-lived radioisotopes, such as potassium-40.
Oops something went wrong: | <urn:uuid:9c9e1bcc-a626-40ad-8ed5-3dfe88097f77> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Radioactive_decay | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474650.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226030734-20240226060734-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.926229 | 419 | 3.84375 | 4 |
BLACK HISTORY MINUTE!!! The Harlem Renaissance (1920)
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke. Though it was centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, many French-speaking black writers from African and Caribbean colonies who lived in Paris were also influenced by the Harlem Renaissance.
The Harlem Renaissance is unofficially recognized to have spanned from about 1919 until the early or mid-1930s. Many of its ideas lived on much longer. The zenith of this "flowering of Negro literature", as James Weldon Johnson preferred to call the Harlem Renaissance, was placed between 1924 (the year that Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life hosted a party for black writers where many white publishers were in attendance) and 1929 (the year of the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression).
The Harlem Renaissance was successful in that it brought the Black experience clearly within the corpus of American cultural history. Not only through an explosion of culture, but on a sociological level, the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance redefined how America, and the world, viewed African Americans. The migration of southern Blacks to the north changed the image of the African-American from rural, undereducated peasants to one of urban, cosmopolitan sophistication. This new identity led to a greater social consciousness, and African Americans became players on the world stage, expanding intellectual and social contacts internationally.
The progress—both symbolic and real—during this period, became a point of reference from which the African-American community gained a spirit of self-determination that provided a growing sense of both Black urbanity and Black militancy, as well as a foundation for the community to build upon for the Civil Rights struggles in the 1950s and 1960s.
The urban setting of rapidly developing Harlem provided a venue for African Americans of all backgrounds to appreciate the variety of Black life and culture. Through this expression, the Harlem Renaissance encouraged the new appreciation of folk roots and culture. For instance, folk materials and spirituals provided a rich source for the artistic and intellectual imagination, which freed Blacks from the establishment of past condition. Through sharing in these cultural experiences, a consciousness sprung forth in the form of a united racial identity. | <urn:uuid:0e6be283-6abe-42de-adad-bdc3bb978fa6> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | http://www.iammrwillis.com/2013/02/black-history-minute-harlem-renaissance.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.950419 | 475 | 4.3125 | 4 |
2019-03-27 17:28:56 • ID: 2089
The Long Prehistory of Quarrying and Mining
This is a Neolithic bifacial axe from Haute Silly, near Spiennes (Belgium), which is one of the largest Neolithic mining areas in the world, now registered in the UNESCO List. More information about the site can be found here: 1738
Interestingly this artifact is not made of the typical local Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) flint from the "Craie de Spiennes" formation.
Vermeersch et al. has distinguished several types of raw material procurement during the Paleo- and Neolithic:
- Incidental collecting of raw materials suitable for knapping.
- Intensive collecting of abundantly available raw materials without specific organized extraction strategies. These sites can be identified by the presence of huge amounts of waste materials (tested nodules, cores, rough outs, tools, blanks and knapped lithic waste material).
- Systematic quarrying of an area where raw material is abundantly present in a primary or secondary position. These sites can be identified by well delimited open-air features which were dug to quarry the raw materials.
- Underground mining resulting in the creation of subterranean structures intended for raw material extraction.
The oldest systematic quarrying sites are known from the Acheulean in India and Israel. The Isampur Quarry (ca 1,2 mya) is located in the Hunsgi-Baichbal Valley in the centre of India. Thousands of artifacts witness an entire manufacturing sequence, from extraction of the bedrock to the creation of finished handaxes and cleavers.
A complex Late Acheulian-Early Mousterian quarry landscape was discovered in the central Dishon Valley, Northern Israel. At Mt Pua, ca 1500 quarry debris heaps, each covered with flint nodules and prehistoric artifacts were detected. These activities show an unexpected high level of cognitive organization and behavioral complexity of early hominids during the Lower Paleolithic.
In the meantime, further prehistoric quaries have detected in Northern Israel. The excavators speak about an “industrial strip” and of its extraction and reduction complexes (Nahal Dishon, Mt. Achbara, and Sede Ilan), demonstrating that these production areas were used mainly for the manufacture of large‐volume items such as Lower Palaeolithic hand axes, Middle Palaeolithic Levallois cores, and Neolithic/Chalcolithic axes/adzes (Ben Yosef et al. 2019).
In addition a low concentration of the cosmogenic beryllium isotope 10 Be in artifacts of Tabun E and Qesem Cave gave strong evidence that the raw material during the Levantine Acheulo-Yabroudian was obtained rather from shallow mining, than from surface collection.
Underground mining is first documented during the Late Middle and Early Upper Paleolithic (OIS5-3) in the Nile Valley, related to the exploitation of chert in the form of cobbles (Nazlet Khater, Nazlet Safaha, Taramsa-1).
These findings evidence an advanced degree of planning and anticipation and of task subdivision and maintenance. Underground mining of flints, cherts, hornstones, radiolarites, and obsidian was a common activity during the Neolithic and continued into the beginnings of the Iron Age in Europe.
Mining during the European Neolithic was clearly triggered by a high demand for flint axe-heads and long blades (sickle blades, daggers).
Within certain networks, both utilitarian and non-utilitarian (prestige)-artifacts were transported over long distances.
In the Spiennes-Area, during the Neolithic, around one hundred hectares were to be exploited for good quality flint with thousands of deep shafts; some of them were dug down to a depth of 15-16 m.
They were narrow, at most 1-1.5 m wide. The area of underground exploitation is estimated to have been 40-50 m2.
Resources and images in full resolution:
- Image: 2022-05-12_20190328_neolithiqueaggsbach1.jpg
- Extern Link: www.flintsource.net…B_spiennes.html
- Extern Link: www.academia.edu…Flint_procurement_strategies_in_the_Late_Lower_Palaeolithic_recorded_by_in_situ_produced_cosmogenic_sup_10_sup_Be_in_Tabun_and_Qesem_Caves_Israel_
- Extern Link: www.academia.edu…The_Flint_Depot_of_prehistoric_northern_Israel_Comprehensive_geochemical_analyses_of_flint_extraction_and_reduction_complexes_and_implications_for_provenance_studies_Geoarchaeology_2019_1-23_
- Extern Link: www.academia.edu…Palaeolithic_chert_quarrying_and_mining_in_Egypt
- Extern Link: www.academia.edu…The_Acheulian_quarry_at_Isampur_Lower_Deccan_India
- Extern Link: http://www.minesdespiennes.org | <urn:uuid:e2373af1-1364-48b8-bf61-10d0c32761f2> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://aggsbach.fossilserver.de/index.php?Single&2089 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.909495 | 1,142 | 3.65625 | 4 |
State and Local Political Culture
The American political culture is a system of shared political customs, values, traditions, and beliefs (Leckrone, 2013). Political culture in the US greatly affects all political levels in the country; national, state, and international. Beliefs about social-economic life patterns form a major part of the political culture because politics affects the economics of the U.S societies. The Democrats and Republicans form the U.S political cultures, with Washington being ranked the most Democratic state and Alabama the most Republican state (Leckrone, 2013). The culture and behavior of people living in these states affect their political culture, and this will be discussed clearly in the essay.
The foundational idea of political culture is bestowed within the history of a state. The U.S states of Alabama and Washington histories get impacted by the people settled in the regions, religious backgrounds, cultural norms, and geography. The population of people living in Washington DC holds different beliefs and attitudes towards democracy from those held by the republican people in the Alabama state (Allcott & Matthew, 2017). The U.S.A constitution outlines the powers of different government officials on basis of political culture bias. The local political culture of Alabama and Washington DC states is impacted by the traditional, moral, and individualistic attributes of the population.
The political cultures of Washington and Alabama differ on various grounds. The state of Washington is primarily considered as a Democratic state with a “moralistic political culture” (Mikedurden, 2016). People living in Washington respect the government and portray it as the means of promoting social welfare and sustaining societal growth. The political culture of Washington DC calls for integrity and honesty by elected leaders and demands that government leaders fight and defend the general interests of all people (Mikedurden, 2016). On the other side, the political culture of Alabama State is more populist and conservative on the ideas of racism (Drew, 2017). The most essential desire for a politician in Alabama is popularity. The state’s political culture is more traditional and conservative, with their endless support to Republicans and their political ideas (Drew, 2017).
However, the states of Washington and Alabama’s political culture are common in various grounds. In both cultures, the citizens participate in politics and the voting processes. Participation in the election of governors, senators, and the Presidency is a democratic right for the two states and its rural areas (Mikedurden, 2016). In both, government expenditure is supported and praised for it helps in the promotion of social development and economic success. Also, the political culture of Washington encourages people to actively participate in the dictation of policies and laws of the state, and this is the similar pattern and case advocated for by the Alabama state’s political culture (Leckrone, 2013).
Lastly, the political cultures of Washington and Alabama greatly influence these states policing. In Washington, the representation between the federal government and the state level is properly constituted to help in policymaking. In both the federal and state level, the state is fully represented by ten and two representatives respectively. The political culture of the state requires the elected officials to serve in the interest of the people they represent. For Alabama, populism is the rule of the matter when it comes to state policing. For example, when passing an idea into law, a simple majority win is what is required to override most vetoes, and this is why the people support all ideas put forth by Donald Trump.
Allcott, H., & Matthew, G. (2017). Social media and fake news in the 2016 election. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 211-36. Retrieved from https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jep.31.2.211
Drew, P. (2017). The Alabamafication of America. Harvard Political Review, 1-15.
Leckrone, W. J. (2013). State and local political culture. American Political Culture, 8-22. Retrieved from https://theamericanpartnership.com/2013/12/18/state-and-local-political-culture/
Mikedurden. (2016). Political Culture of Washington State. Retrieved from The State of Washington: https://pos2112mikedurden.wordpress.com/2016/12/08/political-culture-of-washington-state/ | <urn:uuid:17f633c4-c57e-4c6a-8b2e-440d4d1f4c0b> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://domyclasswork.com/state-and-local-political-culture/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.932139 | 895 | 3.671875 | 4 |
Price and Quantity Demanded
While different variables play different roles in influencing the demands for different goods and services, economists pay special attention to one: the price of the good or service. Given the values of all the other variables that affect demand, a higher price tends to reduce the quantity people demand, and a lower price tends to increase it.
A medium pizza typically sells for $5 to $10. Suppose the price was $30. Chances are, you would buy fewer pizzas at that price than you do now. Suppose pizzas typically sold for $2 each. At that price, people would be likely to buy more pizzas than they do now.
We will discuss first how price affects the quantity demanded of a good or service and then how other variables affect demand. Because people will purchase different quantities of a good or service at different prices, economists must be careful when speaking of the “demand” for something. They have therefore developed some specific terms for expressing the general concept of demand.
The quantity demanded of a good or service is the quantity buyers are willing and able to buy at a particular price during a particular period, all other things unchanged (“ceteris paribus” in Latin).
Suppose, for example, that 100,000 movie tickets are sold each month in a particular town at a price of $8 per ticket. That quantity—100,000—is the quantity of movie admissions demanded per month at a price of $8. If the price were $12, we would expect the quantity demanded to be less. If it were $4, we would expect the quantity demanded to be greater. The quantity demanded at each price would be different if other things that might affect it, such as the population of the town, were to change. That is why we add the qualifier that other things have not changed to the definition of quantity demanded.
A demand schedule is a table that shows the quantities of a good or service demanded at different prices during a particular period, all other things unchanged. To introduce the concept of a demand schedule, let us consider the demand for coffee in Canada. The table in the figure below shows quantities of coffee that will be demanded each month at prices ranging from $9 to $4 per pound; the table is a demand schedule. We see that the higher the price, the lower the quantity demanded and vice versa.
The information given in a demand schedule can be presented with a demand curve, which is a graphical representation of a demand schedule. A demand curve thus shows the relationship between the price and quantity demanded of a good or service during a particular period, all other things unchanged. The demand curve in the above figure shows the prices and quantities of coffee demanded that are given in the demand schedule. At point A, for example, we see that 25 million pounds of coffee per month are demanded at a price of $6 per pound. By convention, economists graph price on the vertical axis and quantity on the horizontal axis.
A change in price, with no change in any of the other variables that affect demand, results in a movement along the demand curve. If the price of coffee falls from $6 to $5 per pound, consumption rises from 25 million pounds to 30 million pounds per month. That is a movement from point A to point B along the demand curve in Fig 3.1. A movement along a demand curve that results from a change in price is called a change in quantity demanded. Note that a change in quantity demanded is not a change or shift in the demand curve; it is a movement along the demand curve.
All other things unchanged, the Law of demand holds that, for virtually all goods and services, a higher price leads to a reduction in quantity demanded and a lower price leads to an increase in quantity demanded. The law of demand is called a law because the results of countless studies are consistent with it. Given the values of other variables that influence demand, a higher price reduces the quantity demanded. A lower price increases the quantity demanded. Demand curves, in short, slope downward, as seen in the graph above.
“3.1 Demand” in Principles of Macroeconomics by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. | <urn:uuid:f98ca02e-5d2c-4bfa-be2f-aa920ef77583> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/principlesofmicroeconomicscdn/chapter/3-1-demand/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.934879 | 879 | 3.984375 | 4 |
Today, non-renewable resources account for a large portion of the energy we utilize. This ultimately means that these resources will eventually exhaust. Additionally, a large portion of this energy contributes significantly to global warming by releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
As a result, we require alternate energy sources. As a result, we should think about the tidal energy advantages and disadvantages as well as the expanding importance of turning the tides’ movement into clean energy.
In addition to fossil fuels, the world also offers us various sources of renewable energy that we can use. In addition to tidal energy, this can also include sources like wind and solar energy.
Traditional energy has disastrous environmental implications. We need reliable, long-term solutions as a result, and tidal energy production appears to be a promising option for meeting our future energy requirements.
Table of Contents
What is Tidal Energy?
Tidal energy is a type of renewable energy that converts energy from the ocean’s shifting tides and currents into usable electricity. Tidal barrages, tidal stream generators, and tidal gates are a few examples of the various technologies that can be used to harness tide power.
All of these many types of tidal energy plants employ tidal turbines, so it’s critical to understand how a turbine can harness the kinetic energy of the tide to generate energy.
Similar to how wind turbines harvest wind energy, tidal turbines harness tidal energy. The turbine’s blades are propelled by the flowing water as the tides and currents fluctuate. A generator is turned by the turbine, which then generates energy.
Tidal Energy Advantages and Disadvantages
Tidal power has advantages and disadvantages of its own, just like any other form of energy. Here are the key benefits and drawbacks of tidal energy
Advantages of Tidal Energy
- Zero Carbon Emissions
- High Predictability
- High Power Output
- Produces Energy at Slow Rates
- Durable Equipment
Tidal energy is a renewable energy source, meaning that it doesn’t run out as it is consumed. Therefore, by using the energy that the tides produce as they change, you don’t reduce their capacity to do so in the future.
We can continuously use this renewable energy source to provide the energy we require, whether we are employing stream generators, tidal streams, and barrages, tidal lagoons, or even dynamic tidal power.
The sun and moon’s gravitational pull, which governs the tides, won’t disappear any time soon. Tidal energy is a renewable source since it is constant, as opposed to fossil fuels, which will eventually run out.
2. Zero Carbon Emissions
Tidal power plants provide electricity without producing any greenhouse gases, making them a renewable energy source. Finding zero-emission energy sources is more crucial than ever because they are one of the main contributors to climate change.
3. High Predictability
Currents at the tide line are very predictable. Because low and high tides follow well-established cycles, it is simpler to predict when power will be generated throughout the day. As a result, we can design systems that effectively use these tides. Putting tidal energy systems where we will observe the best energy yields, as an example.
Since the strength of the tides and currents can be precisely predicted, it also makes it simple to know how much power will be generated by turbines. The system’s size and the installed capacity, however, are substantially different.
This is due to the tides’ consistency, which the wind occasionally lacks. Tidal energy plants can produce a sizable amount of electricity, although the technology operates differently as a result.
4. High Power Output
Power facilities that use tides can generate a lot of electricity. Water is over 800 times denser than air, which is one of the main causes of this. This means that compared to a wind turbine of equal size, a tidal turbine will generate significantly more energy.
Additionally, due to its density, water can power a turbine even at low rates. So even in less-than-perfect water conditions, tidal turbines can generate enormous amounts of electricity.
5. Produces Energy at Slow Rates
Since water has a higher density than air, the tide can still provide energy even when it is moving more slowly. In comparison to sources of energy like wind energy, this makes it quite effective. Additionally, there is a chance that a wind turbine won’t produce any energy at all on a day with no wind.
6. Durable Equipment
Tidal power facilities can survive a lot longer than solar or wind farms. In contrast, they can survive up to four times as long. Tidal barrages are concrete fortifications positioned along river estuaries.
The lifespan of these buildings can reach 100 years. La Rance in France is an excellent illustration of this. It began operations in 1966 and has remained in operation ever since, producing clean energy. Compared to solar and wind energy equipment, which typically lasts 20 to 25 years, this is a good thing.
Additionally, dependent on efficiency, the equipment may degrade and eventually become obsolete. So, in the long run, tidal power is a better alternative from a cost-effective standpoint.
Disadvantages of Tidal Energy
- Limited Installation Locations
- Maintenance and Corrosion
- Impacts on the Environment
- Energy Demand
1. Limited Installation Locations
The proposed installation site for a tidal power plant must satisfy several strict standards before construction can begin. They must be situated on a coastline, which restricts the states that are along the coast as prospective station locations.
A suitable site must also fulfill other criteria. For instance, locations, where the height difference between high and low tide is sufficient to drive turbines, must be chosen for tidal power stations.
This restricts the locations where the power plants can be built, making it challenging to apply tidal power generally. Energy is currently difficult and expensive to deliver over greater distances. This is because many fast tidal flows occur near shipping channels and, occasionally, too far from the grid.
This is yet another obstacle to the use of this energy source. There is nonetheless hope that technology will advance and tidal energy devices will be able to be installed offshore. On the other hand, unlike hydropower, tidal energy does not cause land to flood.
2. Maintenance and Corrosion
Machinery can rust due to the frequent movement of water and saltwater itself. The equipment of the tidal power plant, therefore, requires routine maintenance.
The systems may also be expensive since corrosion-resistant materials must be used in their design. Tidal energy generation requires equipment that can survive constant exposure to water, from the turbines to the cabling.
The goal is to make tidal energy systems as dependable and maintenance-free as feasible because they are expensive and challenging to operate. Even still, upkeep is still necessary, and working on anything that is submerged underwater is more difficult.
The high initial expenses of tidal power are one of its main disadvantages. Because water has a higher density than air, tidal energy turbines must be far more robust than wind turbines. Depending on the technology they employ, different tidal power-producing plants have different construction costs.
Tidal barrages, which are essentially low-walled dams, are the main building material of the majority of the tidal power plants that are currently in use. Due to the necessity to install a large concrete structure as well as turbines, building a tidal barrage is very expensive.
One of the main reasons tidal power has been sluggish to catch on is the cost barrier.
4. Impacts on the Environment
Tidal energy is not entirely environmentally beneficial, even though it is renewable. The ecosystem in the immediate area may be significantly impacted by the building of tidal energy-generating plants. Tidal turbines experience the same problem with marine life collisions as wind turbines do with birds.
Any marine species that tries to swim across turbine blades as they revolve poses a risk of catastrophic damage or death. Additionally, they endanger aquatic vegetation by altering the structure of the estuary through changes in silt deposition. Tidal turbines also produce low-level underwater noise that is detrimental to marine creatures like seals.
Even more damaging to the surrounding ecosystem are tidal barrages. They not only result in the same issues that turbines on their do, but they also have an impact that is comparable to that of dams. Tidal barrages disrupt fish migration and result in flooding that permanently alters the landscape.
5. Energy Demand
While tidal power does generate predictable amounts of electricity, it doesn’t do so continuously. While the exact timing of the tidal power plant’s electricity production is known, the supply and demand for energy may not coincide.
For instance, tidal electricity will be generated at about noon if high tide is at that time. The morning and evenings typically have the highest energy consumption, with the middle of the day having the lowest demand.
Therefore, despite producing all of this electricity, the tidal power plant won’t be required. To maximize the use of the energy it generates, tidal power would need to be coupled with battery storage.
Utilizing the energy generated by shifting tides and ocean currents, tidal power converts it into useful electricity. Tidal barrages, tidal stream generators, and tidal fences are just a few examples of the various technologies that can be used to harness tidal power.
The key benefits of tidal power are that it is dependable, carbon-free, renewable, and offers a large output of power.
The main drawbacks of tidal power include the fact that there are few locations for installation, it is expensive, the turbines might hurt the ecosystem, and the power output does not always meet peak energy demand.
Tidal energy has the potential to overtake other energy sources as tidal power technologies and energy storage advance.
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A passion-driven environmentalist by heart. Lead content writer at EnvironmentGo.
I strive to educate the public about the environment and its problems.
It has always been about nature, we ought to protect not destroy. | <urn:uuid:0c391b21-a9bd-4f64-87bf-0bc268ed1452> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://environmentgo.com/tidal-energy-advantages-and-disadvantages/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.930887 | 2,123 | 3.640625 | 4 |
The FINANCIAL — IBM scientists have demonstrated a new approach to carbon nanotechnology that opens up the path for commercial fabrication of dramatically smaller, faster and more powerful computer chips.
For the first time, more than ten thousand working transistors made of nano-sized tubes of carbon have been precisely placed and tested in a single chip using standard semiconductor processes. These carbon devices are poised to replace and outperform silicon technology allowing further miniaturization of computing components and leading the way for future microelectronics.
Aided by rapid innovation over four decades, silicon microprocessor technology has continually shrunk in size and improved in performance, thereby driving the information technology revolution. Silicon transistors, tiny switches that carry information on a chip, have been made smaller year after year, but they are approaching a point of physical limitation. Their increasingly small dimensions, now reaching the nanoscale, will prohibit any gains in performance due to the nature of silicon and the laws of physics. Within a few more generations, classical scaling and shrinkage will no longer yield the sizable benefits of lower power, lower cost and higher speed processors that the industry has become accustomed to.
Carbon nanotubes represent a new class of semiconductor materials whose electrical properties are more attractive than silicon, particularly for building nanoscale transistor devices that are a few tens of atoms across. Electrons in carbon transistors can move easier than in silicon-based devices allowing for quicker transport of data. The nanotubes are also ideally shaped for transistors at the atomic scale, an advantage over silicon. These qualities are among the reasons to replace the traditional silicon transistor with carbon – and coupled with new chip design architectures – will allow computing innovation on a miniature scale for the future.
The approach developed at IBM labs paves the way for circuit fabrication with large numbers of carbon nanotube transistors at predetermined substrate positions. The ability to isolate semiconducting nanotubes and place a high density of carbon devices on a wafer is crucial to assess their suitability for a technology – eventually more than one billion transistors will be needed for future integration into commercial chips. Until now, scientists have been able to place at most a few hundred carbon nanotube devices at a time, not nearly enough to address key issues for commercial applications.
“Carbon nanotubes, borne out of chemistry, have largely been laboratory curiosities as far as microelectronic applications are concerned. We are attempting the first steps towards a technology by fabricating carbon nanotube transistors within a conventional wafer fabrication infrastructure,” said Supratik Guha, Director of Physical Sciences at IBM Research. “The motivation to work on carbon nanotube transistors is that at extremely small nanoscale dimensions, they outperform transistors made from any other material. However, there are challenges to address such as ultra high purity of the carbon nanotubes and deliberate placement at the nanoscale. We have been making significant strides in both.”
Originally studied for the physics that arises from their atomic dimensions and shapes, carbon nanotubes are being explored by scientists worldwide in applications that span integrated circuits, energy storage and conversion, biomedical sensing and DNA sequencing. Carbon, a readily available basic element from which crystals as hard as diamonds and as soft as the “lead” in a pencil are made, has wide-ranging IT applications.
Carbon nanotubes are single atomic sheets of carbon rolled up into a tube. The carbon nanotube forms the core of a transistor device that will work in a fashion similar to the current silicon transistor, but will be better performing. As IBM announced, they could be used to replace the transistors in chips that power our data-crunching servers, high performing computers and ultra fast smart phones.
Earlier this year, IBM researchers demonstrated carbon nanotube transistors can operate as excellent switches at molecular dimensions of less than ten nanometers – the equivalent to 10,000 times thinner than a strand of human hair and less than half the size of the leading silicon technology. Comprehensive modeling of the electronic circuits suggests that about a five to ten times improvement in performance compared to silicon circuits is possible.
There are practical challenges for carbon nanotubes to become a commercial technology notably, as mentioned earlier, due to the purity and placement of the devices. Carbon nanotubes naturally come as a mix of metallic and semiconducting species and need to be placed perfectly on the wafer surface to make electronic circuits. For device operation, only the semiconducting kind of tubes is useful which requires essentially complete removal of the metallic ones to prevent errors in circuits. Also, for large scale integration to happen, it is critical to be able to control the alignment and the location of carbon nanotube devices on a substrate.
To overcome these barriers, IBM researchers developed a novel method based on ion-exchange chemistry that allows precise and controlled placement of aligned carbon nanotubes on a substrate at a high density – two orders of magnitude greater than previous experiments, enabling the controlled placement of individual nanotubes with a density of about a billion per square centimeter.
The process starts with carbon nanotubes mixed with a surfactant, a kind of soap that makes them soluble in water. A substrate is comprised of two oxides with trenches made of chemically-modified hafnium oxide (HfO2) and the rest of silicon oxide (SiO2). The substrate gets immersed in the carbon nanotube solution and the nanotubes attach via a chemical bond to the HfO2 regions while the rest of the surface remains clean.
By combining chemistry, processing and engineering expertise, IBM researchers are able to fabricate more than ten thousand transistors on a single chip.
Furthermore, rapid testing of thousands of devices is possible using high volume characterization tools due to compatibility to standard commercial processes.
As this new placement technique can be readily implemented, involving common chemicals and existing semiconductor fabrication, it will allow the industry to work with carbon nanotubes at a greater scale and deliver further innovation for carbon electronics. | <urn:uuid:c363c451-a52b-4338-b13d-14ad2ad5ec78> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://finchannel.com/made-in-ibm-labs-researchers-demonstrate-initial-steps-toward-commercial-fabrication/33758/tech-2/2012/10/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.925984 | 1,238 | 3.8125 | 4 |
Plants need nutrients
Like us, plants need nutrients in varying amounts for healthy growth. You'll find 17 necessary nutrient elements that most plants need, including carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which plants get from water and air. The remainder 14 are extracted from soil but may have to be supplemented with fertilizers or organic materials including compost.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are needed in larger amounts than other nutrients; they are considered primary macronutrients.
Secondary macronutrients include sulfur, calcium, and magnesium.
Micronutrients such as iron and copper are important in smaller amounts.
Nutrient availability in soils
Nutrient availability in soils is a objective of several factors including soil texture (loam, loamy sand, silt loam), organic matter content and pH.
Clay particles and organic matter in soils are chemically reactive and may hold and slowly release nutrient ions you can use by plants.
Soils which can be finer-textured (more clay) far better in organic matter (5-10%) have greater nutrient-holding ability than sandy soils with no clay or organic matter. Sandy soils in Minnesota can also be quite likely going to nutrient losses through leaching, as water carries nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium or sulfur beneath the root zone where plants can't access them.
Soil pH is the amount of alkalinity or acidity of soils. When pH is the wrong size or excessive, chemical reactions can adjust the nutrient availability and biological activity in soils. Most fruits and vegetables grow best when soil pH is slightly acidic to neutral, or between 5.5 and seven.0.
There are some exceptions; blueberries, for example, need a low pH (4.2-5.2). Soil pH could be modified using materials like lime (ground limestone) to improve pH or elemental sulfur to lessen pH.
In general, most Minnesota soils plenty of calcium, magnesium, sulfur and micronutrients to aid healthy plant growth. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium include the nutrients most likely to be deficient and really should be supplemented with fertilizers for maximum plant growth.
The most effective way for assessing nutrient availability with your garden is to execute a soil test. A simple soil test from your University of Minnesota’s Soil Testing Laboratory gives a soil texture estimate, organic matter content (accustomed to estimate nitrogen availability), phosphorus, potassium, pH and lime requirement.
Your analysis will even feature a basic interpretation of results and offer recommendations for fertilizing.
There are numerous choices for fertilizers and frequently your choices might appear overwhelming. It is essential to recollect is the fact that plants use up nutrients by means of ions, and the method to obtain those ions isn't a element in plant nutrition.
For instance, plants get nitrogen via NO3- (nitrate) or NH4+ (ammonium), the ones ions may come from either organic or synthetic sources and in various formulations (liquid, granular, pellets or compost).
The fertilizer you ultimately choose ought to be based mainly on soil test results and plant needs, in both terms of nutrients and speed of delivery.
Additional factors to take into account include soil and environmental health along with your budget.
Common nutrient issues in vegetables
Diagnosing nutrient deficiencies or excesses in fruit and veggies is challenging. Many nutrient issues look alike, often multiple nutrient is involved, and the reasons behind them could be highly variable.
For example of items you could see inside the garden.
Plants lacking nitrogen will show yellowing on older, lower leaves; excessive nitrogen might cause excessive leafy growth and delayed fruiting.
Plants lacking phosphorus may show stunted growth or perhaps a reddish-purple tint in leaf tissue.
A potassium deficiency can cause browning of leaf tissue over the leaf edges, starting with lower, older leaves.
A calcium deficiency often leads to “tip burn” on younger leaves or blossom end rot in tomatoes or zucchini. However, calcium deficiencies tend to be not just a consequence of low calcium inside the soil, but are due to uneven watering, excessive soil moisture, or injury to roots.
Lack of sulfur on sandy soils might cause stunted, spindly growth and yellowing leaves; potatoes, onions, corn and plants within the cabbage family are generally most sensitive.
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Adrian Woll, with 1,400 Mexican troops marched north and occupied San Antonio on September 11, 1842.
As a colonel, Woll had been quartermaster general of the Mexican Army of Operations in Texas during the War for Independence. His advance came on the heels of an earlier foray north in March under General Rafael Vasquez which had prompted a Declaration of War from the Texas Congress.
However, Lamar was now out of office and Sam Houston was President of the Lone Star Republic and he refused to fight Mexico again. Nonetheless, when Woll took San Antonio, now the second time the city had been occupied, albeit briefly, since independence, the Texans responded with combative determination. A volunteer force of some 225 militia under Captain Nicholas Dawson and Captain Matthew Caldwell converged on the Alamo City. Dawson and his 52 men were intercepted by a Mexican force of some 400 soldiers at Salado Creek before they could join forces with Caldwell. Outnumbered and surrounded Dawson and his men made a gallant stand as they were cut to pieces by Mexican artillery. Although Dawson finally attempted to surrender, the Mexican cavalry charged in and slaughtered Dawson and 35 of his men. This became known as the Dawson Massacre and further enraged the Texans who, under Caldwell, managed to defeat the main Mexican army and send General Woll retreating back to Mexico as more Texan volunteers poured in.
The Texans were outnumbered 10 to 1 but proved to be more than a match for their enemies. In the firefight that ensued the Mexicans suffered 600 casualties while the Texans lost only about 30 men. Yet, despite their tenacity, the Texans were in an impossible position. Although they had won the battle, successful tactics cannot overcome a poor strategy. Alone in enemy country with no support, the Texans were soon out of food, water and ammunition. Ultimately, after talking with the Mexican commander, they agreed to surrender, but their troubles were far from over. They were marched to Camargo, then to Reynosa, then to Matamoras and then to Monterrey, all the while receiving the most brutal treatment. They were paraded before the local citizens to be mocked and insulted and were forced to eat dogs they captured along the way.
These 176 Texans faced a grim fate. President Santa Anna, who had never forgot his humiliation by the Texas army in 1836, ordered that all of them be put to death. Fortunately, this resulted in an outcry by the foreign envoys in Mexico and the Governor of Coahuila, Francisco Mexia, refused to obey the ghastly order. So, Santa Anna modified his decision, at least somewhat, and ordered every tenth man to be executed and the rest would be spared. To determine who would live and who would die, the Texans were to draw beans from a pot. A white bean meant life and a black bean meant death. Colonel Dominic Huerta, the Texans' jailer, chained them in pairs and blindfolded them. The officers were to draw first and there was no officer the Mexicans wanted dead more than the Scottish Texan Captain Ewan Cameron. It was no wonder why.
All those who drew black beans were to be shot the following morning. One of them was Henry Whalen who accepted his fate with defiance saying, "Well, they don't make much off me, anyhow, for I know I have killed 25 of the yellow-bellies". He also asked for a substantial last meal with the comment, "I do not wish to starve and be shot too". To the surprise of many, the Mexicans agreed and gave him a double ration. Then, at 6:30 in the evening of March 25, 1843 nine of the Texans were chained together and shot. After them, the final eight were also massacred in the same way. The executions lasted only 11 minutes but Henry Whalen had to be shot 15 times before he finally died. James L. Shepherd, who was only 17 years old, had been wounded but pretended to be dead until he had a chance to escape. Sadly, he was recaptured at Saltillo three days later and shot. In their thirst for vengeance the rules of the executions were not enough to save Captain Cameron either. Despite drawing a white bean, after the remaining prisoners began the march to Mexico City the brave Texan was shot on the morning of March 25 at Huehuetoca on orders from President Santa Anna.
During the Mexican-American War, Texas troops found the graves of their comrades at Hacienda Salado and returned them to Texas after the war. The bodies of those killed in the Dawson Massacre were moved with them to LaGrange where, on September 18, 1848, the sixth anniversary of the Dawson Massacre, they were buried with full military honors with numerous dignitaries, including Sam Houston, looking on. The Mier Expedition and the subsequent black bean incident have been remembered by Texans ever since as an example of Texas heroism and Mexican brutality along with the Dawson and Goliad Massacres and the desperate defense of the Alamo. May they never be forgotten. | <urn:uuid:0fa0c891-01e4-4d63-a38f-d13168d94c3b> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://madmonarchist.blogspot.com/2011/09/off-topic-tuesday-mier-expedition.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.987782 | 1,030 | 3.984375 | 4 |
For those living either north or south of the tropics, images of this green ring around the Earth’s equator often include verdant rainforests, exotic animals, and unchanging weather; but they may also be of entrenched poverty, unstable governments, and appalling environmental destruction. A massive new report, The State of the Tropics, however, finds that the truth is far more complicated—and much more interesting.
Starting with Aristotle’s misguided belief that no civilization could thrive in the tropics, the region—which covers around 40 percent of the world’s surface—has long been defined by views from the outside. But, according to the report’s co-author Sandra Harding, that must change.
“At a time of increasing concern about social, environmental and economic sustainability, a different approach is long overdue,” writes Harding, Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University. “It is time to recognize and acknowledge the tropics as a region defined from within, rather than without, to embrace the wisdom and experience of its peoples.”
Compiled by 12 institutions, the 400-plus page report attempts to explore the full region of the tropics, including demographics, health, science, economics, biodiversity, and climate change, among other issues. It finds that major changes are afoot in the region, including incredible population growth, rising economic importance, clashes over land-use, imperiled biodiversity, and worsening impacts of climate change.
Currently, the tropics are home to about 40 percent of the world’s population, but house the majority (55 percent) of children under five. Populations in the tropics—especially Africa—are growing at a much faster clip than in temperate regions. In fact, within 40 years, it is expected that more than half the world’s population will be in the tropics and a staggering 67 percent of its young children. According to the report, the region is expected to add another 3 billion people (or 42 percent of the world’s population today) by the end of the century.
Child in Gabon. The tropics are increasingly becoming the epicenter of the human population, already the region is the epicenter of population growth. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
“Because most of the world’s children will live in the Tropics by 2050, we must rethink the world’s priorities on aid, development, research and education,” Harding said. For example, it is estimated that around 467 million people in the tropics lived in slums as of 2001, representing 46 percent of the region’s urban population.
A booming population also means increased demand for food, water, and other natural resources internally, even while many of these resources are already exported abroad to temperate regions. Meanwhile, tropical economies are growing 20 percent more rapidly than in temperate region, yet the tropics is still home to two-thirds of the world’s population living in extreme poverty.
While extreme poverty has fallen in Southeast Asia and Central America, it has doubled in Central and Southern Africa since the early 1980s. Not everything, though, is gloomy.
“The prevalence of undernourishment in the tropics has declined by one-third over the past two decades,” reads the report, adding that “outcomes are improving rapidly for the majority of health indicators and for the majority of regions in the tropics.”
Life expectancy is on the rise in the tropics, while maternal and child mortality has been slashed in a matter of decades. Such changes could, in the long-term, also slow down population growth, since when women are ensured their children will survive they are less likely to have large families. Still, the region has not caught up to statistics in the temperate regions. Moreover, people in the tropics face especially challenging diseases rarely found in temperate regions such as dengue fever and malaria, which remains the biggest killer in many tropical countries.
Battles for land and the environment
Unbroken rainforest in Borneo. Rainforest destruction in Indonesia and Malaysia are now some of the highest in the world. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Growing populations—along with consumption—has led to new political and social problems, including increasing clashes over land-use. Local people and indigenous groups are struggling to maintain control over their traditional lands as corporations—often foreign—seek out more land to grow crops, raise livestock, or extract commodities such as timber, fossil fuels, and minerals. Land-grabbing, as it is known, has become a significant political issue in places like Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Kenya, and Cameroon.
At the same time, conservationists and environmentalists are fighting to preserve rainforests, coral reefs, and other vital ecosystems from destruction.
“The [tropics] hosts approximately 80 percent of [the Earth’s] terrestrial biodiversity and more than 95 percent of its mangrove and coral reef-based biodiversity,” reads the report.
In fact, the tropics—both on land and in the sea—are well-known as the world’s richest latitudes for species. For example, a single hectare in Yasuni National Park in Ecuador, which is imperiled by oil drilling, contains more tree species than are found in the entireties of U.S. and Canada combined. So, if the world is to preserve its biological wealth—and escape mass extinction—it must first safeguard ecosystems in the tropics.
Rice paddies in Laos. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
“The extent of primary forests in the Tropics is decreasing rapidly with associated increased risks to biodiversity. Rates of loss have seemingly slowed since the year 2000 in Central America, South America, Southeast Asia and Northern Africa & Middle East. However, they have increased in Oceania,” reads the report. “Furthermore, and disconcertingly, technological advances based on improvements in remote sensing suggest that losses may be under reported in some regions.”
Underlining these various trends, new research using high resolution satellite images has discovered that Indonesia has eclipsed Brazil in forest destruction for the first time. While Brazil has successfully curtailed—if not eliminated—deforestation over the last decade, forest destruction has only escalated rapidly in Indonesia largely for oil palm plantations, pulp and paper, and logging. This despite a much-ballyhooed moratorium on new logging and monoculture plantations.
On the plus side, tropical countries have set aside a higher percentage of their land as protected areas than temperate regions, yet parks in the tropics generally face more problems. Many are underfunded and understaffed. Illegal deforestation and poaching are so rampant in some tropical protected areas that conservationists have dubbed them “paper parks”— i.e., parks in name only. Another threat is that many tropical governments are opening up portions of their parks—or even entire protected areas— for logging, mining, agriculture, fossil fuel exploitation, and roads.
Into the oceans
The tropic’s marine resources are also facing unprecedented pressures. As with the tropics’ rainforests, the oceans in the region sport the world’s most species-rich ecosystems: coral reefs. Moreover, the tropics are home to the bulk of the world’s mangroves.
“Oceans comprise 76 percent of the tropics,” reads the report. “They are generally shallower and warmer than in other parts of the world, and also tend to be lower in nutrients hence support lower densities of marine organisms. However, although lower in overall fish biomass the tropics’ share of the overall global wild marine fish catch is increasing.”
But overfishing and destructive fishing practices has already depleted some species in parts of the tropics.
“Human population growth, particularly in tropical coastal communities, and increasing affluence, is forecast to further increase
pressures on marine fish stocks,” reads the report. Other threats include pollution, coastal development, plastic waste, fossil fuel exploitation, and, on the horizon, deep sea mining.
Mangroves in the forefront with karst hills in background in the Dominican Republic’s Los Haitises National Park. Photo by: Jeremy Hance.
Mangroves, one of the region’s most important marine ecosystems, are under siege. Although mangroves buffer coastal communities from tropical storms, provide important fish nurseries, and store vast amounts of carbon, these marine forests are being rapidly destroyed for aquaculture and development. Between 1990 and 2005, the world lost 19 to 35 percent of its mangroves.
“Mangroves are one of the more threatened ecosystems in the world,” reads the report.
Meanwhile, rising threats such as climate change and ocean acidification could lead to the ecological collapse of some systems and even mass extinction. For example, currently more than half the coral reefs in the region are listed as medium or high risk.
Into the future
One of the major challenges in the tropics is preserving biodiversity in midst of growing human populations and greater demands for natural resources and land. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
As with the rest of the world, climate change poses one of the biggest challenges to the tropics in the coming decades. More extreme weather, rising seas, changing precipitation patterns, and agriculture fallout could all imperil tropical communities. Experts fear that such upheavals could also increase the number of refugees and regional conflict.
Yet, climate change is also expanding the tropics into the once-temperate zones. According to the report, the tropics are marching north and south at the rate of about 38-277 kilometers every 25 years.
“Subtropical arid conditions may eventually be experienced in regions at higher latitudes which have historically enjoyed a more temperate climate…This has implications for management of water resources and agricultural systems,” said report co-author Jo Isaac. “However, some regions which currently border the equatorial zone may experience an increase in extreme rainfall, which could result in flooding, the displacement of communities and increased incidence of disease.”
Overall, the future of the tropics is one of rising influence and wealth, but also of struggles to eliminate poverty and hunger, improve health standards, preserve biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and safeguard resources for future generations.
“We began this project to try to reframe how people see the world—the report confirms the great potential that the tropics hold—arguably the future does belong to the tropics,” Harding noted.
Humans first evolved in tropical Africa before marching into the temperate zones. Since then many of the world’s most important civilizations rose and fell in the tropics, such as the Mayans of North and Central America. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
(07/07/2014) What does SOCO’s withdrawal really mean for the future of Virunga National Park? – Part II. Located in the eastern DRC, Virunga is the first national park created in Africa, a World Heritage Site and home to mountain gorillas, of which fewer than 900 remain. As such, SOCO’s announcement to suspend activities followed in the wake of a concerted campaign led by WWF to “draw the line” to save Virunga from devastation by prospective oil drilling.
(06/29/2014) Despite a high-level pledge to combat deforestation and a nationwide moratorium on new logging and plantation concessions, deforestation has continued to rise in Indonesia, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change. Annual forest loss in the southeast Asian nation is now the highest in the world, exceeding even Brazil.
(06/26/2014) Callenbach’s 1975 utopian novel Ecotopia became wildly popular among environmental-leaning folks, hippies, and progressive thinkers of the day. Set in 1999, the novel took place twenty years after Oregon, Washington and northern California seceded from the union to form an imperfect, in-process sustainable nation. For a book that has fallen mostly off the radar, certain aspects of Ecotopian society fall remarkably in line with research of Arun Agrawal, a professor of political science at the University of Michigan.
(06/26/2014) It took humans around 200,000 years to reach a global population of one billion. But, in two hundred years we’ve septupled that. In fact, over the last 40 years we’ve added an extra billion approximately every dozen years. And the United Nations predicts we’ll add another four billion—for a total of 11 billion—by century’s end.
(07/04/2014) In response to news that Indonesia has now surpassed Brazil as the world’s top deforester, the head of sustainability at one of Indonesia’s biggest forestry companies is calling for a new business model in how the Southeast Asian nation manages its forest. In a letter published Friday, Aida Greenbury, Asia Pulp & Paper’s Managing Director Sustainability, said Indonesia needs to take a more comprehensive approach to tackling deforestation.
(07/04/2014) How to best use Indonesia’s land resources? This is one of the more crucial questions facing the Presidential candidates in Indonesia’s upcoming elections.
(07/03/2014) Scientists at Stanford University recently unveiled a new modeling program that can predict the response of the environment to the land-use changes of human communities. Using their model, they found that natural resources can support humanity – up to a certain point.
(07/03/2014) Dr. Douglas Sheil considers himself an ecologist, but his research includes both conservation and management of tropical forests. Currently teaching at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) Sheil has authored and co-authored over 200 publications including scholarly articles, books, and popular articles on the subject.
(07/03/2014) “The Great Kapok Tree” was written by Lynne Cherry in response to the murder of Brazilian environmental activist Chico Mendes, who was assassinated by a rancher in 1988 in Brazil. Mendes’ murder was a significant international incident galvanizing support for environmental activists working to protect the Amazon forest.
(07/02/2014) More than 8,000 hectares of rainforest are under threat as the nation builds a new $600 million capital city from scratch. Called Oyala, and also known as Djibloho, the city is expected be completed by 2020 and house up to 200,000 people — about an eighth of the entire population of Equatorial Guinea.
(07/01/2014) The last of Indonesia’s critically endangered Javan rhinoceroses have survived poachers, rapid deforestation and life in the shadow of one of the archipelago’s most active volcanoes. But an invasive plant is now posing a new threat to the world’s rarest species of rhino.
(07/01/2014) Until ten years ago scientist’s knowledge of the reproductive habits of the giant armadillo— the world’s biggest— were basically regulated to speculation. But a long-term research project in the Brazilian Pantanal is changing that: last year researchers announced the first ever photos of a baby giant armadillo and have since recorded a second birth from another female.
(06/30/2014) Oil palm plantations are not only encroaching on forests, they are also degrading water quality, finds a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences.
(06/30/2014) As developing countries reach upper middle income (UMI) status, their populations are willing to pay increasing amounts toward tropical forest conservation, yet government spending on these programs lags far behind, concludes a study available today in the PNAS Online Early Edition. | <urn:uuid:5e86bcb5-e25f-4859-9726-c49f5bd9314f> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://news.mongabay.com/2014/07/booming-populations-rising-economies-threatened-biodiversity-the-tropics-will-never-be-the-same/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.939 | 3,328 | 3.71875 | 4 |
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by episodes of depression and periods of mania.
Sometimes the effects of these bipolar episodes are so intense that they often lead to physical symptoms in the body.
So, it's essential to learn about both the mental and physical effects of bipolar disorder on the body.
This will help you understand how the disorder affects your overall well-being, the best treatment plan for you, and how best you can support bipolar disorder for others in need.
One of the ways bipolar disorder affects the body is that it targets the brain, a part of the central nervous system.
Your central nervous system consists of a series of nerves working together to control several body functions and brain activity.
Bipolar disorder can therefore be linked to irritability, inability to concentrate, severe sadness, aggression, and other side effects.
Also, bipolar disorder indirectly affects the skeletal and muscular systems.
Depression episodes, for instance, may have adverse effects on the human body, thus causing symptoms such as weakness, tiredness, headaches, etc.
In addition, symptoms of bipolar disorder, such as irritability, anxiety, and tiredness, can affect the gastrointestinal system and lead to side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and weakness.
Read on to learn more about the effects of bipolar disorder on the body.
The brain, which is a component of your central nervous system, is the main organ affected by bipolar illness.
The central nervous system comprises the spine and brain and is composed of a succession of nerves that control various body activities and functions.
Thus, one of the physical effects of bipolar disorder on the body is that it affects how the central nervous system operates.
Some of the effects include overactivity, low attention span, being overly defensive, proactiveness, guilt, hopelessness, being overly happy, severe sadness, irritability, forgetfulness, etc.
Bipolar disorder can also affect your ability to concentrate.
When in a manic episode, you might find it difficult to control your thoughts, and your mind might start to race.
On the other hand, during a depressive episode, your thinking may become slower than usual, and you may experience memory impairment.
Similarly, bipolar disorder can disrupt your sleeping pattern.
When you experience manic episodes, you might sleep a lot less; however, depressive episodes often necessitate more sleep than usual.
Sleeplessness is a common occurrence in both phases, and this can be problematic for people with bipolar disorder.
The effects of bipolar disorder on the body aren't limited to brain functioning only.
Certain co-occurring conditions of bipolar disorder, such as anxiety, can adversely impact your cardiovascular system.
This part of the body comprises the blood vessels and heart, making it among the most vital systems in the human body.
When experiencing anxiety during a bipolar episode, you may also experience an increased pulse, heart rate, and heart palpitations, which can be detrimental to your physical health.
Symptoms associated with depressive episodes can also increase the chances of exposure to heart diseases.
According to research conducted by American Heart Association, different forms of depression, including mania depression associated with bipolar disorder, may lead to heart palpitations or rapid heart rate.
This inadvertently lowers the quantity of blood circulating to the heart and causes the adrenal glands to release a hormone known as cortisol.
If treatment is delayed, these symptoms may lead to heart disease.
Thus, early diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder are crucial.
Your endocrine system is composed of hormones that strongly rely on messaging signals sent from the brain.
In cases where these signals encounter an interruption, hormone fluctuation often occurs.
Thus, studying the endocrine system functioning of a bipolar person allows you to understand better the effects of bipolar disorder on the body,
Bipolar disorder has several effects on this system, but the most common is a low sex drive. Reduced libido mainly occurs in bipolar people experiencing depressive episodes.
On the other hand, if you're experiencing manic or hypomanic episodes, there's a tendency to have an increased interest in sexual activity or higher libido, which may cause you to make impulsive or rash sexual decisions.
You may simultaneously develop other impulsive behaviors such as gambling, reckless driving, rash spending, poor decision-making, and so on associated with manic depressive illness.
You may also experience weight loss as a side effect of bipolar disorder, especially during a depression phase.
Depressive episodes often cause a decrease in appetite, thus resulting in weight loss.
However, there's also a possibility to have the opposite effect: you might have a larger appetite leading to weight gain.
The effect of bipolar disorder on the body can also be seen in the skeletal and muscular systems, as depressive episodes and mania phases can indirectly impact your bones and muscles.
For instance, depression in bipolar disorder may cause unexpected body aches and joint pain, making it difficult to feel comfortable or function properly.
You may also experience difficulty working out or participating in other physical activities.
Moreover, if you experience bipolar depressive or hypomanic episodes, you may feel weak and fatigued most of the time, followed by over-sleeping or an inability to sleep.
Bipolar disorder is also linked to other skeletal conditions, such as sarcopenia.
Researchers believe that oxidative stress, which is associated with bipolar disorder, causes the development of sarcopenia.
One way to minimize oxidative stress is to include plenty of antioxidants, vegetables, fruits, and other healthy food in your diet.
However, a depressive or manic episode can make it difficult to follow a balanced diet and get enough antioxidants to combat oxidative stress.
Due to the symptoms associated with bipolar episodes, your gastrointestinal system may be affected.
For instance, bipolar disorder can increase your irritability, tiredness, and anxiety levels, thus indirectly impacting your digestive system.
Thus, one of the effects of bipolar disorder on the body is that it affects the normal functioning of your gastrointestinal system.
Also, symptoms of bipolar disorder, such as stress and anxiety, can leave you feeling nervous and irritated and eventually cause nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or vomiting.
These sensations are often accompanied by a sense of looming doom or panic.
You may also experience rapid breathing or profuse sweating due to these stomach problems.
In addition, some researchers believe that abnormal gut health and inflammation are causative factors of bipolar disorder itself.
Current research on the link between these two conditions can help affected people control both psychological and physical symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Contrary to popular myths, bipolar disorder is much more than a mood destabilizing disorder.
It can potentially affect different areas of your body and cause significant side effects.
It is thus important to be aware of the physical and mental impacts of this condition to provide support for bipolar disorder for those in need.
Physical effects of bipolar disorder on the body occurs in the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, endocrine sysytem, gastrointestinal system, and skeletal and muscular system.
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In order to perform this action you have to login | <urn:uuid:7b366872-daa6-4481-b428-0c500fec3dfc> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://overcomewithus.com/bipolar-disorder/effects-of-bipolar-disorder-on-the-body | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.9379 | 1,481 | 3.609375 | 4 |
In this post, we will study the definition and formula of Lorentz force.
Lorentz force – definition
Lorentz Force: When a charge q moving with velocity v enters a region where both magnetic field and electric field exist, both fields exert a force on it. This combined force on the charge is called Lorentz force.
Lorentz force formula
Lorentz Force F = q (E + vxB)
Here, q = charge, v =velocity of the charge, E = Electric field, and B = Magnetic field
Know more about the magnetic force component of Lorentz force here.
Also, know about electrostatic force in detail. | <urn:uuid:752f45f4-a453-4211-995d-86dcb3f6374e> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://physicsteacher.in/2023/04/06/lorentz-force-definition-formula/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.864839 | 147 | 3.9375 | 4 |
The following geographical elements help define a seaport:
- Location. The relative position of the port in relation to other ports serviced through shipping networks and its hinterland.
- Site. The physical characteristics of the port, such as its nautical profile (depth, access channel) and the land available for port activities, particularly for terminals.
The following functional elements help define a seaport:
- Logistics node. The added value performed by the port’s transportation function, including handling, consolidation, and deconsolidation.
- Industrial node. Activities depending on the port as a platform to supply inputs such as raw materials and distribute outputs such as parts and finished goods. | <urn:uuid:9945a9f3-7816-45a4-8dc6-707d008c1fd8> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://porteconomicsmanagement.org/pemp/contents/introduction/defining-seaports/defining-the-seaport/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.914135 | 144 | 3.734375 | 4 |
The industrial wastewater discharge is a major contributor to environmental degradation in Pakistan. To make conditions more deplorable, discharges from various industries such as paint, electroplating, battery, etc., are rich in heavy metals concentrations. The effluents from industries are generally used for irrigation or are directly discharged into waterways, ultimately leading to the deterioration of the local ecology and becoming part of the food chain through uptake by vegetation. Various studies are being conducted to figure out the most efficient nature-based solutions. One such technique is to develop constructed wetlands. These are engineered systems employing indigenous wetland plants to remove various pollutants from wastewater. In this study, a sub-surface horizontal flow constructed wetland (SSHW) was used to remove heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn). The heavy metal aqueous solution was prepared in the laboratory with a concentration of 30 mg/l for each metal. The removal efficiency was calculated for different detention times from day 1 to day 7. Zn showed maximum removal efficiency of 76.56% on day 6, while lead and cadmium showed maximum removal efficiency of 72.6% and 69.67%, respectively, on day 7. The metal's mobility in a plant, translocation factor, and accumulation coefficient was calculated. The results indicated that Typha angustifolia serves as a bio-indicator for all three metals, and most of the accumulation of metals occurred in the plant's root zone. The results indicated that this technology gives good removal of heavy metals and has a scope for its efficiency. Since it has low operational and maintenance costs, it is comparatively a step toward a green economy. | <urn:uuid:84b69e88-6195-4be4-8b13-2d4c935c5885> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://research.uaeu.ac.ae/en/publications/removal-of-heavy-metals-in-sub-surface-horizontal-flow-constructe | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.946128 | 342 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Worksheets are a very important portion of gaining knowledge of English. Infants be trained in several ways and fascinating them with coloring, drawing, workouts and puzzles really allows them develop their language skills.
Having a short worksheet time during your lesson allows pupils to have quiet time whilst doing a little exciting individual activities. The trainer can ask questions as pupils are doing their worksheets, the worksheets may be used as a evaluate aid, they could be wear the classroom partitions and accept for homework.
Worksheets are a good way to top off part of your kids’ homeschool day, and it is top notch easy to make unique ones.
In the lecture room setting, worksheets usually seek advice from a free sheet of paper with questions or workouts for students to finish and list answers. They are used, to a few degree, in most subjects, and have preferred use within the math curriculum wherein there are two main types. The 1st sort of math worksheet includes a collection of similar math problems or exercises. These are meant to assist a student turn out to be proficient in a specific mathematical means that became taught to them in class. They are commonly given to students as homework. The second type of math worksheet is meant to introduce new topics, and are usually accomplished within the classroom. They are made up of a innovative set of questions that leads to an information of the topic to be learned.
Worksheets are significant due to the fact those are individual activities and fogeys additionally need it. They (parents) get to know what the kid is doing within the school. With evolving curricula, mothers and fathers might not have the essential education to steer their students through homework or supply extra assist at home. Having a worksheet template easily accessible can help with furthering studying at home.
Overall, study in early childhood schooling suggests that worksheets are recommended mainly for evaluation purposes. Worksheets should now not be used for coaching as this is not developmentally fabulous for the education of young students.
As an assessment tool, worksheets may be used via instructors to realise students’ previous knowledge, final results of learning, and the process of learning; on the same time, they are able to be used to allow scholars to monitor the development of their own learning. | <urn:uuid:b6658d91-8530-46ee-999b-ab97217fd979> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://teamiran.net/family-therapy-communication-worksheets/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.968832 | 470 | 3.515625 | 4 |
Historical Programs Manager Andrew Outten discusses two maps produced by British cartographer William Faden depicting the Battle of Brandywine. William Faden is well known for his maps of major battles of the Revolutionary War. Unusually, he produced two maps of the Battle of Brandywine, one in 1778 and the other in 1784. Each map shows troop movements and positions along with other aspects of the overall battlefield landscape, but each conveys significantly different information. This Lunch Bite will focus on the Battle of Brandywine, the key differences between the two maps, and the potential reasons for the differences. | <urn:uuid:5ecd77aa-9be3-498b-8c3a-5d26fbc139ef> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/video/lunch-bite-william-fadens-1778-and-1784-maps-of-the-battle-of-brandywine/?vg=watch-learn-online | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.947153 | 123 | 3.546875 | 4 |
One of these is what is known as a 'first contact' site - where local Dharawal people had drawn charcoal sketches of bulls that had escaped from Sydney Cove and made their way to what was known as "the Cowpastures" - an area near Campbelltown.
As colonists moved from Sydney Cove into this area interaction between the settlers and the Dharawal people was sometimes peaceful but not always.
Some Europeans developed a close rapport with the local Aboriginal communities and a number of explorers had Dharawal men accompany them on exploratory trips. Knowledge of their land and skills in tracking were valuable and they later played an integral part in solving the murder of Fred Fisher, who has become a local legend.
There were however growing hostilities between the Colonial settlers and the Dharawal, Dharug and Gandangara people across the south western region of Sydney, and in 1816 Governor Macquarie ordered an attack on the Dharawal people living in the 'Cow Pastures'. This was the first military ordered massacre of Aboriginal people in Australia and the attack saw many of the local Dharawal people perish in what is known as the Appin Massacre.
Today Campbelltown City has one of the largest urban populations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales.
Evidence of the tracks, camps and significant sites are scattered across the region, one of the most significant of these is what is known as the Bull Cave.
The Appin Massacre on 17 April 1816 has forever changed the Dharawal people. Many who survived fled to neighbouring country and some have not returned. We acknowledge the ongoing impact of the Appin Massacre.
View our Campbelltown's Aboriginal History Booklet(PDF, 1MB), to discover more history. | <urn:uuid:ce683eaa-fc69-44dd-b6c0-3e7cf6e0d9fb> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/About-Campbelltown/Campbelltown-Aboriginal-Art-and-Culture-Centre/Aboriginal-History | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.977205 | 363 | 3.671875 | 4 |
Ephesus, an ancient city.
Traditionally, archaeology has been seen as a discipline that uncovers the past through the study of artifacts. While it's true that archaeology is a scientific field dedicated to interpreting the remains of past human cultures, it has evolved beyond its historical role. Through excavation, analysis of artifacts, and the study of ancient landscapes, archaeologists not only piece together the stories of societies that have long faded into history but also contribute to a broader comprehension of human development and the complex relationship between culture and environment. Over the last couple of decades, archaeology has transformed into a powerful tool for connecting communities and addressing societal issues.
Jessica Ericson excavating a unit in Colorado.
Let's journey beyond the excavation pits and delve into archaeology's true potential. It's not merely about collecting artifacts to tell stories about the past; it's about building bridges among communities. Take, for instance, the Moundville Archaeological Park in Alabama. This park, home to a pre-Columbian American Indian site occupied by the Mississippian culture from approximately A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1450, serves as an excellent example. The park has played a vital role in connecting the local community with their Indigenous heritage, fostering cultural tourism, and addressing societal issues like poverty and unemployment. Jobs for local residents, economic stimulation through tourism, and educational programs for local schools have all contributed to promoting awareness of Indigenous history and culture in the area. Archaeology, in this context, becomes a cultural ambassador, revealing historic threads that connect diverse communities. This shift in archaeology is palpable as it transforms from a study of the past into a dynamic force for social change.
A view of the archaeological site at Moundville Archaeological Park from the top of Mound B looking toward Mound A and the plaza. Courtesy of Altairisfar - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3181483.
The beauty of archaeology lies not just in the artifacts but in the stories that emerge behind them. Storytelling becomes a powerful tool when personal narratives are intertwined with historical findings. These stories humanize our past, help break down stereotypes, and foster empathy. It's not just about finding epic artifacts and ruins; it's about the people who lived and loved.
Friends in nature.
Because of this unique focus, the archaeological lens extends beyond history books, shining a light on systemic issues like racism and white supremacy. Understanding the roots of these issues makes archaeology a catalyst for conversation and awareness. It becomes a journey of self-reflection as we uncover the echoes of our past.
Archaeology is not some nebulous science shrouded in mystery, done behind closed doors. It's intricately connected to communities, bringing people from different classes and backgrounds together. Imagine local neighborhoods actively participating in an excavation or preservation work, feeling a sense of pride and ownership over their shared history. This is a recipe for empathy and unity.
At Community Connections, we wholeheartedly believe that people come first. In all the dirt and fragments of our past, we discover more than just artifacts - we find connections. Archaeology, when embraced as a tool for community building, has the transformative power to create a world where understanding and empathy prevail. We're shaping an inclusive future for us all.
Curious to dive deeper? You can support initiatives that use archaeology as a force for social impact or explore our past blogs on our community projects like archaeological survey at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, The Guardians of Historic Lakewood: A Citizen Archaeology Program, or International Archaeology Day every year in October.
Let's continue building connection and rewriting the narrative of our shared humanity. Subscribe now to stay updated. See you in two weeks!
Jasmine & Jess (J&J) 🌳
Hernandez, C.L. Social impact: Archaeology isn’t just about the past. https://textbooks.whatcom.edu/tracesarchaeology/chapter/__socialimpact__/.
Huvila, Isto, Dallas, Costis, Toumpouri, Marina and Enqvist, Delia Ní Chíobháin. "Archaeological Practices and Societal Challenges" Open Archaeology, vol. 8, no. 1, 2022, pp. 296-305. https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2022-0242.
Moundville Archaeological Park. https://moundville.museums.ua.edu.
Ortman, S.G. 2019. A new kind of relevance for archaeology, Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdigh.2019.00016/full.
Roberts, H., Gale, J. and Welham, K. 2020 A Four Stage Approach to Community Archaeology, illustrated with case studies from Dorset, England, Internet Archaeology 55. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.55.6. | <urn:uuid:3f787aec-fd2b-4695-8ff8-6c0457fa5d10> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.communityconnections.biz/post/archeology-as-a-catalyst-for-community-understanding | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.898815 | 1,056 | 3.6875 | 4 |
Measurement of Physical Quantities:
Measurement of Physical Quantities is given by
- Displacement Measurement
- Strain Measurement
- Force Measurement
- Torque Measurement
- Pressure Measurement
- Temperature Measurement
- Water-Level Indicator
- Measurement and Display of Speed of a Motor
Nowadays, physical quantities such as force, displacement, acceleration, velocity, speed, temperature, pressure, flow and level, etc., are measured and displayed using microprocessors and interfacing devices in industry. For the measurement of any physical quantity, transducers are used to convert energy from motion, displacement, acceleration, velocity, flow, pressure, level, heat, light, sound and any other Measurement of Physical Quantities into electrical energy. A transducer consists of sensor and signal conditioning circuit. Most commonly used transducers are potentiometers, capacitive and inductive transducers, level transducers, strain gauge, accelerometer, Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT), piezoelectric crystals and diaphragm, etc. Electrical output of a transducer is very small and it is not in measurable condition; therefore it should be amplified by using amplifiers. Figure 10.29 shows the schematic block diagram of a Measurement of Physical Quantities.
The output electrical signal from transducer is fed to an A/D converter, which converts analog signal to digital form and then applies to the 8085 microprocessor through 8255 PPI. The 8085 microprocessor reads this digital data and displays it in seven-segment display. When it is required to measure and display more than one Measurement of Physical Quantities, a multiplexer should be incorporated in between transducers and the A/D converter. In section. the working principle of measuring displacement, strain, pressure, force, torque, speed and temperature are discussed in detail.
In a displacement-measurement potentiometer, capacitive transducers and Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDT) are generally used. In a potentiometer, the object moves the tap on a variable resistance and output voltage is directly proportional to displacement. Pots are used as potentiometers, shown in Fig. 10.30.
In a pot, an electrically conductive wiper slides against a fixed resistor element. To measure displacement, the potentiometer is typically wired in a voltage divider configuration as depicted in Fig. 10.31. The output voltage is a function of the wiper’s position and it is an analog voltage.
The output voltage V0 can be expressed as
- Vr = the reference voltage,
- V0 = output voltage,
- xp = the maximum wiper position, and
- x = displacement.
This type of resistive displacement sensor has some advantages such as ease of use, low cost, high-amplitude voltage signal and passivity. But its disadvantages are limited bandwidth, frictional loading, inertial loading and wear. The potentiometer is commonly used in positioning of robotics like artificial limbs and servo systems.
In capacitive displacement transducer, one plate of the capacitor is mounted to a fixed surface and the other plate mounted to the object. With the position of object, capacitance value changes. The capacitive displacement sensor generates an output signal due to change in capacitance. The capacitance is a function of distance (d) between the electrodes, the surface area (A) of the electrodes, and the permittivity ε as given below:
- ε0 is permittivity of air, and
- εr is the relative permittivity.
The change in capacitance due to change in distance is
Capacitor sensors are variable-distance displacement sensors, variable-area displacement sensors, and variable-dielectric displacement sensors as depicted in Fig. 10.32 (a), (b) and (c) respectively.
Capacitor value in variable-area displacement sensors is
- w width,
- wx then reduction in the area due to movement of the plate.
In variable dielectric displacement capacitive sensors,
- ε2 is the permittivity of the displacing material, and
- ε1 is the relative permittivity of the dielectric material.
Generally, a capacitive transducer can be placed in a bridge circuit and ac voltage is connected across the bridge. Then the bridge output voltage is amplified, rectified and measured.
A Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) is a three-coil inductive transducer and object moves core of three winding. A three winding transformer (one primary and two secondary) with a movable core is shown in Fig. 10.33. It is a passive inductive transducer. The two secondary’s are having equal sizes, shapes and number of turns. Primary winding of transformer is supplied by 1-10 V, 50 Hz – 25 kHz ac signal. Each secondary winding covers one half of transformer, secondary’s connected to oppose each other and the object is connected to the core.
The mutual inductance between the primary and secondary windings is changed with the change in position of a high permeability rod. The induced voltages at secondary’s are Vs1(t) = K1Vp(t), Vs2(t) = K2Vp (t). As secondary windings are connected in series opposition, the output voltage V0(t) = Vs1(t) – Vs2(t). As the rod moves from the Centre, K1 increases while K2 decreases.
When the core is centered, voltages at two secondary’s are equal and the output voltage is zero. While core is off center, voltage at one secondary is higher than other one. Thus output voltage is linearly related to core position as depicted in Fig. 10.34.
The model function of LVDT is V0(x, t) = KVp(t) where K is a constant, t is time, Vp(t) is the primary voltage, x is displacement and it will be either positive or negative. If x is negative, phase of output voltage is reversed.
The schematic block diagram of the displacement or deflection measurement is shown in Fig. 10.35. LVDT is used to sense the deflection of a beam as the movable core of the linear variable differential transformer is connected to the beam. When the core is in centered position, the voltages induced in two secondary’s of the LVDT are equal. Hence output voltage will be zero. While the core is moved in upward or downward directions, the voltage induced in two secondary’s will not be equal and output voltage is equal to the difference between secondary induced voltages as expressed by V0 = Vs1-Vs2. This output voltage V0 is directly proportional to the displacement of core. The output voltage of LVDT is low and in the range of 100-500 mV. Therefore, an amplifier should be used to amplify LVDT output and fed to a precision rectifier for rectification. Then precision rectifier output voltage is applied to A/D converter for analog to digital conversion. The digital output of the A/D converter is fed to Port A of 8255-1 as depicted in Fig. 10.35 (a).
A look-up table between the digital output of the A/D converter and displacement/deflection is stored in the memory of the microprocessor. By using a look-up table, the microprocessor measures deflection for a particular A/D converter digital output and displays the same on seven-segment display though 8255-2 PPI IC. The desirable characteristics are low wear, less repeatability error, high speed and ability to measure small displacements of approximately 0.04 mm. This method can also be used for vibration measurement. The undesirable characteristics are complex conditioning circuit and expense.
Strain is the change in shape of an object due to some force. Assume an object in two conditions: with and without a force applied. When an external force is applied along a dimension, there will be some deformation in the object.
Let L1 be the length of the object along the dimension when no force is applied and L2 be the length when the force is applied. Then the object’s strain is
- ΔL = L2-L1 change in length.
A stain transducer is used for strain measurement. Strain gauge is a stain transducer and is used to measure strains and stresses in any structures. A strain gauge is a flexible card with strip of some copper–nickel alloy conductor wires arranged in special pattern as shown in Fig. 10.36. The grids of fine wires forming a strain gauge are cemented to a thin paper membrane. The strain gauge is mounted on the object being measured. A strain-gauge conductor is usually made of metal or semiconductor. The pattern is chosen in such a way that the conductor maintains an almost constant volume with strain. That is, the conductor is not compressible.
The resistance of a conductor is
- L is its length,
- A is its area, and
- ρ is its resistivity.
Assume force causes length of the conductor to decrease. Since volume does not change much, area must increase. Thus, resistance decreases. The model function of resistance is equal to R1 = R0 ( 1 + Gfε) where Gf is a constant and known as the gauge factor which is the ratio ΔR/R /ΔL/L and may he considered as the sensitivity of the sensor. R0 is resistance without strain, R1 is resistance due to strain, and ε is strain.
For metal-wire strain gauges (constantan), Gf = 2 while semiconductor strain gauges have much higher Gf of about 200. Bonded strain gauges have folded wires bonded to a semiflexible backing material, with unbonded gauges having flexible wires connected between fixed and movable frames as shown in Fig. 10.36.
The sensitivity of a strain gauge is very low which is approximately 1% over full operating range. But it is very important that the above change must be accurately detected.
To increase the sensitivity, two and more active sensor elements can be used in a bridge circuit. In strain measurement, a Wheatstone bridge is used a device. which can read a difference voltage directly. The output voltage of the Wheatstone bridge as shown in Fig. 10.37 is expressed as
The sensor bridge usually consists of four identical sensor elements. Assume that only one of these is sensitive to the strain, which can be measured, and other sensors are ‘dummy’ sensors. For example, for a maximum of 1% change in resistance, the output voltage is about 0.0025VB. This is approximately 2.5 mV for a 10 V supply. Therefore, the range of V0 in this case is 0-2.5 mV.
Increased measurement accuracy and possibility for increased sensitivity are shown in Fig. 10.39 and Fig. 10.40 respectively. Elimination of ‘noise’ effects on a sensor output; i.e. if a sensor is sensitive to changes in both temperature and strain, if 4 identical elements are used:
with only one of them subjected to the strain, the temperature effect is cancelled. The output voltage can be expressed
- for two Strain gauges in Wheatstone bridge, and
- for four Strain gauges in Wheatstone
In some cases, the strain in two places on the object will be of equal magnitude but of opposite sign. For example, a cantilever beam is as shown in Fig. 10.41. The upper part of the beam is stretched (positive strain) and the lower part of the beam is compressed (negative strain). The two strain gauges, therefore, form complementary pairs.
Physically, a strain gauge is not much different from an RTD and so, a strain gauge is affected by temperature. Hence, temperature compensation is required. The model function including temperature.
R1 = R0(T )(1 + Gfε), where R0(T) is a function of temperature. Conditioning circuit can remove R0(T). A bridge circuit does this very well.
For a complimentary pair, R1 = R0(T)(1 ± Gfε)
Four strain gauges are placed in the bridge form as shown in Fig. 10.42. The temperature terms will be canceled and the output voltage V0 = AVE Gfε, where A = gain of amplifier, VE = input voltage, Gf = gauge factor, and ε = strain.
Figure 10.43 shows the block diagram for strain measurement when two gauges are mounted to a cantilever beam. Due to change in resistance, bridge output voltage changes and its magnitude is directly proportional to strain. Then output of the bridge is fed to a instrumentation amplifier and amplified to a certain voltage in the range of 0-5 V so that it can be processed by the microprocessor. Output is 0 V for no strain and 5 V for the maximum strain. When four strain gauges are mounted in a cantilever beam, the output voltage increases two times. A look-up table between the hex code of digital voltage and strain is stored in memory. After converting the analog voltage into digital form through an A/D converter, find the strain from the look-up table and display it in seven-segment display unit. The program for displacement measurement may also be used in strain measurement with the modification in look-up table only.
Assume the dimension of cantilever beam Length L = 22 cm, Breadth B = 2.8 cm and thickness T = 0.3 cm and Young’s modulus Y of stainless steel = 2.1 x 106.
The strain is calculated by the following expression:
where = the weight applied at the end of the cantilever beam
If W = 1kg, the strain is about 248. When load variation is 100 g to 1 kg, the output voltage of strain gauge in mV is given in Table 10.5.
There are many types of sensors which can be used to measure force. Resistance-type force sensors, such as gauges and load cells, are very commonly used in force measurement. The force can be measured by the following ways:
Force can move a part of the transducer. This movement can be measured using displacement sensors.
Piezoelectric crystals are also used in force measurement A piezoelectric crystal consists of a crystal of a material with piezoelectric properties, i.e., a piezoelectric material emits charge when compressed. The material may be quartz, or special ceramics. Contacts are always placed along two faces of the crystal.
When force or pressure is applied to the crystal, a charge appears on the surface of the crystal and the amount of charge directly proportional to the force. Therefore, the output of the transducer is charge. The output of the crystal is converted to voltage using a capacitor. The voltage generated from piezoelectric crystals is V, which can be expressed as
The capacitor should be chosen in such a way, so as to get the desired voltage range. The capacitor voltage is fed to very high input impedance amplifier for amplification, and amplifier output is applied to A/D converter for analog-to-digital conversion.
When an unchanging force is applied, the voltage will decrease over time. Therefore, piezoelectric crystals are best used for measuring changes in force and vibration.
A load cell is most commonly used to measure mechanical force. Strain gauges are called load cells and normally used for force measurement. The force bends, compresses, or stretches a part of the transducer and change in shape is usually measured using strain gauges. Two common load-cell configurations are illustrated in Fig. 10.45. Usually. load cells are sold including a bridge circuit.
Resistance of a strain gauge increases if it is stretched. Strain gauges are cemented over the mechanical structure whose deformation under the influence of stress is to be measured. Figure 10.46 shows a cantilever beam with four strain gauges. The force is applied at a predetermined point. Strain gauges are placed at locations chosen so that their output is linearly related to force. The choice of location for the strain gauges and the derivation of the resulting load-cell model function are beyond the scope of this book. Load cells are usually packaged with strain gauges connected in bridge configuration. Strain gauges 1 and 2 are mounted so that after applying load, they come under tension. Similarly, strain gauges 3 and 4 will be under compression under loaded condition. Strain gauges are normally used in a full bridge to give the bridge output proportional to the applied force. To maximize the bridge sensitivity, the strain gauge is connected in a bridge. Under loaded conditions, resistance of strain gauges 1 and 2 increases and 3 and 4 decreases. Therefore, the potential at Point A of the bridge will be elevated much as compared to. As all four gauges are at the same temperature, this system also provides temperature compensation. Strain gauges are bonded in such a way that can provide the maximum output deformation ratio. The strain gauges are wired in full-bridge configuration for temperature compensation and for better accuracy of measurement. The complete assembly must be housed within a protective case and properly sealed so that the external environment cannot affect strain gauges though strain gauges are capable to deform after application of the force.
When strain gauges are used in cantilever type load cells, the strain can he expressed as
where F = force, l = length, w = width, t = thickness, and E Young’s modulus.
The output voltage of the bridge will be
The block diagram for force measurement is shown in Fig. 10.48. The program for displacement measurement can he used in force measurement, but there will be sonic modification in the look-up table. A look-up table between the hex code of digital voltage corresponding to force is stored in memory. The 8085 microprocessor reads the digital output of A/D converter for a force input and determines the force from the look-up table and display it in seven-segment display unit.
Generally, torque is transmitted through a rotating shaft between a power source and a power sink. Strain gauges are commonly used in torque cells. Figures 10.49 (a) and (b) show the torque measurement using strain gauges. Here, four strain gauges are mounted on the shaft. Strain gauges 1 and 3 are compressed, but strain gauges 2 and 4 are under tension due a torque in the shaft. The strain of the strain gauge 1 is approximately
- T = torque,
- G = E/2(1+υ) = shear modulus,
- r = radius of shaft.
The relationship between strains of all four gauges is e2 = e4 = -e1 = -e3. When all four gauges are connected in bridge form as shown in Fig. 10.50, the output voltage can be expressed as
The output of bridge circuit fed to a differential amplifier using an operational amplifier as shown in Fig. 10.50, and output voltage becomes measurable. The microprocessor can be used to measure this voltage and display it in seven-segment display after proper calibration based on a look-up table.
R1 = R2
Pressure is the force per unit area. Pressure is usually specified as a difference between the process variable measured and some reference pressure. This can be visualized as the pressure on a diaphragm, with the pressure being measured on one side and the reference pressure on the other. That reference pressure defines the type of pressure measured:
Absolute: Reference pressure is zero.
Gauge: Reference pressure is the environment air pressure. Automobile tire pressure is gauge pressure.
Differential: The reference pressure is a second process variable being measured.
Types of pressure transducers are large-displacement transducers and small-displacement transducers. Large displacement transducer consists of a variety of flexible containers that change size with pressure. Small-displacement transducers usually consist of a diaphragm and a strain gauge.
Small-displacement pressure transducers consist of a diaphragm, one side exposed to pressure being measured and the other side exposed to reference pressure. Displacement of a diaphragm measured by a capacitive or inductive displacement transducer or strain of diaphragm measured using strain gauges. The placements of strain gauges are shown in Fig. 10.51. Center of the diaphragm is convex, and a part near the edge is convex. Strain gauges can be placed so that there are complementary pairs.
Nowadays integrated pressure sensors are available in the market and are used as a small-displacement pressure transducer. The entire sensor is fabricated on one silicon chip and the diaphragm is etched into silicon. Strain gauges are fabricated on silicon and signal conditioning circuit is present on the same chip. The schematic block diagram for pressure measurement is shown in Fig. 10.52. The programming of pressure measurement will be same as force measurement, but the look-up table must be modified as per required calibration.
Temperature is widely measured and controlled in industrial process control system. For temperature measurement, one of the following devices are used:
Platinum wires are frequently used in resistance thermometers for industrial application because of their greater resolution, and mechanical and electrical stability as compared to copper or nickel wires. A change in temperature causes a change in resistance. The resistance thermometer is placed in an arm of a Wheatstone bridge to get a voltage proportional to temperature. A thermistor is a semiconductor device fabricated from a sintered mixture of metal alloys, having a large negative temperature coefficient. A thermistor is used in a Wheatstone bridge to get a voltage proportional to temperature. The thermistor is a thermally sensitive variable resistor made of semiconductor material. The substance used may be oxides of nickel, copper, manganese, iron, cobalt, etc., usually a high negative temperature coefficient. It can be used in the range of -100 to +100° C for greater accuracy as compared to a platinum resistance thermometer. Positive thermistors are also used but in the low range of 50°C to + 100°C.
In industry, the most widely used temperature transducer is the thermocouple. This temperature transducer works on the principle that contact potential between two dissimilar metals changes with temperature. When two dissimilar metals are joined and the junctions are placed at two different temperatures, an emf is induced which will he used for temperature measurement. Thermocouple materials for different ranges of temperature are given below:
The microprocessor-based temperature measurement of an electrical furnace is shown in Fig. 10.54. Here, a thermocouple– is used as a sensor for temperature measurement. The output of a thermocouple is directly proportional to the furnace temperature, which is in millivolt range. As output voltage is not in a measurable condition, it must be amplified using an instrumentation amplifier. The amplified voltage is applied to an A/D converter. The microprocessor sends a start of conversion signal to the A/D converter through the port of 8255 PPI. When an A/D converter completes conversion, it sends an end-of-conversional signal to the microprocessor. Having received an end-of-conversion signal from the A/D converter, the microprocessor reads the output of the A/D converter, which is a digital quantity proportional to the temperature to be measured. Then the microprocessor displays the measured temperature.
A water-level indicator works by converting water levels into electrical signals and measures them by electrical or electronics circuits. The most simplest type water level indicator is the resistive method. This is also known as contact point type. A number of resistances of suitable values have their one end inserted in the column. Resistance may be a function of level.
The microprocessor-based water level indicator is shown in Fig. 10.57. The contact-type level sensors are connected to + 5 V through series resistors and other terminals arc grounded and assume water tank is also at ground potential. When the level sensor is immersed in water, it will be at ground potential and its output will be logic 0. If the level sensor is not immersed in water, its output is + 5 V or logic 1. As shown in Fig. 1 0.57, there are eight level sensors, which are used to indicate eight different levels of the tank. The output of level sensors are connected to a buffer and buffer outputs are applied to Port A of 8255. The microprocessor reads the buffer output through Port A of 8255 and determines the water level based on look-up table, which is stored in the memory. After finding out the level, it will be displayed in a seven-segment display.
Measurement and Display of Speed of a Motor
Figure 10.58 shows the microprocessor-based speed measurement. A tacho-generator is coupled at the shaft of the motor and generates a voltage proportional to the speed. The output of the tachogenerator (TG) used in this measurement scheme is 0 to 5 volts dc for speed variation of 0 to 1500 RPM. The output voltage is connected to ADC 0808 for analog-to-digital conversion. The output of the A/D converter is applied to Port A of 8255-1. Seven-segment display units are connected to Port A and Port B of 8255-2. The control word for both 8255-1 is 98H and 8255-2 is 80H. The look-up table consists of the hex code of techo-generator voltage and its corresponding speed in rpm. The microprocessor reads the digital output of the A/D converter for different speeds of the motor. After that, the microprocessor measures the speed using a look-up table and displays the speed of the motor in a seven-segment display.
For better accuracy of measurement, the search-table properly calibrated. For this, each digital input voltage, and corresponding speed is measured accurately and stored in the memory location. For one digital input voltage, two memory locations are located in the search table where decimal data corresponding to the speed are stored. After getting a digital input corresponding to a speed, the speed will be searched from memory and displayed in the displayed screen. If we want to measure speed accurately, a train of pulses can be generated using a photoelectric switch sensor. Opto-switches consist of a light source and a light sensor within a single unit as shown in Fig. 10.59. This scheme of speed measurement has a light source, a semiconductor device sensitive to light and an attachment disc on the shaft containing a hole to pass light. The microprocessor will count the number of pulses per second, which is directly proportional to the speed. | <urn:uuid:46dbf87a-dcf6-45df-8b96-a77087da23c6> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.eeeguide.com/measurement-of-physical-quantities/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.910702 | 5,674 | 3.8125 | 4 |
by D'Ann Roher with edits by Brea Reimer
Biodiversity is the number and variety of living organisms within a specific geographical region. These organisms work together to create a thriving and productive ecosystem.
Species richness refers to the number of species in a given area. For example, a coral reef off the northern part of Australia may have 500 different species of fish while the rocky shoreline of Japan may only have 100 different species. (Britannica)
Ecological biodiversity refers to the variety of ecosystems and habitats. It’s the diverse ways in which species interact with each other and with their environment. (National Wildlife Federation)
Genetic biodiversity refers to variation of DNA within a species. As humans, we can see this in our different heights, eye color, hair color, etc., but genetic diversity can be seen in every species. Consider all the dogs in one neighborhood. While they are all canines, there is a good chance that no two dogs look the same. And even those organisms that look similar will have minute details that differ and internal differences, even on a molecular level.
Even though the term biodiversity is fairly new to the public’s vocabulary, the diversity of our world dates back millions of years ago. Scientists figure that the diversity of the earth has been inconsistent. There have been massive extinction events. Our earth started out with single celled organisms; later multicellular organisms appeared. Scientists tend to have their own views about the species inventory. Estimates seem to range around ten million species.
Thomas Lovejoy coined the term biological diversity in 1980, while W. G. Rosen coined the word biodiversity itself in 1985. (Answers.com)
At the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, 150 countries signed the Convention on Biological Diversity. This signified that action must be taken to halt the global loss of plant and animal species and genetic resources. These countries agreed to create national strategies, plans and programs for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. (History of Biodiversity)
Biodiversity is key to health for all living organisms. The diversity of food, materials, and medicines contribute not only to healthy consumers but a healthy economy as well. An array of pollinators, such as birds and bees, plants, and soils lead to a variety of produce!
Biodiversity is also a key natural utility service. Water is filtered and cleaned, chemicals are absorbed, oxygen is produced – all by different aspects of our ecosystems. (National Wildlife Federation) Earth has a myriad of ecosystems, ranging from savannahs to coral reefs, wetlands to polar ice caps. Because our ecosystems vary, biodiversity is crucial to Earth’s ability to produce, recycle, and reuse various elements of nature.
Biodiversity helps scientists understand how life functions and the role of each species in sustaining ecosystems. E.O. Wilson wrote in 1992 that, “The biodiversity is the one of the bigger wealths of the planet, and nevertheless, the less recognized as such.” (Answers.com)
If humans continue to cause extinctions of species, whether plants, animals or insects, the global ecosystem is destined for collapse due to the reduction of the biological complexity. The introduction of exotic species is causing extinction of species, which reduces biodiversity, and in turn weakens our ecosystem and makes it more vulnerable to collapse. (Answers.com)
Many educational institutions are now focusing on increased awareness and implementation of biodiversity conservation. Environmentalism, as a movement, has been at the forefront of many organizations, institutes, and political movements. The Earth Institute at Columbia University, for example, believes in investing in science and technology, and strategies for successful sustainable development. (Earthinstitute.columbia.edu) Natural resources and the stewardship thereof are key to conservation.
Ties to the Philanthropic Sector
Governmental agencies have limited resources for the protection of our biodiversity. They tend to put a value on species and protect that species unless costs are too high. Also, governmental agencies tend to focus on inventory of species instead of focusing on the processes that have created and sustained the species and on elements that currently exist, rather than on the species and elements themselves. (Stanford)
However, there are some governmental agencies that are focused on helping the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a governmental agency that protects our environment. (http://www.epa.gov) The U.S. Department of Agriculture is a governmental agency which enhances the quality of life for the American people by supporting the production of agriculture. (https://www.usda.gov/) While limited and relatively local, it is a start by government to preserve a common, natural good.
Many nonprofits fund organizations that try to preserve the world’s ecosystems and habitats. Research centers identify high-risk habitats, plants and animals, and nonprofits invest in their conservation, preservation and protection.
For example the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has focused on how to produce the maximum yield in agriculture while conserving biodiversity. The destruction of tropical forests for agricultural land, logging, urbanization, or livestock is a major concern for conservationists. Nonprofit organizations like WWF have tried education, protection, restoration, policy changes, and incentives to reduce the destruction of the biodiversity of rainforests.
Key Related Ideas
- Ecological biodiversity is also the diversity of durable interactions among species. It is how the organisms apply to the environment they live in. In each ecosystem, living organisms are part of a whole; they interact with one another, but also with the air, water, and soil that surrounds them. (Answers.com)
- Ecosystem diversity is diversity at a higher level of organization, the ecosystem. This concept reveals the relationship of plants and animals and how they survive without becoming extinct. (Answers.com)
- Encourage Sustainable Trade is a belief that we humans can live and survive in this world without exhausting all of its resources.
- Education of the general public on the cause and effect of the goods they purchase is vital to have a sustainable living environment.
Important People Related to the Topic
Norman Borlaug (March 25, 1914 —): Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. He spent many years studying and developing new wheat for growth on formally unproductive lands, which was called the “Green Revolution”. One of his goals was to develop new cereals strains into massive production in order to feed the hungry people of the world. Borlaug’s work helped prevent starvation and malnutrition across the globe. (Answers.com)
Rachel Louise Carson (May 27, 1907 — April 14, 1964): Carson was a published writer, scientist, and ecologist. She documented many articles on conservation and natural resources. She published her prize-winning study of the ocean, The Sea Around, and other books, which made her famous as a naturalist and science writer. She resigned from government service to educate people about the world of living things. Later in life she focused her attention on the misuse of pesticides and their unknown health effects. In 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring, documented how the insecticide DDT accumulates in the environment and harms mammals and birds. Her book helped start the environmental movement. (Answers.com)
Kevel C. Lindsay (after 1960 —): Lindsay’s areas of expertise are in Biodiversity conservation, Caribbean natural history, Caribbean forestry, Natural resource planning, and parks and protected areas. (Island Resources Foundation)
Thomas E. Lovejoy (1941 —): Lovejoy was the World Bank’s Chief Biodiversity Advisor and Lead Specialist for Environment for Latin American and the Caribbean and Senior Advisor to the President of the United Nations Foundation. He has held various board positions for many environmental organizations in addition to the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations. Dr. Lovejoy originated the concept of debt-for nature swaps, and is the founder of the public television series Nature. In 2001 he was awarded the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. (The Heinz Center) Don J. Melnick (contemporary of Lovejoy, listed above): is the executive director, Center for Environmental Research and Conservation Earth Institute at Columbia University, Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University. (CERC)
- Edward O. Wilson (June 10, 1929 --): Wilson is credited with bringing the term biodiversity to the public. He is a research Professor at Harvard University. Wilson’s many scientific and conservation honors include the 1990 Crafoord Prize, a 1976 U. S. National Medal of Science, and two Pulitzer Prizes.
Related Nonprofit Organizations
- Bay and Paul Foundations: Biodiversity Leadership Program is designed to advance the careers of individuals with proven capacity to help stem the loss of biological diversity, and to promote the application of scientific rigor to the complex issues surrounding the on-going extinction crisis. http://www.bayandpaulfoundations.org/areas.html
- Greenpeace is a nonprofit organization, which uses nonviolent means to stand up for the Earth’s environment. It wants the Earth to continue to produce biodiversity for future generations. www.greenpeace.org
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has given grants totaling more than $4 million for biodiversity conservation efforts in the Albertine Rift area of Central Africa. http://fdncenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=120800018
- National Wildlife Federation is a self-proclaimed voice for wildlife, dedicated to protecting wildlife and habitat and inspiring the future generation of conservationists. See a briefing paper specifically on the National Wildlife Federation here.
- The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to protect the most ecologically important lands and waters around the world for nature and people. The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. http://www.nature.org/aboutus/
- Biodiversity Support Program of the World Wildlife Fund (created in 1961) promotes conservation of the world’s biological diversity. They believe in sustaining healthy resources for present and future generations. See also a briefing paper specifically on the World Wildlife Fund here.
Consider how much biodiversity exists in your local community. Are there many different species? Is there a lot of ecological diversity in the way those species are interacting? Is there a lot of genetic diversity? What do you think would happen if even five or ten of your local species became extinct? Why is biodiversity so important, even in your local area? What are some philanthropic ways in which to support biodiversity in your community?
Ag News. Revolutionary Crop Yields top list of Key Agricultural events during last 50 years. http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/AGPR/Apr0303a.htm
Bay and Paul Foundation. Bay and Paul Foundation.
Columbia University. Earth Institute Center for Environmental Sustainability. http://eices.columbia.edu/
The Heinz Center. Thomas E. Lovejoy. http://www.heinzctr.org
The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy.
Rachel Carson. Rachel Carson. http://www.rachelcarson.org
World Wildlife Fund. About Us. http://www.worldwildlife.org/about
National Wildlife Federation. What is Biodiversity? http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-conservatoin/biodiversity.aspx
This briefing paper was authored by a student taking a philanthropic studies course at The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. | <urn:uuid:6fa2c02c-dfe2-474c-985c-427847c4963f> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/biodiversity | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.919005 | 2,424 | 3.625 | 4 |
Bring wind power into your classroom
with the classroom wind turbine kit. A great teaching tool
used to demonstrate the basic principles of how electricity
can be generated from the wind. The hands-on wind charger kit
is fun and easy to use either in the classroom, using a desk
fan, or outdoors. The desk mounted turbine rotates to face
into the wind and demonstrates the production of electricity
through the attachment of the motor, LED or buzzer units
supplied. Suitable for use in both primary and secondary
schools, the wind turbine kit can be assembled in minutes
straight out of the box and comes with its own storage case.
A fantastic interactive teaching aid to
build on the importance of renewable energy. Ideal for science
experiments, the government's 'Sustainable Schools'
initiative, EcoSchools awards and Environmental studies.
The classroom wind power demonstration
kit also comes complete with pupil experimental work sheets.
The worksheets have been designed for teachers to use with
their pupils to investigate how the turbine works, and then to
share and discuss their findings.
- Number of blades: 2,3 or 6 -
The voltage can be measured using the dual-purpose
ammeter/voltmeter to investigate the effects of adding
extra turbine blades.
- Change the blade angle - The
blade angles can also be changed to investigate what
effect this may have on the system.
- What can the turbine do? - The
LED, buzzer and motor can be connected to demonstrate the
polarity of the current generated by the wind turbine.
- Change gears - With 5 easy to
change gearing options you can investigate speed and
voltage depending on the gear selected.
- Indoors/outdoors - Suitable to
set up experiments either indoors, using a desk fan, or
outdoors using real wind power. | <urn:uuid:56072e38-fd85-4af4-803e-d7356b351f4f> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.orionair.co.uk/education_wind_turbine.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.862265 | 391 | 3.84375 | 4 |
This half term our topic in Design Technology is food.
This week we looked at the 5 food groups in greater detail. We looked at examples form each group and how much we should each of each group daily. We then recorded our findings on an 'Eat Well Plate' We know it is important to eat a balanced diet to stay healthy.
We started our topic by discussing various types of foods. We also discussed the foods groups which certain types of foods belong to. We know it is important to each a balanced diet to stay healthy.
We discussed our favourite and least favourite foods in groups. We then listed a range of popular and unpopular foods. It was interesting to discover the different foods we enjoyed eating and those we do not. We discovered everyone has their own preferences and we cannot assume someone will like a particular type of food just because we do! | <urn:uuid:76fa7093-2800-438d-bc71-fc0ede18112e> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.pendle.lancs.sch.uk/summer-2-31/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.978191 | 173 | 3.515625 | 4 |
What is Stormwater?
Stormwater is runoff water from rain or melting snow that flows across the landscape. Runoff flows off of rooftops, paved areas, bare soil, and lawns. Runoff gathers in increasingly large amounts (from puddles, to ditches, to streams, to lakes and rivers) until it flows into the ocean.
In its journey from puddle to ocean, stormwater picks up and transports many of the pollutants it encounters. These pollutants include dirt, pet wastes, pesticides, fertilizers, automobile fluids (such as oil, gasoline, and antifreeze), deicing products, yard wastes, cigarette butts, and litter, to name a few. By carrying all these different kinds of pollution into our waterways, stormwater itself becomes a water pollutant.
Imagine how much pollution can come from an entire town’s vehicles, lawns, homes, businesses, parking lots, and litterbugs!
Along Indiana's rivers, there are many towns and lots of people. And all of us use that water coming from upstream. Let’s keep it clean for the people downstream! Because polluted runoff is caused by so many of our everyday activities, we all need to do our part to help improve water quality.
Stormwater Quality is Federally Regulated...
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) requires communities around the country to address stormwater quality, and hence the pollution of our nation’s waterbodies. Richmond is one of nearly 200 of these required communities in the State of Indiana required to develop and maintain a stormwater quality program. This program is extremely important to the sustainability of our community. In fact, the EPA now considers stormwater pollution to be one of the most significant sources of contamination in our nation's waters.
You can find more info at the US EPA website - click here
How does the Richmond Sanitary District protect stormwater?
The Richmond Sanitary District is a designated Municipal Separate Storm & Sewer System entity, which aims to educate citizens and municipal staff about their impact on local and national watersheds, works to identify and eliminate illicit discharges, as well as implements best management practices to reduce the amount of pollutants that enter our waterways. This effort involves the whole community! RSD encourages citizens to review the available educational materials as well as the current Stormwater Quality Management Plan that affects our community.
Notice of Intent
Please click here to view the Notice of Intent | <urn:uuid:27f83c78-20c6-4292-bec1-4da7ce3ff9fd> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.richmondindiana.gov/resources/stormwater-information | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.934278 | 503 | 3.609375 | 4 |
We follow the National Curriculum for geography at Seven Sisters which states that, a high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.
Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment. Children will broaden their geographical vocabulary by talking about their local area and going on field trips to local parks and amenities. Children will talk about weather and seasons and discuss their home countries and places they have visited.
In Key Stage 1
Pupils should develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They should understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness. Pupils are taught to name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans and to name, locate and identify characteristics of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas. Children look at the geographical differences between the UK and a region in Europe. Children also study climates around the globe and are exposed to a large range of geographical vocabulary required to understand the world around them. Throughout their curriculum, they familiarise themselves with a variety of maps and atlases.
In Key Stage 2
Pupils will build on their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America. This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They should develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge. They will study physical and human geography in more detail. Map work will again be central to their locational knowledge and they will use fieldwork to observe, measure, record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and digital technologies.
Thanks to our partners at HEP, we are able to provide a Key Stage 2 Geography curriculum that is ambitiously broad in scope, meticulous in rigour, highly coherent and very carefully sequenced. The substantive content is taught with ‘high-leverage’ activities, so that pupils think hard about the substance itself, so that they assimilate and retain material efficiently and so that they gain confidence from their fluency in foundational concepts, terms and reference points. In this way vocabulary will become extremely secure, with the range of vocabulary that pupils recognise growing all the time and creating resonance as pupils’ encounter it again and again, both consolidating that vocabulary and freeing up memory space for pupils to make sense of new material. We want our students to understand what the job of a geographer is and to think like geographers. Therefore, in studying geography as a discipline our pupils will:
Each unit of work builds on from the last and they result in the constant practice of various skills specific to the subject of Geography. The vocabulary is the core and children acquire powerful knowledge which enables them to become more knowledgeable more quickly.
To read more about our exciting HEP primary curriculum and the rationale behind it, please click here. | <urn:uuid:3a13e703-36dd-41bf-8896-479a65b8045b> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.sevensistersprimary.co.uk/geography/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.95549 | 711 | 4.0625 | 4 |
Tibet Autonomous Region lies in the southwest of China and in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is bounded to the north by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province, to the east by Sichuan Province, to the southeast by Yunnan Province, to the south and west by these countries: Burma, India, Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal. The region covers an area of around 1.22 million square kilometers, which accounts for 12.8% of the total of China Tibet Autonomous Region has very complex topography and falls into three geographic parts: the west, the south and the east. The west part, known as the North-Tibet Plateau, lies between Kunlun Mountain and Kangdese Mountain, and Tonglha Mountain and Nyainqentanglha Mountain.
Official Name: Xizang Zizhiqu
Int'l long form: Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)
Etymological: the name Tibet is derived from the Sanskrit word Trivistapa which means "heaven." | <urn:uuid:01256e1c-6923-493f-9a42-5fc4e69095cb> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.tibetguru.com/explore-tibet/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.929783 | 227 | 3.53125 | 4 |
The Jewish Community of Ioannina
The Jewish Community
The Jewish community of Ioannina has always been the indisputable center of Romaniote tradition. In the 8th and 9th century CE, Ioannina began to develop from a small lakeside hamlet to an urban center, which attracted Jews, among others, probably from nearby locations. Life became difficult for a long time, as the area was repeatedly invaded by foreign armies; at the same time, due mostly to domestic issues, the policies of Byzantine emperors towards the Jews fluctuated. Occasionally, detrimental imperial decrees were issued, although they only had a temporary effect. The earliest historic mention of the presence of Jewish residents in the city of Ioannina dates from the early 14th century, during the reign of Andronikos II Palaeologus, when two chrysobulls were issued under his name.
The history of Jewish community
The first dates from 1319 and grants a number of rights to the Jews of the city while stating that they should enjoy “freedom and security from any threat”. The second chrysobull (1321), confirms the existence of permanent Jewish residents in the city, as it promises them protection by the city. It seems to make a distinction between old residents, who enjoyed ancient privileges and were obliged to serve the bishop of Ioannina, and new arrivals, who lived in the city under a new status. It also contains a special mention of three members of the community who appear in the document as “the children of [Rabbis] Lamer, David and Shamaria (or Shemaria)”.
From October 1430, Ioannina belonged to the Ottoman Empire, within which Jews, as non-Muslim subjects, acquired some degree of autonomy. They could freely practice their religion and had administrative autonomy in all intra-community affairs, while enjoying some commercial and occupational privileges. After the arrival of Sephardic Jews in the Empire, at the end of the 15th century, many small Romaniote communities were assimilated by the newcomers; but this was not so for the Romaniote communities of Epirus (Arta, Preveza, Ioannina), where the Romaniote element prevailed until World War II.
The Jewish community of Ioannina saw its heyday in the early days of the 19th century when the city was under the authority of Ali Pasha (1788-1822). Many members of the community worked in administration offices, trade flourished and manufacturing was promoted. The Jewish population increased in number, as did the city’s population in general, and the habitation was also expanded to the area outside of the city’s fortification. The Romaniote Jews of Ioannina created what is possibly the most significant community of Greek-speaking Jews in Greece, and reached notable levels of cultural and financial development. The Jews of Ioannina mostly lived in the old neighborhood within the fortress walls, in the Megali Rouga (Big Street), next to the fortress (later renamed after Max Nordau and now known as Yossef Eliya Street) in Koundouriotou Street and the lanes leading to it, and in Leivadioti Street, which is now known as Soutsou Street.
The fate of this ancient community was sealed on the snowy day of March 25th, 1944, when the 1,870 Jews of the city were deported to Auschwitz. Ninety-two percent of the Romaniote Jews were exterminated in Nazi concentration camps. After the end of World War II, the Jewish community of Ioannina numbered a mere 181 members. Many of the survivors emigrated to the USA and Israel, but still maintain contact with their home city. Today there are fifty Jews left in Ioannina, though many live in Athens. Romaniote Jews, whose ancestral home is in Ioannina, still maintain links with their past and keep alive the awareness of their unique heritage.
For information on the Mass, please send us an email
The Synagogue is located inside the Castle (15 Ioustinianou Str.) | <urn:uuid:e8c70df5-39ed-4b00-b4f0-6dd2e54b8c30> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.travelioannina.com/pages/jewish-community-ioannina | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.973743 | 849 | 3.53125 | 4 |
A learning design toolkit to create pedagogically effective learning activities A learning design toolkit to create pedagogically effective learning activities Gráinne Conole and Karen Fill Abstract: Despite the plethora of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools and resources available, practitioners are still not making effective use of e-learning to enrich the student experience. This article describes a learning design toolkit which guides practitioners through the process of creating pedagogically informed learning activities which make effective use of appropriate tools and resources. This work is part of a digital libraries project in which teaching staff at two universities in the UK and two in the USA are collaborating to share e-learning resources in the subject domains of Physical, Environmental and Human Geography.
Using technology to improve curriculum design Introduction The process of curriculum design combines educational design with many other areas including: information management, market research, marketing, quality enhancement, quality assurance and programme and course approval. The curriculum must evolve to meet the changing needs of students and employers. It must change to reflect new needs, new audiences and new approaches to learning. Considered use of technology as part of the curriculum design process can help you to
Developing digital literacies in practice Strategies and policies will guide direction but change happens ‘on the ground’ through ‘change agents’ working to support staff and students in developing their skills and practice. This section will focus on approaches and resources which can help those involved in staff and student support. The curriculum provides the framework for developing student digital literacies and engaging staff in dialogue around what it means to be a digitally literate student, teacher, professional etc in a particular discipline. How to Infuse Digital Literacy Throughout the Curriculum So how are we doing on the push to teach “digital literacy” across the K12 school spectrum? From my perspective as a school-based technology coach and history teacher, I’d say not as well as we might wish – in part because our traditional approach to curriculum and instruction wants to sort everything into its place. Digital literacy is defined as “the ability to effectively and critically navigate, evaluate, and create information using a range of digital technologies.” Many educational and business professional cite is as a critical 21st century skill.
Learning Design - The Project Following: An example, How to construct a sequence, An early version An Example of a Learning Design Sequence The project evolved a graphical representation mechanism to describe and document the generic learning design foci in terms of the tasks, resources and supports that would be required in the learning setting. Material Results Generational Issues in Global Education This course provides an introduction to generational issues in global education. Topics include a comparison of the strengths... see more This course provides an introduction to generational issues in global education. Topics include a comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of the generational styles of learning, parallels between the different generations, facilitating collaboration between the generations rather than isolation the cohort experience of each generation, the learning style of the different generations and a pedagogy for the 21st century.A companion iBook is available for free from the iTunes Bookstore:
Digital Literacy Instruction Digital literacy instruction in Adams 12 Five Star Schools addresses the skills that our students need to be productive, successful citizens in the 21st century. Digital Literacy includes: Information Literacy - the ability to find relevant information; the ability to evaluate information for reliability and validity; the ability to use information to draw conclusions or create a productTechnology Literacy - the ability to select and use a variety of software, applications, mobile devices, and online tools and programs to produce digital productsDigital Citizenship - the ability to use technology (online programs and sites, computers, and mobile devices) appropriately and responsibly Digital Literacy Skills Instructional Technology and Library Services department has identified digital literacy skills for students in grades K-12. Student Use of Computers, the Internet and Electronic Communications
5 Dimensions Of Critical Digital Literacy: A Framework 5 Dimensions Of Critical Digital Literacy: A Framework Digital Literacy is increasingly important in an age where many students read as much on screens as they do from books. In fact, the very definition of many of these terms is changing as the overlap across media forms increases. Interactive eBooks can function like both long-form blogs and traditional books. Threaded email can look and function like social media. Diana Laurillard – The SOLE Model & Toolkit It is always a privilege to be listed with others whose work one admires. I was pointed recently to a page produced by Laura Heap at the London Metropolitan University in May 2014 on their eLearning Matrix pages. On a page where Laura outlines possible answers to the question “What models are there for blended and distance online learning delivery?” she has chosen to include my work here on the SOLE Model alongside some people that I deeply admire. Laura lists four different models (references on the London Met webpage) which each, in very different ways, seek to clarify dimensions of the challenge presented by distance and blended learning scenarios (something I have already written about on my personal blog). Professor Terry Anderson at Athabasca University (Canada), alongside Randy Garrison, whilst at the University of Calgary back in the late 1990s and 2000s, developed a “community of inquiry model” as an instructional design model for e-learning.
Is Design Thinking Missing From ADDIE? SumoMe Even though a crucial part of our jobs involve design, the prevailing instructional design models are based on systems thinking. Systems thinking promotes an analytical or engineering type of mindset. | <urn:uuid:0ab296dc-d559-492c-89a2-80a3649f6a5e> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | http://www.pearltrees.com/u/14108791-welcome-to-the-design-studio | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.926679 | 1,126 | 3.671875 | 4 |
The Graphics Processing Unit, if available, takes load from the CPU and thus helps make graphics rendering faster.
What is a GPU?
A graphics processing unit (GPU) [...] is a specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the building of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display. GPUs are used in embedded systems, mobile phones, personal computers, workstations, and game consoles. Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating computer graphics, and their highly parallel structure makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for algorithms where processing of large blocks of data is done in parallel.
- graphics deals with graphics in general, not necessarily related to the GPU. This tag might be used in conjunction, if it makes sense.
- graphs: Plotting/creating of graphs. Usually unrelated to GPU.
- hardware-acceleration: Of course a good GPU does that...
- processor: usually refers to the CPU. If your issue concerns both, CPU and GPU, you can (and should) of course use both tags.
- tegra: Tegra refers to a chipset including both, CPU and GPU. There are multiple versions of that chipset. Depending on your question, you might use this tag additionally to or instead of the "gpu" tag.
- video: if your issue is video-related, you might already find a solution following this tag. Not everybody is aware of "GPUs" :) | <urn:uuid:0d254a80-4eca-410b-b06b-6453de0927df> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://android.stackexchange.com/tags/gpu/info | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.899241 | 297 | 3.84375 | 4 |
It’s been more than 20 years since we observed the turn of the millennium. Yet, there still remains an unacceptable level of unresolved issues from the past. Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) is still heavily compromised in many parts of the world. Whilst this article’s main focus is poor sanitation, it also relates to unsafe water and lack of hygiene. Both are compounded by unsafe sanitation.
Poor sanitation, which refers to lack of access to clean drinking water and unsafe disposal of human waste, not only carries its own burden of diseases, but it may stand in the way of the infection control strategies against the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst some countries are already battling sanitation-related infectious diseases, COVID-19 has only added to their plight. As demonstrated in the following video, people living in rural, vulnerable, and war-torn areas are the most affected. This combined effect of simultaneous multiple infectious diseases makes it even more pertinent to address the sanitation issue as promptly as possible if we want to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
A real burden as per global data
Who is at risk?
Whether it is by lack of access to safely managed sanitation or basic handwashing facilities or open defecation, poor sanitation kills about 775,000 people yearly. A large study, the Global Burden of Diseases 2017, lists poor sanitation as a major risk factor for death globally. The more recent version, which is the Global Burden of Diseases 2019, posits that children below 10 years are the most vulnerable. For this demographic, the Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years (DALYs) have declined at a faster rate with six infectious diseases figuring among the top ten causes of DALYs. Among these, diarrhoeal causes rank third. With more deaths from diarrhoeal diseases occurring in Sub-Saharan countries and South Asia (Ourworldindata, 2019) and with the highest risk factors for such diseases being unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation, it is clear that these deaths are largely preventable.
Poor sanitation-related diseases
Poor sanitation facilitates the transmission of water-borne pathogens that cause diseases, such as hepatitis A, dysentery, cholera, typhoid, etc. The following video depicts the vicious cycle through which open defecation can lead to infectious diseases in humans:
Mind you! Open defecation or the use of unsafe sanitation are not the only causes of diseases. Mismanaged wastewater causes 10% of the global population to consume contaminated crops. When crops are irrigated by wastewater, people ingest contaminated food and become sick.
Besides the overt infectious diseases, unsafe sanitation exacerbates malnutrition and contributes to child stunting. Malnutrition also results from under-eating or over-eating, which hinders the body from receiving the right balance of nutrients in the body. In this context, malnutrition can be potentiated by worms infections or repetitive diarrhoeal episodes, but it remains treatable. Stunting is more serious than that and can occur in young children.
Stunting – a serious problem
Child stunting cannot be simplistically attributed to malnutrition. Stunting is the consequence of chronic nutritional deficiencies with irreversible damage and lifelong repercussions (Hoddinott et al., 2013). A large body of evidence now puts forward a condition called environmental enteropathy. It is found in children who do not have proper access to WASH and likely explains how a child’s immune system keeps on fighting subclinical (not noticeable or overt enough) infection acquired from a poor hygienic lifestyle (Schmidt, 2014). Most of the child’s energy is drained into the chronic infectious fight instead of being used for growth (Schmidt, 2014; Watanabe & Petri, 2016). Unsurprisingly, epidemics of child stunting have been found mainly in low socio-economic areas. As of 2020, despite improvements, stunting affects 22% of children globally (WHO, 2021).
Poor sanitation: Germane to COVID-19 pandemic
The world has now witnessed how the widespread complacency and lack of rigorous action in the field of infectious disease control resulted in the worst nightmare of this era: The COVID-19 pandemic. This demonstrates that it’s more important than ever to optimise our infection control strategies on all fronts.
This pandemic has highlighted the importance of handwashing as a pivotal control measure. However, can we talk of hand hygiene without safe sanitation? Two out of five people (around three billion people) worldwide still lack basic handwashing facilities (WHO/UNICEF 2019).
Although hand hygiene practice can never be overemphasised, it is just one among many equally important strategies. These strategies work to mitigate the proliferation of many types of communicable diseases, not just COVID-19. The provision and maintenance of good sanitation is a linchpin for infection control. Segregating clean water sources allows them to be kept pristine from contaminated water bodies. Whilst the former is usually meant for consumption, the latter should only be used for waste management. Another way good sanitation complements infection control measures is by acting as a major protective barrier to the faeco-oral route transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. Yet, in many parts of the world, such basic infection control strategies are still elusive. Hence, securing good sanitation for all is an irrevocable must and coincides with the UN Sustainable Goal Development 6 (SDG6).
It took us the experience of this pandemic to understand the importance of handwashing practices. Do we need another shockwave of this magnitude to realise the importance of good sanitation in the battle against infectious diseases?
How bad is the current situation?
According to the most recent data (2017), about 673 million people practice open defecation – often contaminating water bodies. This practice is not happening just because of a lack of access to toilets/latrines. For instance, a survey revealed a preference for open defecation in Northern rural India (Coffey et al., 2014). In Kenya, culture followed by poverty levels were positively associated with open defecation (Busienei et al., 2019). What makes the situation harder in Kenya is also the water crisis that the country is facing (See Kenya’s water problems: A country in crisis).
This cultural practice is explored in the Bollywood movie Toilet. It portrays the practical and emotional drawbacks of open defecation. The film also focused on some major barriers that certain communities face in accessing toilets/latrines. Besides other identified barriers such as culture, religious beliefs, and habits, the movie also showed how open defecation is widely accepted because of gender inequality.
A social burden
Open defecation by women increases risk of rape, assault and snake bites. In India, women who defecate in the open are twice as likely to be victim of non-partner sexual violence compared to a women who have access to toilets in their household (Jadhav et al., 2016). The psychosocial wellbeing of women who helplessly defecate in the open are also generally impacted (Saleem et al., 2019). As per a study conducted on snake bite admissions in an Indian hospital, 14% of snake bites happened while defecating (Singh et al., 2008).
Therefore, tackling the problem of poor sanitation in regards to open defecation requires a multi-pronged approach. The latter needs to work hand in hand with contemporary issues, such as gender inequality and clustered illiteracy.
The basis for an ACTION PLAN
A recent systematic review by Bishoge (2021) identified several barriers that are impeding the progress towards improved or safely managed sanitation in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the problem is rife. For instance, the rapid population growth remained unassisted due to the lack of financial resources. Other barriers included the lack of skilled workforce and appropriate policies as well as people’s behaviour in general. The study also identified how political commitment is pivotal in improving sanitation. The relatively successful series of action and interventions that were brought by the Indian Government, in partnership with UNICEF, support the study’s findings.
With increased funding and a major project called Swacch Bharat Mission and under a strong political supervision, as of 2019, the rate of open defecation due to lack of access to toilets has significantly reduced. From 568 million people defecating in the open in 2015, at least 450 million Indians now have access to toilets (UNICEF India). Previously India alone constituted half of the 1.2 billion people practicing open defecation. However, in the aftermath of years of concerted effort, India has since October 2019 been declared open-defecation free. Whether this is totally true or not, is debatable. Although availability and access to toilets have improved, a reluctance in using toilets in rural Bihar has recently been documented in a study by Jain et al. (2020). Nonetheless, most studies have acknowledged a significant improvement following India’s efforts to improve sanitation.
The main driving forces
The take away from the measurable success of that mission shows that political commitment together with international involvement (UNICEF in this instance) can achieve great progress. However, for the sustainable use of toilets and the sustainable behavioural change, more needs to be done. Providing the services is one thing. Changing behaviours is another. Both are needed to keep sanitation-related diseases at bay. With good distributive justice, achieving universal access to proper sanitation is plausible. I believe the current pandemic provides enough motivation for international cooperation in this endeavour. Similarly, sustainable behaviour change can also be instilled in people through health promotion strategies that are politically driven. Learn more about sustainability topics on THRIVE! | <urn:uuid:91da3f22-55bc-49dd-b23b-6ac9c6477bb2> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://blog.strive2thrive.earth/poor-sanitation-and-the-related-burden-of-diseases/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.942204 | 2,004 | 3.5625 | 4 |
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe speeds past Venus on Feb. 20, 2021, using the planet’s gravity to shape its path for its next close approaches to the Sun.
At just after 3:05 p.m. EST, moving about 54,000 miles per hour (about 86,900 kilometers per hour), the spacecraft will pass 1,482 miles (2,385 kilometers) above Venus’ surface as it curves around the planet. Such Venus gravity assists are essential to the mission to bring the spacecraft close to the Sun; Parker Solar Probe relies on the planet to reduce its orbital energy, which in turn allows it to travel closer to the Sun – and inspect the properties of the solar wind closer to its source.
This is the fourth of seven planned Venus gravity assists, and will set Parker Solar Probe up for its eighth and ninth close passes by the Sun, slated for April 29 and Aug. 9. During each of those passes, Parker Solar Probe will break its own record when it comes approximately 6.5 million miles (10.4 million kilometers) from the solar surface, about 1.9 million miles closer than the previous closest approach – or perihelion – of 8.4 million miles (13.5 million kilometers) on Jan. 17.
By Mike Buckley
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab | <urn:uuid:16c794f5-54b3-4d53-8862-4cf29c0de3f4> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://blogs.nasa.gov/parkersolarprobe/2021/02/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.897966 | 272 | 3.640625 | 4 |
by Emily Oldfield, BLT Guest Writer
What is soil health?
Can you diagnose a soil as healthy or not? Recently, the concept of “soil health” has gained traction in policy, research, and farming circles. The generally agreed-upon definition of soil health, put out by the Soil Science Society of America, is “the continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.” The ability of a soil to function rests, in part, on the amount of organic matter in the soil (that is, anything that was alive and is now decomposing in the soil). Soil organic matter constitutes a small fraction of the total volume of soil (see figure), but it has an outsize influence on the overall health of soil. Soil organic matter contributes to soil fertility in several key ways: by providing increased aeration and water holding capacity; by providing habitat for soil organisms, which fuel nutrient cycling by decomposing organic matter; and by retaining and releasing nutrients critical to plant growth.
From the state level to the international arena, initiatives are launching that promote building up soil organic matter in agricultural soils. A few examples include the California Healthy Soils Initiative, which incentivizes growers and ranchers to enact management practices that improve soil health. Closer to home, Massachusetts is considering legislation to establish a healthy soils program within their Department of Agricultural Resources. This legislation was initiated in the aftermath of New England’s summer drought of 2016, which led to significant crop failures across the state (soil organic matter’s ability to absorb and retain water can help mitigate the impacts of drought). At the national level, the 2018 Farm Bill passed by Congress includes funding for agricultural practices that improve soil health. Finally, the 4 per mile Initiative, launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015, promotes practices that boost organic matter concentrations in soils.
How to build soil health?
Practices to build soil health rest on increasing the amount of organic matter in the soil. Such practices include adding compost to farm beds, retaining plant residues on the soil surface, planting cover crops such as rye and vetch after fall harvest, and reducing or eliminating soil tillage to prevent the break-up of organic matter in the soil. These practices can have benefits beyond the immediate health of a particular field – they can actually impact the larger ecosystem as well. For instance, increasing soil organic matter helps retain soil nutrients, which helps prevent agricultural fertilizer run-off that can pollute local watersheds; it can reduce the need for inputs of mineral fertilizers by providing sufficient crop-available nutrients; and it can also help sequester carbon and therefore potentially help mitigate rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels under climate change.
You can learn more about soil health and initiatives aimed at increasing soil organic matter concentrations with these online resources: www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/health, and www.4p1000.org.
Figure 2: Examples of farming practices that can increase soil organic matter concentrations. On the left, no-till practices prevent the breakdown of soil structure and loss of soil organic matter by minimizing disturbance to the soil; on the right, planting cover crops increases carbon inputs into the soil and protects soil from loss and erosion after cash crops have been harvested. Images courtesy of the National Resource Conservation Service (top) and the Yale Sustainable Food Program (bottom).
Emily Oldfield recently completed her PhD in soil ecology at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. The big over-arching question of her dissertation research was how to continue feeding a growing population in a way that minimizes harm on the environment. In answering this question, she focused specifically on the role that soil organic matter plays in fostering soil fertility, crop productivity, and carbon sequestration. | <urn:uuid:1e52732e-d46e-43e3-b413-2a6c424d26e7> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://branfordlandtrust.org/soil-health-the-basics/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.938311 | 791 | 3.671875 | 4 |
Visual Field Testing
Your visual field refers to how much you can see around you, including objects in your peripheral (side) vision. Testing your visual field is important to the health of your eyes. Visual field tests help your ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) monitor any loss of vision and diagnose eye problems and disease.
How is a visual field test performed?
The test can be done with either a dark screen on a wall or with a large, bowl-shaped instrument called a perimeter. One of your eyes is temporarily patched during the test. You will be instructed to look straight ahead at a fixed spot and watch for targets (spots of light) to appear in your field of vision. When you see the target, you press the indicator button. It is very important to always keep looking straight ahead. It is important to not move your eyes to look for the target; wait until it appears in your side vision.
Why are visual field tests important?
Initially, visual field tests help your ophthalmologist diagnose problems with your eyes, optic nerve or brain, including:
- Loss of vision
- Disorders of the retina
- Brain tumors
Visual field testing is the only way to document actual visual loss and whether the loss is progressing or remaining stable. If you are diagnosed with a particular disorder or disease, visual field tests may become a routine part of your treatment. People who have glaucoma or who are at risk for developing it takes visual field tests every six months to a year to make sure their condition is stable and no vision loss has occurred. | <urn:uuid:1e36f028-cf06-450f-88a4-1a0f66c581f7> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://centerforeyecare.com/glaucoma-miami/visual-field-testing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.93293 | 323 | 3.84375 | 4 |
|Lebanon Table of Contents
On the eve of the 1975 Civil War, Lebanon's general standard of living was comfortable and higher than that in any other Arab country. Regional variations existed in housing standards and sanitation and in quality of diet, but according to government surveys most Lebanese were adequately sheltered and fed. Known for their ingenuity and resourcefulness in trading and in entrepreneurship, the Lebanese have shown a marked ability to create prosperity in a country which is not richly endowed with natural resources. Economic gain was a strong motivating force in all social groups.
Many problems affecting the general welfare before the war stemmed from high prices and the massive rural exodus to the cities. This exodus has been linked to rapid soil erosion, fragmented landholdings, and a distinct preference of most Lebanese for urban living and for urban occupations. The population increase in the cities, especially in Beirut, created severe housing shortages for those unable to pay the high rents for modern apartments. It also aggravated the problems of urban transportation and planning. The high cost of living, which had been steadily rising since the 1950s, further diminished the purchasing power of small rural incomes and threatened the consumption patterns of lowand middle-income groups in the cities. Of special concern were high rents, school fees, and the price of food and clothing. Many urban households lived on credit, and indebtedness was widespread in some parts of the countryside.
In urban centers, where the Western influence was most apparent in the 1980s, there had been a tremendous increase in modern apartment buildings that had almost erased the scenes of traditional-style houses with red-tiled roofs. The government did not take action during the construction boom of the early 1970s to protect these remnants of Lebanon's culture. In rural Lebanon, houses with flat earthen roofs were the most common. The size and shape of the house indicated one's economic status.
Source: U.S. Library of Congress | <urn:uuid:9515f115-e359-47ac-8b2d-55a2fd72093c> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://countrystudies.us/lebanon/64.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.970346 | 387 | 3.90625 | 4 |
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are crucial tools in our efforts to protect the environment. As the world faces the consequences of climate change and human activities, understanding EIAs is more important than ever. In this article, we'll explain the purpose of an EIA, highlight its benefits, and provide examples of companies that have conducted these assessments globally and in India.
The Purpose of Environmental Impact Assessments
Evaluating Environmental Consequences
The primary purpose of an EIA is to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of a proposed project or policy. It helps decision-makers identify and assess any negative environmental impacts that may arise from their actions.
Guiding Sustainable Development
By identifying potential environmental issues early on, Environmental Impact Assessments guide sustainable development practices. They ensure that projects and policies are in line with environmental conservation goals and help reduce the strain on our planet's resources.
The Benefits of Environmental Impact Assessments
EIAs provide valuable information to decision-makers, allowing them to make more informed choices regarding projects and policies. With a better understanding of potential environmental impacts, they can avoid or minimize harm to the environment.
Conducting an EIA helps businesses and governments meet legal requirements. Many countries have laws mandating EIAs for certain projects, ensuring that environmental considerations are taken into account before any work begins.
Minimizing Adverse Effects
EIAs help minimize adverse environmental impacts by identifying potential issues early on. This allows project managers to modify plans, implement mitigation measures, or even abandon a project if necessary to protect the environment.
EIAs often involve public participation, allowing communities to voice their concerns about proposed projects. This democratic process helps build trust between stakeholders and encourages more environmentally responsible decision-making.
Conducting EIAs helps companies can demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection. This can enhance their reputation, leading to increased customer loyalty, investor interest, and even better partnerships with other businesses.
Global Examples of Environmental Impact Assessments
Royal Dutch Shell
In 2020, Royal Dutch Shell released its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, which includes an EIA for its Prelude floating liquefied natural gas facility in Australia. The report detailed how the company is managing environmental risks and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Mining giant Rio Tinto conducts EIAs for its operations around the world. For example, the company's Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia underwent an EIA that addressed potential impacts on water resources, air quality, and biodiversity.
Chevron, an American multinational energy corporation, conducts EIAs as part of its commitment to environmental stewardship. For instance, for its Gorgon Gas Project in Western Australia, Chevron conducted an EIA to examine potential impacts on marine life, greenhouse gas emissions, and the local community.
Automobile giant Volkswagen AG has also incorporated EIAs in their operations. The company conducted an EIA before expanding its manufacturing plant in Puebla, Mexico, assessing the potential impact on air quality, noise levels, and water resources.
BHP Group, a leading global resources company, conducts EIAs for its mining operations. For example, BHP conducted an EIA for its Jansen Potash Project in Canada, assessing the potential impacts on local wildlife, water resources, and air quality.
Indian Examples of Environmental Impact Assessments
Tata Steel, one of India's leading steel producers, conducts EIAs as part of its commitment to sustainable development. The company's Kalinganagar Steel Plant in Odisha underwent an EIA to assess the potential impacts on air and water quality, land use, and local communities.
The Adani Group, a major Indian conglomerate, has conducted EIAs for various projects, including its Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone in Gujarat. The EIA helped identify environmental concerns, such as the potential impact on the local marine ecosystem.
Reliance Industries, a key player in India's energy sector, regularly performs EIAs. The company conducted an EIA for its Jamnagar Refinery in Gujarat, examining potential impacts on air quality, soil health, and the socioeconomic conditions of the local community.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
Larsen & Toubro (L&T), a major Indian multinational engaged in technology, engineering, construction, and financial services, regularly performs EIAs. The company conducted an EIA for its metro rail project in Hyderabad to assess the potential impacts on local traffic, noise levels, and air quality.
Infosys, a leading provider of consulting and IT services, conducts EIAs for its campus development projects. The company's EIA for its Mysore campus, for example, examined potential impacts on local biodiversity, waste management, and energy consumption.
Mahindra & Mahindra
Automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra conducts EIAs for its manufacturing plants. The company's Chakan plant in Maharashtra underwent an EIA to assess potential impacts on water resources, air quality, and waste management.
Understanding Environmental Impact Assessments is not just about grasping its purpose or knowing its benefits. It's about acknowledging our responsibility to protect the planet. These assessments help us make informed decisions, ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of our environment.
In today's era, with rising environmental concerns, Environmental Impact Assessments have become a necessity. They are our guiding light towards sustainable development, helping us strike a balance between economic growth and environmental preservation. From global giants like Royal Dutch Shell and Rio Tinto to Indian powerhouses like Tata Steel, Adani Group, and Reliance Industries, the adoption of EIAs reflects a growing commitment to sustainability.
However, an EIA is only as effective as its presentation. A well-designed, easy-to-understand EIA can significantly improve communication between stakeholders, leading to better decision-making and increased public participation.
And that's where DesignMyReport comes in. As one of India's leading report design agencies, it has been instrumental in crafting compelling and comprehensive EIAs for multinational companies across the globe and in India. Their designs not only simplify complex data but also ensure that the findings of the EIA are accurately and effectively communicated.
So, if you're planning a project that requires an Environmental Impact Assessment, partner with DesignMyReport. They'll help you turn your EIA into a powerful tool for sustainable development. Don't just make an assessment, make an impact. | <urn:uuid:188e3a47-860b-499b-b35f-6a6fe8b3fc1f> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://designmyreport.com/blog/understanding-environmental-impact-assessments.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.925243 | 1,338 | 3.78125 | 4 |
What is brucellosis?
Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria in the Brucella genus. Symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, profuse sweating, chills, weight loss, and general aching. Infections of organs including the liver, spleen, and lining of the heart may also occur.
Where does it come from?
Several Brucella species cause brucellosis in cattle, bison, elk, sheep, swine, dogs, coyotes, deer, and caribou. Recently, a new strain was found in seals and sea lions. The Washington State Department of Agriculture requires female cattle to be vaccinated against the disease. Washington was declared free of swine brucellosis in 1975 and of bovine brucellosis in 1988.
How is it spread?
People can be infected by consuming unpasteurized milk and dairy products from infected cows, sheep and goats. It can also be spread when skin wounds are contaminated through contact with infected animal tissue, urine, blood, vaginal discharges, aborted fetuses, and especially placentas. Inhalation of the bacteria is uncommon, but can present a risk to laboratory workers who handle Brucella specimens or abattoir employees. Person to person infection is unlikely. Brucella is a possible agent of bioterrorism.
What is the treatment?
A combination of antibiotics for at least six weeks is necessary.
How soon do symptoms appear?
Usually within 5 to 60 days of exposure, but up to several months.
How common is brucellosis?
Brucellosis is rare in humans in the United States. Most cases are among recent immigrants, people who have ingested food products imported from abroad, or in people who have traveled to countries where brucellosis is common. Occasionally there are cases reported in veterinarians, butchers, rendering plant workers, meat inspectors, hunters, and farmers. There were 20 cases reported in Washington between 1990 and 2009, most of which were infections in recent immigrants or acquired abroad.
How can we prevent the spread of brucellosis?
The main way to prevent human brucellosis is by eliminating the disease in domestic animals. Cattle, dairy goats, and swine imported from other states are required to have a health certificate indicating that they are brucellosis-free. If working with animal carcasses protect open wounds or abrasions with bandages and use protective clothing, gloves and goggles. Avoid picking up wildlife of any kind. Consume only pasteurized milk or milk products. Wash your hands after handling any animal carcass or raw meat product.
What should I do if I suspect someone in my family has brucellosis?
Contact your primary health care provider or call your local health department.
Where can I get more information?
For more information call Communicable Disease Epidemiology, 206-418-5500 or toll-free 877-539-4344. | <urn:uuid:97c7bd2e-41e4-45cf-ab7a-8b8d3b4821d7> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://doh.wa.gov/zh-hant/node/5110 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.936315 | 605 | 4 | 4 |
This research project assesses and communicates the impacts of water pollution on communities and ecosystems along Athi River, Kenya. It is 698kms long, flows southeast with its source in Ngong Hills, and its delta along the Indian Ocean coastline. It drains an area of 38,256 km2 and is a major water source to millions of people and several ecosystems including Tsavo National Park.
However, over the past 15 years, it has been on the receiving end of Nairobi’s waste. All sorts of the garbage get dumped into it, especially plastic waste and clothing items. This trash floats downstream, causing division between rural farmers and the city residents. Furthermore, a combination of grey and black water from raw sewage and d d industrial waste is constantly dumped into the river, untreated and unchecked.
This expedition, which is on its second stage, trekked 260kms downstream of the middle section of the river in December 2020. We measured and mapped the presence of heavy metals such as zinc, lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. In addition, we analyzed faecal coliforms within the river and the water quality parameters. This information, combined with an assessment of bird species and aquatic invertebrates, provides a clear picture of the status of the riverine ecosystems. Our research will be shared with relevant government bodies to inform environmental decisions, such as clean up and restoration efforts. Eventually, this will lead to an improvement of the river, a vital ecosystem that connects the city residents to the rural farmers.
This project is sponsored by IdeaWild, National Geographic Society, Catawba College (USA) | <urn:uuid:2507405e-87a5-4351-a026-29d9c6338565> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://explorerskenya.org/athi-river/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.947134 | 331 | 3.921875 | 4 |
It causes prominent raised tar spots 5-15 mm across, usually with a furrowed surface. As Maple leaves develop to full size, light to yellowish green spots develop in the infected areas of the leaves. The area becomes yellow, with numerous small, raised, black spots forming within the yellow area. As late summer and early fall approaches the black spots coalesce to form a large, irregular, shiny raised spots with the appearance of wet tar, called a stroma. Severely infected leaves may fall prematurely.
DESCRIPTION AND CAUSE:
It occurs wherever maples grow in moist environments. The disease cycle is similar for both species of the fungus that cause tar spot. In early spring sticky spores are released from fruiting bodies on diseased maple leaves lying on the ground, and travel in the air to developing maple leaves. Within a month or two, light green spots develop on infected leaves. The tarlike spots don’t appear until late summer or fall. After over wintering the tarlike lesions on fallen leaves produce sexual spores that infect young maple leaves and continue the cycle of infection for another season.
In recent years, tar spot caused by R. acerinum has been increasing in frequency and severity. The fungus overwinters on fallen, diseased maple leaves. Rake up and destroy maple leaves in autumn to reduce the amount of inoculum for the following spring. In the home landscape, raking up fallen leaves may be sufficient to manage the disease. In nursery settings, protective fungicide applications may be warranted as leaves develop in the Spring.
Reference: Nursery and Landscape Plant Production and IPM Publication 383 and Insects that Feed on Trees and Shrubs; Johnson and Lyon,
A Pocket IPM Scouting Guide for woody Landscape Plants by Diane Brown-Rytlewski | <urn:uuid:3a09f2fa-0140-419b-8682-e71af7cea8df> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://fourseasonstreecare.com/tree-care-services/insects-and-diseases/tar-spot-on-maples/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.928901 | 371 | 3.671875 | 4 |
What are PFas and how to remove them
This section covers what PFAS are, how they got into water supplies, potential health effects and how we safely remove them. Also see our publication in Water Quality Products Magazine about PFAS in the publications section of our website.
PFAS (Per and Polyfluroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries since the 1940s. Some of the more common commercial applications have been for products like Teflon, stain & water–resistant materials, paints, polishes and fire fighting foams (a major source of ground water pollution near airports, military bases and fire fighting training centers). These chemicals are being detected at dangerous levels in drinking water supplies around the country. (For removal methods, see the lower section of this page).
PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. Both chemicals do not break down and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. As a result, these chemicals are no longer manufactured in the United States, but are still made in other countries and may be contained in imported products. In May, 2016 the EPA issued a health advisory level at 70 parts per trillion for both PFOA and PFOS. If you are on town water, they are required to notify you if this advisory level is exceeded.
HEALTH AFFECTS OF PFAS
There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes in humans. If humans or animals ingest it (by eating or drinking food or water), they are absorbed and can accumulate in the body. PFAS stay in the human body for long periods of time. As a result, as people get exposed from different sources over time, the level in their bodies may increase to the point where they suffer from adverse health effects.
Studies indicate that PFOA and PFOS can cause reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and immunological effects in laboratory animals. Both chemicals have caused tumors in animal studies. The most consistent findings from human epidemiology studies are increased cholesterol levels among exposed populations, with more limited findings related to infant birth weights and:
- effects on the immune system
- cancer (for PFOA), and
- thyroid hormone disruption (for PFOS).
Note: see https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas for more detailed information.
Removal of PFAs FROM WATER
Activated Carbon, Point of Entry System
Granular Activated Carbon, which has been tested for the reduction of PFAS/ PFOA according to NSF/ANSI 53 as well as P473, will remove these chemicals at the point of entry into your home or building. The carbon must be exchanged approximately every 100,000 gallons. We have, however, had better experience with the Ion Exchange approach.
Reverse Osmosis, Point of Use System
This membrane based purification technology is typically installed under the kitchen sink, feeding a separate faucet or installed in the basement below running a line up to the faucet. We can also run lines to feed ice makers or refrigerator dispensers. This can remove up to 99% of PFAS in the water. See http://reverse-osmosis-ro-water-purification.
Ion Exchange (Anion Resin)
-This is a process that selectively removes contaminants from solution by effectively swapping out ions of similar electrical charges. Ion Exchange targets specific substances for removal based on their ionic charges, while leaving innocuous minerals in solution. The unwanted ions are captured by the resin beads in the tank. This method is becoming increasingly more attractive as the resin tends to last longer than activated carbon before requiring change-out. THE PREFERRED APPROACH | <urn:uuid:16311378-5abd-4453-8b47-9a5e32f1a8d2> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://h2ocare.com/what-are-pfas/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.950654 | 798 | 3.546875 | 4 |
What is the Ct value in the novel coronavirus PCR test?
The PCR test, which is widely used as a test for new coronavirus infection, is a test that amplifies and detects genes extracted from the virus. The "Ct value" obtained from the PCR test is used to determine positivity, and even the same positive result will have different infectivity depending on the difference in the "Ct value.
Table of Contents
Principle of PCR testing
What is PCR?
The PCR test is also well known as a test for the new coronavirus, but its official name is "polymerase chain reaction," which is an acronym for Polymerase Chain Reaction in English.
Polymerase" is an enzyme that synthesizes deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the nucleic acid that makes up genes, and the technique of using this enzyme to increase DNA is called PCR.
PCR technology is used not only to test for infectious diseases such as new coronaviruses, but also for basic research in medicine and biology, environmental testing such as water and soil quality, forensic investigation, and many other applications.
Principle of PCR
The PCR technique was invented in 1983 by American biochemist Kary Mullis, who subsequently won the Nobel Prize.
(There are many anecdotes about the invention, including the fact that the principle was conceived on a date during a drive, and that no one took it seriously at first because it was such an outlandish idea, so it is interesting to look it up if you are interested.)
DNA consists of two pairs of polynucleotide chains of four different base pairs: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).
This is the famous double helix structure. (Figure 1)
In PCR, these two connected strands are pulled apart by heat to form one strand each.
Next, the temperature is lowered and a short DNA molecule (primer) is attached to the single strand.
These primers are designed to bind specifically only to the portion of the gene sequence that you wish to amplify.
Finally, polymerase synthesizes DNA from the primer-bound portion, creating a new double-stranded DNA.
As you can see in the figure, one PCR reaction increases one strand of DNA to two.
By repeating the PCR reaction, the DNA increases 2-fold, 4-fold, 8-fold, 16-fold, and so on... 40 repetitions will result in an approximate 1 trillion-fold increase.
This reaction requires precise control of the temperature by raising and lowering it in a short period of time, and is performed using a special machine called a "thermal cycler.
The PCR technique itself is intended to increase DNA, but PCR that uses fluorescent dyes to examine how much DNA is being increased in real time is called "real-time PCR.
In PCR testing for novel coronaviruses, the real-time PCR technique is primarily used to detect DNA in real time.
What is Ct value and PCR
You may have heard the term "Ct value" used in PCR testing for novel coronaviruses.
The term is a bit difficult to understand, but simply put, it refers to the number of PCR cycles required for DNA to be amplified sufficiently to be detected.
In other words, if the amount of DNA present at the beginning is high, the Ct value will be low because a sufficient amount of DNA will be amplified in a small number of PCRs.
Conversely, if the initial amount of DNA is small, the Ct value will be higher because a large number of PCRs will be required to amplify a sufficient amount of DNA.
PCR test for novel coronaviruses
In addition to PCR, PCR testing for novel coronaviruses involves the process of extracting RNA of novel coronaviruses from nasopharyngeal wipes, saliva, and other specimens, and purifying it by removing impurities.
Also, although PCR has been described so far as a technique for amplifying DNA, novel coronaviruses are RNA viruses composed of RNA and do not contain DNA.
Therefore, an additional process called "reverse transcription," in which RNA is converted to DNA before PCR is performed, is also required.
The actual testing procedure can be summarized as follows: 1) collection of specimen (nasopharynx, saliva, etc.) → 2) RNA extraction from the specimen → 3) conversion of RNA to DNA (reverse transcription) → 4) real-time PCR.
Because of the many and complex procedures, the inspection can take several hours to complete. It is also an inspection that requires specialized and skilled techniques.
What the PCR test can tell us
Relationship between Ct values and disease status
Ct values can be used to determine whether a patient is positive or negative for novel coronavirus.
In Japan, many facilities consider a Ct value less than 40 to be positive.
As explained earlier, a Ct value of 40 means that the viral gene is amplified approximately one trillion times, which means that even a very small number of viruses can test positive.
However, there is no absolute indicator as to which value is considered positive if it is smaller than which value, and it varies from institution to institution and from country to country.
Another disadvantage is that the Ct value is difficult to use as a general indicator because the value fluctuates depending on the type of machine and reagents used in the test.
The Ct value on the day of onset was around 20, indicating a high viral load, but the Ct value increased as the disease progressed, reaching approximately 30 at 9 days of onset, indicating a decrease in viral load.
If the Ct value is 35 or higher, or if more than 10 days have passed since the onset of the disease, the number of viruses that test positive with a Ct value of 40 or lower is very small and therefore less infectious.
Ct value and super spreader
It is known that some infected individuals with the new coronavirus are "super spreaders," highly contagious infectious agents that have been the source of the spread of the virus to many people.
So, how can PCR testing be used to know who has such a highly infectious infection?
As mentioned above, Ct value is not an absolute standard, so there is no clear standard.
However, if the Ct value is smaller than 25, it can be a "super spreader" because the number of viruses is very high (about 18 million per ml) and even a small amount of saliva spatter contains enough virus to infect.
It has been reported that more than 30% of the patients had a Ct value lower than 25 even if they were asymptomatic, so it is very important to take basic infection prevention measures, including masks, even if there are no symptoms.
The PCR test, a very important test for novel coronaviruses, amplifies and detects genes extracted from novel coronaviruses.
In addition to determining whether the test result is positive or negative, it is also possible to evaluate the strength of infection by determining the Ct value, which is related to the amount of virus.
It should be noted, however, that the Ct value is not an absolute indicator, as it varies depending on the instrument and reagents.
- The Japanese Society of Infectious Diseases – Concept of COVID-19 testing method and results
- J-STAGE – RT-PCR Screening Tests for SARS-CoV-2 with Saliva Samples in Asymptomatic People: Strategy to Maintain Social and Economic Activities while Reducing the Risk of Spreading the Virus
- Setagaya Ward – The 11th Setagaya Ward Mayor's Regular Press Conference in FY 2020 | <urn:uuid:33144818-c841-4b19-9c05-35a9d8eb2de6> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://humedit.co.jp/threshold-cycle/?lang=en | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.949985 | 1,606 | 3.96875 | 4 |
Dr. Sushil Rudra
Introduction: The Best & Great Indian Mathematician and His Achievement?
It was in the year of 1897. Krishnaswami Ayer, Head Master of Town High School was taking classes of the students of junior section. Ramanujan was a student of this class. Krishnaswami was a grave-natured man. Students used to fear him very much. The HM looked around the class and asked the students, ‘ Do you know if you divide a number by the same number, the quotient will be”1″?
Read more: Why Should We Follow Swami Vivekananda’s views !
He noticed that the students couldn’t understand his question. So again he asked the same question with an instance.
” Suppose you have five mangoes and you have to distribute it to your five friends equally. So they will get 1 mango each. If you divide 5 mangoes by 5 ( friends ), then the result will be 1? Isn’t it?
Again The HM follow the faces of the students. Mr. Krishnaswami now felt relax and delight thinking that the students now understood the mathematics.
Meanwhile, a student from the back bench lift his hands up to ask something. The HM became astonished. Generally students don’t ask him about any questions.
” What do you want to say, boy “? The HM Krishnaswami asked the boy.
The boy hesitatingly replied: ” Sir, can I ask a question?
” Yes,” The HM told.
“Sir, if zero is divided by zero, the quotient will be 1 or not?
Having heard this question the HM became stunned. He couldn’t believe that a question might come from a student. So he thought – what a difficult question it’s!
For that moment, HM told him to sit down. But marked the face of the student. He had no answer that very moment. Ultimately, he became defeated by a little boy.
From then Mr. Krishnaswami tried to search for his whereabouts. Gradually he came to know all about him ( the boy ) and his family.
Parents and Upbringing:The Best & Great Indian Mathematician and His Achievement?
His father was a Brahmin by caste and he was very poor. His son’s name is Ramanujan. This poor Brahmin was an accountant in a clothing shop. His mother ‘s name is Kamalatamman who earned very little by singing at the temple.
Ramanujan was a born- talented. Although he couldn’t complete his institutional education. So he had failed to secure FA degree of the college due to his only interest in Mathematics. He was not interested in other subjects and that’s why he failed to secure pass marks in other subjects. His only interest was in mathematics.
However, he admitted to two different colleges. After passing articulation he got admission in Government Kumbakonam college. He got stipend from this college.
Achievement Of Ramanujan : The Best & Great Indian Mathematician and His Achievement?
Ramanujan compiled around 3,900 results consisting of equations and identities. One of his most treasured findings was his infinite series for pi. So this series forms the basis of many algorithms we use today. Moreover, he gave several fascinating formulas to calculate the digits of pi in many unconventional ways.
In addition, he discovered a long list of new ideas to solve many challenging mathematical problems. Ultimately , it gave a significant impetus to the development of game theory. He contributed to game theory which is purely based on intuition and natural talent and remains unrivalled to this day.
However, he elaborately described the mock theta function. It is a concept in the realm of modular form in mathematics. Considered an enigma till sometime back, it is now recognized as holomorphic parts of mass forms.
Publication of Ramanujan’s Notebook
From the beginning, Ramanujan wrote down all his research results in a notebook. However, he did not write the evidence. As a result, the idea arose that Ramanujan could not prove his theory.
Mathematician Bruce Benditt, in his discussion of Ramanujan and his notebooks, says that while Ramanujan was able to prove his theorem, he somehow failed to formalize it.
Ramanujan was not doing well financially and the price of paper was high at the time. Therefore, Ramanujan proved his theory simply by writing it on a blackboard and recording the results in a notebook.
Ramanujan’s first notebook had 351 pages. It is divided into 16 parts and has separate pages. His second notebook had 256 pages, with 21 chapters and his 100th pages unlined. The third notebook also had 33 such chaotic pages.
These notebooks he later made had a great influence on the work of mathematicians. Hardy himself discovered many theories from these notebooks.
B M Wilson, G N Watson and Bruce Benditt edited these Ramanujan’s notes later. Another Ramanujan notebook known as the “Lost Notebook” was discovered in 1976.
This notebooks was discovered by George Andrews in 1976 in the library at Trinity College. Later the contents of this notebook were published as a book.
1729 is known as the Ramanujan number. It is the sum of the cubes of two numbers 10 and 9. For instance, 1729 results from adding 1000 (the cube of 10) and 729 (the cube of 9).
Therefore, this is the smallest number that can be expressed in two different ways as it is the sum of these two cubes. Interestingly, 1729 is a natural number following 1728 and preceding 1730.
The Bottom Line: The Best & Great Indian Mathematician and His Achievement,?
Therefore, Ramanujan’s contributions stretch across mathematics fields, including complex analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions.
Besides, Ramanujan’s other notable contributions include hypergeometric series, the Riemann series, the elliptic integrals, the theory of divergent series, and the functional equations of the zeta function.
While asleep, I had an unusual experience. There was a red screen formed by flowing blood, as it were. I was observing it. Suddenly a hand began to write on the screen. I became all attention. That hand wrote a number of elliptic integrals. They stuck to my mind. As soon as I woke up, I committed them to writing.
You May Like: 1. The Enchanting Friendship of Helen Keller and Rabindranath : A Beautiful Tale of Two Unwavering Souls 2. Orange is the best & Strong fruit for Reducing Stress 3. The Latest, Fantastic & Beautiful Lamborghini Unveiled 2024 4. What Are the Best & Latest Fitness Trends for 2023 | <urn:uuid:eb866385-fbf6-403f-9ba8-f342835332b5> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://kalpatarurudra.org/indian-mathematician-and-his-achievement/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.976976 | 1,455 | 3.765625 | 4 |
A team of MIT scientists calling themselves Liquid Stone made a breakthrough (as it were) discovery about cement. The Romans used cement to build their remarkable aqueducts, and the stuff is still in use. In fact it’s one the most widely used building materials on the planet. It has a chemical name, calcium-silica-hydrate. But until recent, its molecular structure was unknown.
Scientists have been operating under the assumption that cement is a crystal, but the Liquid Stone group discovered this is not the case. It’s a hybrid structure in which the crystal form is interrupted by "messy areas" in which small voids allow water to attach.
By now, you are probably wondering what the composition of cement has to do with risk analysis. The link is Monte Carlo simulation, Liquid Stone used Monte Carlo software harnessed together with an atomistic modeling program to test various scenarios for how water attaches to the cement molecule in the messy areas.
Why is this discovery important? Because the manufacture of cement is accounts for about 5 percent of worldwide carbon emissions. The new knowledge of the composition of cement will enable engineers to tinker with the manufacture of cement to reduce these emissions. Now that Liquid Stone has what it calls the DNA of cement, they can progress to genetic engineering of the messy areas, and predictive statistical analysis will allow them to test various product strategies for replacing various atoms in the cement molecule.
What I love about all this is that apparently, Liquid Stone isn’t using risk analysis to get the messy areas better organized, the purpose of it is to figure out how to fit new stuff into the mess. | <urn:uuid:920f2220-ba84-4df8-8c2e-68412c0f1e53> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://lumivero.com/resources/blog/the-dna-of-cement/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.935929 | 335 | 3.734375 | 4 |
With the outbreak of revolution in northern Mexico in 1910, federal authorities and officials of the state of Texas feared that the violence and disorder might spill over into the Rio Grande valley. The Mexican and Mexican-American populations residing in the Valley far outnumbered the Anglo population (Texas State Historical Association, 2021). In addition, the discovery and publication of the Plan of San Diego, increased tensions between the Anglo and Mexican-American (Tejano) population in 1915.
As documented by John Randall Peavey (deputy sheriff, chief scout for the U.S. Army border troops, assistant chief of the Valley sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, and Texas Ranger) the Rio Grande Valley resembled an "armed camp" with "nearly every man carrying a six shooter rifle or shot gun". Because of his patrol activities, which took him to every part of the Valley, and his keen interest in the development of the area, he was also cast in the role of historian.
The Plan of San Diego
The Mexican Revolution was seen as an opportunity to bring about drastic political and economic changes in South Texas. The most extreme example of this was a movement supporting the "Plan of San Diego," a revolutionary manifesto written on January 6, 1915. The plan, drafted in a jail in Monterrey, Nuevo León, provided for the formation of a "Liberating Army of Races and Peoples," to be made up of Mexican Americans, African Americans, and Japanese, to "free" the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Colorado from United States control. The revolution was to begin on February 20, 1915. Federal and state officials found a copy of the plan when local authorities in McAllen, Texas, arrested Basilio Ramos, Jr., one of the leaders of the plot, on January 24, 1915. (Texas State Historical Association, 2021)
Although the Plan of San Diego didn't itself come to fruition, its consequences and history reverberated. It brought to the forefront a mobilized Mexican community that resisted the status quo, represented political motivations playing out from macro to micro scales, and resulted in increased stigmatization and violence against people of Mexican descent along the border. (Manoukian, 2023)
With no signs of revolutionary activity, state and federal authorities dismissed the plan as one more example of the revolutionary rhetoric that flourished along the border. This feeling of complacency was shattered in July 1915 with a series of raids in the lower Rio Grande valley connected with the Plan of San Diego. These raids were led by two adherents of Venustiano Carranza, revolutionary general, and Aniceto Pizaña and Luis De la Rosa, residents of South Texas. The bands used the guerilla tactics of disrupting transportation and communication in the border area and killing Anglos. In response, the United States Army moved reinforcements into the area. (Texas State Historical Association, 2021). One such raid taking place at Ojo de Agua Ranch in Abram, Texas, just 5 miles southwest of Mission.
site of the Battle of Ojo de Agua
A mile north of the Rio Grande and five miles southwest of Mission in southwest Hidalgo County you’ll find the small “ghost” town of Abram, Texas. The site was near the route of the original military highway from Brownsville to Fort Ringgold and was on part of the common grazing grounds of old Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Later the Ojo de Agua ("Watering Hole") Ranch was established on the site. The community was named for Abram Dillard, Texas Ranger and prominent citizen of the area of Ojo de Agua Creek. An Abram post office was established in 1901. In 1904 the railroad was built a few miles to the north to avoid river flooding. In 1914 the settlement had fifty residents and three businesses. Through the 1930s and 1940s the population was seventy-five. In the 1950s and 60s the population was between 100 and 125 inhabitants. A colonia developed beside Abram over two or three decades; in 1990 its 927 residents lived in 206 dwellings and received water from the La Joya Water District. In 1990 Abram and the colonia had an estimated total population of 3,999. The colonia is variously called Abram, Ojo de Agua, or Chapa Joseph. In 2000 the community was listed as Abram-Perezville and had a population of 5,444.
Battle of Ojo de Agua
The outpost at Ojo de Agua was Army radio station commanded by Sergeant Ernest Schaeffer, and was manned by approximately ten cavalry soldiers and eight men from the Signal Corps. The attack began around two o’clock in the morning, and the outnumbered and outgunned garrison was quickly overwhelmed. Sergeant Schaeffer was killed, and Sergeant Herbert Smith, who had already received three wounds, assumed command. The raiders also robbed the post office and set fire to the home of George Dillard (son of Abram Dillard). Because radio communication had been knocked out early in the attack, the defenders were unable to call for assistance. Two riders dashed off toward Mission, eight miles away, to get help. A Cavalry Company commanded by Captain Frank Ross McCoy was dispatched from Mission to go to the aid of the Ojo de Agua outpost. Captain W. J. Scott, who was stationed at Sam Fordyce, happened to be out on a training exercise with twelve new cavalry recruits about two miles away. They heard the gunfire and also rushed to the scene. Scott’s men arrived first and, attacking from the west, were able to drive off the raiders. McCoy’s force arrived as the raiders were withdrawing, and saw little or no fighting. One civilian and three American soldiers were killed. Eight American soldiers were wounded. The raiders suffered five killed and at least nine wounded.
Many years later, a young school teacher at the Ojo de Agua ranch school, Minnie Milliken, wrote an eye-witness acount of Ojo de Agua raid. “…we were awakened by what seemed like thousands of shots around and over our house and bloodcurdling yells of ‘Viva Villa!’ We jumped out of bed and hurriedly dressed. ..We could hardly hear our voices for the whine of shots around our house. ..I think there were 40 or 50 of the bandits who started the attack on the Dillard home about a block from us. Mrs. Dillard and her little boy left their house by the back door and went to the school house and began ringing the bell. As soon as she had left her home, the bandits set fire to it, which lighted up the whole area. In the meantime, there was a fierce battle being fought. This was around the soldiers’ camp, a short distance from our house....The firing started, I suppose, about 15 minutes before 2 o’clock. It continued until nearly daybreak...”
Following this incident, the United States vastly increased its military presence along the border. In 1916 and 1917, large numbers of troops were stationed in camps throughout the Valley.
Fatalities directly linked to raids in the Rio Grande Valley were surprisingly small; between July 1915 and July 1916 some thirty raids into Texas produced only twenty-one American deaths, both civilian and military. More destructive and disruptive was the near race war that ensued in the wake of the plan as relations between the Whites and the Mexicans and Mexican Americans deteriorated in 1915–16. Federal reports indicated that more than 300 Mexicans or Mexican Americans were summarily executed in South Texas in the atmosphere generated by the plan. Economic losses ran into the millions of dollars, and virtually all residents of the lower Rio Grande valley suffered some disruption in their lives from the raids. Moreover, the plan's legacy of racial antagonism endured long after the plan itself had been forgotten (Texas Historical Association, 2021). You can read more on the history of racial violence on the Mexico – Texas Border at refusingtoforget.org.
Dead Mexican bandits. The Portal to Texas History. (2009, February 27). https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth43194/
John R. Peavey Scrapbook, UTRGV Digital Library, The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. Accessed via https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/johnrpeavey
Manoukian, M. (2023, January 24). How the plan of san diego changed America drastically. Grunge. https://www.grunge.com/278432/how-the-plan-of-san-diego-changed-america-drastically/
Texas State Historical Association. (n.d.). Plan of San Diego. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/plan-of-san-diego
The history. Refusing to Forget. (2023, January 17). https://refusingtoforget.org/the-history/
V. Carranza. The Library of Congress. (n.d.). https://www.loc.gov/item/2014699797/ | <urn:uuid:539000e7-36da-4744-9370-2756357503e1> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/pSwGmiBHUC3tx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.969765 | 1,896 | 3.5 | 4 |
Access Specifiers and Modifiers
Classes enable an object to access data variables or methods of another class. Java provides access specifiers and modifiers to decide which part of the class, such as data members and methods will be accessible to other classes or objects and how the data members are used in other classes and objects.
An access specifier controls the access of class members and variable by other objects. The variouse types of access specifiers in Java are: | <urn:uuid:3ed564c8-e9b5-4303-bc24-fb38726e8e0e> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://studyjavaprogramming.blogspot.com/2011_10_11_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.856333 | 93 | 3.84375 | 4 |
Building a bigger vocabulary is often the greatest challenge students face in assessments related to English Language Arts, regardless of whether they are preparing for the SAT, or trying to get an A in AP European History. As a result, we are running a multi-part series on how students can meaningfully improve their vocabularies. These pieces will feature techniques and strategies that help with exams and essays alike. Though it may seem that the needs of essay writers and standardized test takers may differ, that is not necessarily the case. Learning new words requires a holistic approach that engages with language in context. Fundamentally, there is no real difference between learning words for the SSAT, or for English class. To truly build the skills necessary for success in one area, we need to do activities that benefit us in both.
In Part One of this series, we will discuss Encountering Words in the Wild, and explore the ways in which good habits can help us expand our vocabularies over the long term. In Part Two, we will focus on the value of learning word roots, using mnemonics, making word maps, and finding personal triggers. Lastly, in Part Three, we will look at online resources that can help us understand how to identify and learn vocabulary that is useful for essay writing especially.
PART ONE: ENCOUNTERING WORDS IN THE WILD
A robust vocabulary is integral to success in a wide range of academic contexts, from classes like English and AP American History, to standardized exams like the SAT and SSAT. When we expand our lexicons, we allow ourselves to write more engagingly, and to understand what we read more easily. This leads to stronger essays, stronger grades, and less stressful academic experiences.
But how do we actually learn new words? Certainly, services like Quizlet have become popular ways to create vocabulary quizzes and drill new words. Companies like Barron’s, meanwhile, still sell pre-made vocabulary flashcards for SAT students. Yet anyone who has actually tried to sit down and memorize new words knows that this approach has its limits. More often than not, attempts to memorize new words lead to short term rather than long term improvements — students may remember a new word for a week, only to forget it after a month.
The hard truth is that improving your vocabulary is a slow process that takes place over time. The good news, however, is that this process can actually be a lot more fun than simply sitting and staring at flashcards.
WHAT TO DO WHEN ENCOUNTERING WORDS IN THE WILD
It’s not hard to find unfamiliar words. Open up a dictionary to its first few pages, and you’ll encounter words such as “Aarti,” “Abac,” “Abampere,” and “Abapical” before you’ve even made it to “about.” It is hard, however, to find unfamiliar words that are actually worth knowing. Webster’s Third New English Dictionary features 470,000 entries. So how do test-takers and essay-writers figure out which ones are worth learning?
The simple answer is that building a bigger vocabulary requires a keen — and inquisitive — eye. The words that will be most useful to us are the ones we encounter in everyday life, in newspapers, novels, and more. Taking advantage of these encounters requires two important steps. First, we need to notice when we encounter words we don’t know. Second, we need to increase the frequency of these encounters.
Most of us can infer the meaning of unfamiliar words from context. Our brains are very good at that! It is a necessary skill, and it was especially necessary in the eras before dictionaries were readily available — let alone cell phones. Unfortunately, having this talent means that most of us don’t always look up the definitions of unfamiliar words when we see them. We get the gist of their meanings, and move on with our lives. To build a better vocabulary, we need to quit this bad habit of breezing by words we don’t know.
First, when encountering new words, always be sure to write them down! Let’s say you see a word in an ad on the Subway. You might not have service right then, but you will when you get off the train! Write the word down in a dedicated note on your phone, or in a notebook. If you can, write down the context in which you saw the word as well. Then, when you have the chance, look up the meaning of the word, and write down its definitions according to the dictionary. Then, write another definition in your own words. Once you’ve done that, you should compose two to three example sentences of your own to help you internalize the words, and get a better feel for how they’re used.
Building a better vocabulary isn’t just about taking advantage of encounters with new words, though — it’s about making those encounters happen more often. The simplest and most obvious way to do this is to read as much as possible. You can do this by changing your habits drastically — for example, by reading a novel when you would otherwise be watching TV. But there are also simpler, less disruptive ways to incorporate meaningful reading into your daily routine. Consider reading an article in the New York Times (or comparable publication) every morning on your way to school, camp, or wherever else you may be headed. Read a short story every night before bed. You can find great, new short stories from publications like Electric Literature, Granta, the New Yorker, and countless others. Even watching movies and TV shows with the subtitles on can help us encounter unfamiliar words more frequently — just make sure they’re shows and movies that are likely to have more sophisticated lexicons…
USE IT OR LOSE IT
There is a big difference between memorizing words, and integrating them into our vocabularies. That’s why we put definitions in our own words, and generate our own example sentences. But our work isn’t finished there. We also want to mobilize these new words in longer form writing. Consider making a word bank, or word cloud, out of the words you record in your notes over a given week. Then pick a topic or activity that means something to you, and write about it using all of the words in your cloud or bank at least once. What you write about doesn’t matter — you can summarize a recent era of history for an upcoming test. You can write about how you’re feeling about a relationship with a friend. You can even pick a random topic like a recent basketball game or film you watched, and write about that. Regardless of what you choose to write about, incorporating these words into your writing will force you to really consider their definitions. This writing will require a fair bit of strategic thinking, and that thinking will help us internalize the true meanings of these words. Moreover, once you’ve completed your writing, you’ll have another set of example sentences you can think back to when using or encountering those words in the future — which leads us to our next tip, which you can find next week in Part 2 of this series.
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Interested in working with a Tutoring Service of New York tutor? Please visit our website at https://www.tutoringserviceofnewyork.com to learn more about our services and rates. You can also email us at [email protected], call us at 646–397–3376, or schedule a free consultation by phone or Zoom. We look forward to hearing from you! | <urn:uuid:ab8bd370-ce36-4ed7-80cd-e36f615127eb> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://tutoring-service-of-new-york.medium.com/building-a-bigger-better-vocabulary-part-one-7e52e307eb82?source=user_profile---------4---------------------------- | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.948116 | 1,649 | 3.59375 | 4 |
Unit 1: Empire and Exploitation: The Atlantic Slave Trade
This topic’s DB question is based on both primary source readings (in the Topic Folder) and Alan Taylor’s descriptions of the origins of black slavery in the 17th century Chesapeake colony (Virginia) and in 17th century Barbados. The primary sources (Equiano and Barbot) describe the slave trade in Africa. What new knowledge (if any) about African slavery do these sources provide for you? Taylor’s work isolates two important moments in the history of racism in the Atlantic world, one in Virginia and the other in Barbados. Both are affected by events in England and in London. Can you say what those moments consisted of? Why are they significancixt? Do they have any relevance for us now?
- What are some considerations for substance abuse treatment with older adult populations?
- Discuss copyright law Amendments in Africa : A comparative study of fair use provisions.
- Examine the key factors related to retirement.
- Write a Research on content production and dissemination mechanisms in the digital media era
- Write an essay Exploring the efficacy of mindfulness based interventions in reducing burnout among nursing staff.
- Discuss Truman Doctrine With the Homo bureacraticus decision-making model.
- Can you think of anything that could have made the experience better for the patient and/or family?
- What other options could the IC have implemented to establish a water supply to support the fire flow for this incident?
- Create a 3-5 page submission in congestive heart failure. | <urn:uuid:4f06a335-2c4f-4660-9ab7-dadc704eddac> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.bestresearchwriters.com/what-new-knowledge-if-any-about-african-slavery-do-these-sources-provide-for-you/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.902848 | 327 | 3.609375 | 4 |
Dark matter: Michio Kaku explains hypothetical substance
Currently, physicists only understand what just over 15 percent of the observable universe is made up of – the rest is considered dark matter. Dark matter was first conceptualised in 1977 by scientists who suggested the material is responsible for all of the unseen substance in space. The existence of dark matter explains why galaxies rotate and stick together, rather than flying off in all directions.
However, a new mathematical formula has, according to one physicist, led to the suggestion dark matter came before the Big Bang – the moment the Universe exploded into existence 13.8 billion years ago.
Tommi Tenkanen, a physicist at Johns Hopkins University, created a mathematical formula which probes how dark matter interacts with something called scalar particles.
Scalar particles are particles which give mass to other particles. The only particle discovered in this field is the Higgs Boson – commonly referred to as the God Particle.
So if dark matter was indeed before the Big Bang, it would have interacted with scalar particles as they are the things which essentially gave mass to the Universe and helped with the cosmos’ expansion.
Mr Tenkanen said: “The study revealed a new connection between particle physics and astronomy.
“If dark matter consists of new particles that were born before the Big Bang, they affect the way galaxies are distributed in the sky in a unique way.
“This connection may be used to reveal their identity and make conclusions about the times before the Big Bang, too.
“If dark matter were truly a remnant of the Big Bang, then in many cases researchers should have seen a direct signal of dark matter in different particle physics experiments already.
“We do not know what dark matter is, but if it has anything to do with any scalar particles, it may be older than the Big Bang.
“With the proposed mathematical scenario, we don’t have to assume new types of interactions between visible and dark matter beyond gravity, which we already know is there.”
It is worth mentioning again scientists do not really know what dark matter is, although there are theories.
However, the European Space Agency is set to launch its £10million Euclid Satellite in which will look for signals of the elusive and mysterious substance.
Mr Tenkanen said: “While this type of dark matter is too elusive to be found in particle experiments, it can reveal its presence in astronomical observations.
“We will soon learn more about the origin of dark matter when the Euclid satellite is launched in 2022.
“It’s going to be very exciting to see what it will reveal about dark matter and if its findings can be used to peak into the times before the Big Bang.” | <urn:uuid:277dd6f7-fb88-4491-a742-e17f1db89fd5> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1163855/big-bang-theory-dark-matter-universe-physics-news-astronomy-space-2019-what-is-dark-matter | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.952091 | 570 | 3.640625 | 4 |
Charting this landscape is usually done through manual research. But now a computer has been taught to reconstruct lost languages using the sounds uttered by those who speak their modern successors.
Alexandre Bouchard-Côté at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and colleagues have developed a machine-learning algorithm that uses rules about how the sounds of words can vary to infer the most likely phonetic changes behind a language's divergence.
For example, in a recent change known as the Canadian Shift, many Canadians now say "aboot" instead of "about". "It happens in all words with a similar sound," says Bouchard-Côté. | <urn:uuid:e89d103f-8a36-4181-a834-fc33d12edfce> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/128429-2013-02-11-algorithm-learns-how-to-revive-lost-languages.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.949549 | 138 | 3.84375 | 4 |
Triangle Height Calculator
Calculate the height of a triangle by entering the base and area dimensions below.
On this page:
How to Calculate the Height of a Triangle
Triangle height, also referred to as its altitude, can be solved using a simple formula using the length of the base and the area.
h = 2A / b
Thus, the height or altitude of a triangle h is equal to 2 times the area A divided by the length of base b.
How to Find Triangle Height Without the Area
The first step is to find the perimeter of the triangle p, which can be found by adding all three side lengths.
p = a + b + c
Then, using the perimeter, solve for the semiperimeter s, which is equal to half the perimeter.
s = p / 2
Finally, use the semiperimeter s and the length of the three sides a, b, and c with Heron’s formula to solve the area of a triangle.
A = s(s – a)(s – b)(s – c)
Thus, the area A of a triangle is equal to the square root of s times s minus a times s minus b times s minus c.
Then, to solve for height, use the area and the base with the formula above. Note, a triangle has three different heights, or altitudes. The height you solve for with the steps above would be the height from the base b to the vertex opposite of base b.
How to Find the Height of a Right Triangle
For a right triangle, there is a simple formula to solve the height, which is derived from the AA theorem and triangle similarity.
h = ab / c
The altitude h of a right triangle is equal to a times b, divided by c.
How to Find the Height of an Isosceles Triangle
An isosceles triangle has two distinct heights, the height from base a to the opposite vertex and the height from base b to the opposite vertex. Use the following formulas to solve the heights of each.
ha = √(a² – (0.5 × b)²) × b / a
The altitude ha from base a to the opposite vertex is equal to the square root of a squared minus 0.5 times b, squared, times b, divided by a.
hb = a² – (0.5 × b)²
The altitude hb from base b to the opposite vertex is equal to the square root of a squared minus 0.5 times b, squared.
How to Find the Height of an Equilateral Triangle
Since an equilateral triangle has three equal sides and three equal angles, it also has three equal heights. The formula to find the height of an equilateral triangle is:
h = a × √3 / 2
The altitude h is equal to a times the square root of 3, divided by 2.
How to Use the Pythagorean Theorem to Find the Height
You can also find the height of an equilateral triangle using the Pythagorean theorem. Recall that the Pythagorean theorem states that a² + b² = c² for a right triangle.
An equilateral triangle can be divided into two equal right triangles like this:
In the right triangles, the hypotenuse c is equal to the length of the equilateral triangle’s sides, side a is then equal to one-half of the hypotenuse, and side b is equal to the equilateral triangle’s height.
So, to solve the height of the equilateral triangle, you can solve for the length of side b in the newly created right triangles using the Pythagorean theorem. The formula looks like this:
(c ÷ 2)² + b² = c²
By rearranging the equation, we can solve for the length of b:
b² = c² – (c ÷ 2)²
b = c² – (c ÷ 2)²
So, the length of b (and the height h of the equilateral triangle) is equal to the square root of the square of the hypotenuse c divided by 2 plus the square of the hypotenuse. | <urn:uuid:813cef6c-6188-4ada-91d4-2ca769c8ef8f> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.inchcalculator.com/triangle-height-calculator/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.885631 | 878 | 3.75 | 4 |
A chieftain’s name and the legends attached to it were of high political importance in 7th Century Ireland. Tribal poet-historians composed origin-legends in rhyme and verse for their patron chieftains. These origin legends were not mere pseudo-myths but were true reflections of how the chieftain and his kindred perceived and explained their rise to political prominence.
Following the Battle of Ainy (Samhain 667) the new Ui Ainy chieftain took the name-title “Ciar Ṁac” (Black Son) as his chieftain origin-legend name. It was through this name and the lore attached to it that the new chieftain, The Ciarṁac, and his kindred, Ui Ciarṁiac, were able to demonstrate how they perceived and explained their rise to the chieftaincy of the Eoghanacht Ainy (a position they would monopolize until Norman times some 600 years later).
Firstly the new Ui Ainy chieftain and his kindred perceived themselves to be the children of goddess Ainy (Ui Ainy) and as such were Knockainy’s original inhabitants and rightful occupiers in harmony with, Ainy, their ancestral mother goddess. Also the Hill of Knockainy was the Otherworld dwelling place of Ainy and their revered dead ancestors and as such it was their sacred center and source of chiefly sovereignty and wisdom. It was at Samhain that the Battle of Ainy took place and they became chieftains and it was also at Samhain that they acquired the chiefly wisdom, from the Otherworld, that qualified them to be chieftains. It was these perceptions which were the basis of and gave rise to the chiefly name-title “Ciarṁac.”
Ciarṁac literally means black (ciar) son (mac) and the color black and dark, in ancient Irish custom and belief, was associated with Samhain, the Otherworld and the dead ancestors. Samhain (October 31-November 2) ushered in the Celtic New Year and was considered to be the dark half of the year. Samhain was also the time of the dark moon (Festival of the Dead) and the veil between this world and the Otherworld was drawn aside. The Otherworld, according to Irish belief, was a community of the dead which inhabited the countryside side by side with but invisible and inaccessible to the human race (except at Samhain). The principal dwelling places of the dead were the hilltop mounds, sidh, and the burial cairns on these hilltops were considered gateways to the Otherworld for those who were prepared to go there and return.
Gaining access to the Otherworld and the wisdom possessed by the dead ancestors was accomplished at Samhain by means of ritual and trance. The place of access was the hilltop burial cairn. As far as the method of entry was concerned, usually the person making such a trip was lulled into a deep, profound, magical sleep by a wise seer poet. The wisdom acquired was considered inspirational and could be acquired during the night of the Otherworld trip.
Ciarṁac therefore means the “Black Son of Ainy” and the significance of black, in this context, refers to wisdom and sovereignty obtained from the Otherworld (black) at Samhain time (black) from Ainy and the dead ancestors (black).
The Lore of Find
The Gaelic people first arrived in Ireland circa 500 B. C. Upon settling they were impressed by the numerous ancient monuments found throughout the land left by earlier peoples. This newly arrived Gaelic culture rationalized these ancient monuments, especially mounds and burial chambers, by locating their own deities in them and thus created a spiritual environment throughout Ireland.
In the development of this culture of spiritual environment the seers played the leading role and so a figure who personalized the cult of the seers would have been of primary importance. The name given to this figure, who personified the cult of the seers, was “Find” which would signify “wisdom”.
Thus the “Lore of Find” was one and the same as the “Lore of Wisdom.” Find, by the ancients, was not imagined as a mystical divine being but instead he was imagined as a human person. He was a human person who manifested himself in a number of Avatars (bodily manifestation of Find) such as Find File, Fionn MacCumhaill and Ciarṁac.
A study of these avators suggests that certain ideas were basic to the image of Find and were expressed in a number of standard ways. Firstly knowledge was believed to be got from the dead ancestors, an idea which gave immediate relevance to grave mounds cairns and such places. When ritually understood this meant a great individual seer, seeking out a wise predecessor could obtain ancestral wisdom from his ancestors residing in their burial mounds.
A number of septs, as they came to be allied to the various Gaelic dynasties, superimposed their perception of themselves with the Lore of Find. This appropriation of the Lore of Find served as a justificated of their political successes in the political world of Gaelic-Dynastic Ireland. A leading Leinster sept, the Ui Gharrchon, associated the Lore of Find with their great center at Knockaulin, County Kildare calling him Find File. Another sept, the Ui Failghe, inhabited a large territory encompassing large parts of present day counties Kildare, Offaly and Laois. They also borrowed the Lore of Find and centered it on a sacred hill in the heart of their territory called Almhu. They called their personification of Find, Fionn MaCumhaill. Yet another sept, the Ui Ainy, in like fashion associated the Lore of Find with their sacred center at Knockainy calling their personification of Find and wisdom Ciarṁac.
(Four Directions and Five Zones)
Ancient Ireland was symbolically divided into Four provinces with a unifying or central fifth: The pattern of the Bardic and Druidic universe. Nationally the whole of Ireland was divided into the four provinces of Ulster, Leinster, Connaught and Munster and all of these provinces were unified by the sacred center at Meath. Provincially the Munster province was divided into five divisions: Tuadh Mumhan (North Munster), Des Mumhan (South Munster), Oir Mumhan (East Munster), Iar Mumhan (West Munster) and Meodhan Mumhan (Middle Munster). The sacred Hill of Knockainy, where goddess Ainy dwelt was not only the sacred center of Middle Munster but also the sacred center of the entire Munster province. It was from goddess Ainy that the Eoghanachts received the sovereignty of Munster.
(Sacred Provincial Capital)
Furthermore significant solar sunrise and sunset alignments link sacred sites in the four provinces to the fifth province (Meath) at the sacred hill at Uisneach. It is from Uisneach that a web of relationships is seen to run from every part of the island making a “mythical web” spun by the deities. This “mystical web” of sunrise and sunset alignments was further reinforced by the Gaelic poet-historians who sanctified the whole island of Ireland with their legends and sagas. According to these solar alignments Knockainy was considered the sacred provincial capital of Munster.
The Chieftain's Poet
The Chieftain’s poet (Ollaṁ) often entertained at royal banquets. Their traditional accounts of ancient Goddesses (Ainy) and deeds of heroes (The Ciarṁac) were woven around actual settlements and landmarks (Sacred Hill of Knockainy) and the names of prominent local families (Ui Ciarṁaic). Story tellers repeated them as heritage from time immemorial and their themes were indeed ancient. A web of stories and legends was laid upon the Irish landscape binding together its rocks, rivers and other natural features with the families who lived there, thus placing the whole country under the spell of mythology.
On a more political level one of the principal functions of the poet at banquets, fairs and inaugurations was to recite the chieftain’s genealogy and sing his praises as part of the ceremony. The royal genealogy and the story of how the king or chieftain came to prominence (story of Ciarṁac) was the equivalent of a charter of right and was proof of the chieftain’s title to rule.
The Three Manifest Words
Ancient Ireland was divided into three interconnected worlds. The Upper World contained the sun, moon and stars. The Middle World contained humans and animals. The Underworld contained sacred springs, wells, lakes, caves, burial mounds and chambers. But in adition to these “manifest” worlds there was the Otherworld. This Otherworld, in Gaelic mythology, is an inscape of or an overlay upon the land. It is not conceived of as being “up, down or out there.” Rather it is contiguous with every part of life and the Gaels perceived themselves as being potentially existent in all “Four” worlds.
Perhaps more than any other people the Gaels have always cherished the country of their true home – the Otherworld. It is the source of their wisdom, the place of their gods and the dimension in which poets and heores are most at home. To the Gael the Otherworld is a dimension where everything is possible and where great deeds can be accomplished.
It is in this context that “The Ciarṁac” went to the Otherworld and back and became endowed with ancestral wisdom necessary for his chieftaincy.
The Twelve Winds and Their Colors
The ancient Irish people believed god made four chief winds and eight subordinate winds so that there were twelve winds in all. A specific color was ascribed to each of these winds so that all the colors of all the winds were different from each other. The wind of the north was given the color black and the wind of the northwest was given the color dark brown. In Irish “Ciar” can mean either black or dark brown.
The Druidic – Bardic Circle of the Year
On the Druidic-Bardic circle of the year black and dark brown (Ciar) is the color(s) of that portion of the year called Samhain and the Winter Solstice. Samhain (October 31-November 2) was the time of death, old age, the ancestors and the “dark” moon. It was at Samhain that wisdom could be acquired from the dead ancestors. The Winter Solstice (December 21) was a time of death and rebirth, a time when the sun appeared to be giving way to the “darkest” night.
The concept of “darkness” was an important aspect pertaining to the acquisition of wisdom and knowledge. The goddess who ruled Samhain was given the name “Cailleach”, the “Dark woman of knowledge.” Poets of old practiced a form of sensory deprivation by seeking inspiration in total “darkness.” The Druids place of learning was usually located to the north (ascribed the color black) of a settlement, that being the preferred sacred direction. | <urn:uuid:197166c1-6ba6-4495-9c36-83a7e292f5fc> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.irwin-ociarmacain.com/snm-chap-05 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.973015 | 2,428 | 3.84375 | 4 |
There are precious few records of the women who boarded the Mayflower, but their strength and role in the voyage and settling in America cannot be underestimated.
Eighteen adult women boarded the Mayflower at Plymouth, with three of them at least six months pregnant.
They were Susanna White, Mary Allerton and Elizabeth Hopkins who braved the stormy Atlantic knowing that they would give birth either at sea in desperate conditions or in their hoped destination of America.
Women in 1620 had little rights and their history is patchy, given little thought was given to recording their endeavours.
When the ship arrived in Cape Cod, the men went to shore - spending two months trying to find a suitable place to settle before building storehouses and creating the beginnings of Plymouth. The women stayed on the Mayflower to care for the sick and the young - in damp, crowded and filthy conditions, which meant many would die before they were able to step foot on land.
Just five women would make it through that first, harsh winter.
Here, we take a closer look at some of the women and girls who boarded the Mayflower, and their origins in England.
Susanna gave birth to Peregrine while the ship was anchored in Cape Cod in late November 1620 (she also travelled with a fiver-year-old son called Resolved as well). Peregrine would become known as the ‘first born child of New England’ and become a prominent farmer and military captain. Susanna’s husband William would sadly die weeks months later in February 1621.
Susanna, now with a newborn son and a five-year-old to care for, was the only widow who survived that perishing first winter in America and one of five women to do so - the others being Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, Eleanor Billington and Katherine Carver - who sadly died in May 1621.
These four women, together with young daughters and male and female servants, would go on to cook the first iconic Thanksgiving feast.
She would marry again, to widower Edward Winslow, and have five children - their’s would be the first marriage in the new Plymouth Colony on May 12, 1621. Susanna would certainly have been one of the more prominent figures in the new settlement, married to Edward, who was a leader in the community.
She is buried in Winslow Cemetery in Marshfield, Massachusetts, where today there is a large stone memorial bearing her name along with her children and second husband.
In recent years new evidence has surfaced that links Susanna to Nottinghamshire, where it believed she lived at Scrooby Manor.
Evidence uncovered by local historian and expert in English Separatists, Sue Allan, indicates that Susanna resided at Scrooby Manor in North Nottinghamshire before making the epic journey to New England in 1620.
“The origin of Susanna Winslow has long been a mystery as, until now, we’ve been unable to identify her maiden name and birthplace,” said Sue Allan.
“Identifying the origins of the female pilgrims is a real challenge as there is generally so little information recorded about them – women had very few rights at that time, but they are so significant when painting the picture of the Pilgrim history.”
Historian Sue Allan (third from left) with American descendants of Susanna White outside Scrooby Manor
But a poignant letter penned by her second husband Edward Winslow in 1623 provided an important link between Susanna and the Jackson family, including leaseholder of Scrooby Manor, Richard Jackson.
Sue continued: The letter we uncovered was the missing link we needed to conclude that Richard Jackson was in fact Susanna’s father and prove her Nottinghamshire origins. This is really exciting – Susanna was a very important figure; not only was she aboard the Mayflower ship, she was also pregnant during the voyage and gave birth to the first child to be born once the Mayflower reached America.
“After her first husband William White died that first winter, Susanna underwent the first marriage in New England – to Edward Winslow who became three times Governor of the Plymouth Colony.”
Elizabeth gave birth while at sea, to a boy she aptly named Oceanus - who would tragically die aged two after the Pilgrims had settled into a life of hardship in their new surroundings.
She survived the first winter to cook the first Thanksgiving feast but little is known of her origins or what would become of her.
She married Stephen Hopkins on 19 February 1617/8 at St Mary Matfellon Church in Whitechapel, and had a daughter Damaris born somewhere in England around 1618. They were part of a group of Pilgrims known as the ‘Strangers’ who were not part of the congregation of Separatists living in Leiden, Holland.
The Strangers made up more than half the Mayflower passengers are were merchants, craftsmen, skilled workers and indentured servants, and three young orphans. All were common people, and about one-third of them were children - and they were crucial to the colony’s success.
They would have initially boarded the Mayflower in Rotherhithe, before they met up with the leaking Speedwell in Southampton. They would stop again in Dartmouth and Plymouth before setting off for America.
Priscilla was not one of the 18 women recorded to have crossed the stormy Atlantic - she was just a child at the time, one that had a hard start to her new life.
Her father William Mullins died on February 21 while the ship was docked for four months. His wife and daughter (and Priscilla’s mother and brother) Alice and Joseph died in the first winter, meaning Priscilla started life in America as an orphan at the tender age of 18.
She was originally born in Dorking, Surrey, and went on to marry John Alden in what is thought to be the third marriage in the Plymouth colony. Priscilla was one of the surviving women, who became a family, and fought through the hardship to help the colony eventually thrive.
She is probably the best known from the poem The Courtship of Miles Standish by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. According to Longfellow’s legend, John Alden spoke to Priscilla Mullins on behalf of Miles Standish, who was interested in the lovely young woman. But she asked, “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?”
By 1627 they were living in a house on the hillside, across from the Governor’s house and near the fort. John Alden served in various offices in the government of the Colony. He was elected as assistant to the governor and Plymouth Court as early as 1631, and was regularly re-elected throughout the 1630s. Priscilla would become a leading figure in the colony.
Mary Norris was possibly born in Welford, near Newbury, in 1592 and wed Isaac Allerton in November 1611.
Mary was around 30 years old when she travelled to North America with her husband, Isaac, and three children, Bartholomew, Remember, and Mary. She was an active member in the Leiden church, and was pregnant when left Leiden on the Speedwell for Southampton, before transferring to the Mayflower.
She and Isaac had already buried a child at St Peters, Leiden, on 5 February 1620, before she gave birth to a stillborn son in Plymouth Harbour later the same year.
Mary herself died during the first winter, on 25 February 1621, though her husband and three children all survived. Four years later, Allerton remarried Fear Brewster (daughter of William Brewster) and had two children, Sarah and Isaac.
After the death of his second wife, he moved to Marblehead and remarried Joanna Swinnerton in 1637. Allerton died in New Haven in 1659.
Born in Leiden, Holland, in 1616, Mary Allerton boarded the Mayflower at just four years old together with her parents, Isaac and Mary (nee Norris) Allerton.
In 1637, she married Thomas Cushman, who had arrived in Plymouth 16 years earlier on the Fortune with his father, Robert Cushman.
Thomas and Mary had eight children, of whom seven - Thomas, Mary, Sarah, Isaac, Elkanah, Fear, Eleazar, and Lydia - survived until they were adults. The children also married and provided their parents with at least 50 grandchildren.
Both Thomas and Mary lived to very old age, with Mary dying at the age of 83, and Thomas living until age 83. In fact, before her death on 28 November 1699, Mary was the last surviving Mayflower passenger.
Eleanor Billington boarded the Mayflower in 1620 with her husband, John Billington, and their two sons, John and Francis.
She was one of only five adult women to survive the first winter, and one of only four who were still alive for the First Thanksgiving in the autumn of 1621.
However, the Billington family was not part of the Pilgrims separatist community, and had a reputation of being ill-behaved. Just six years after her husband was executed for murder - after he shot and killed John Newcomen, a recent settler - Eleanor herself was sentenced to the stocks and whipped, following a slander against John Doane.
She later remarried to Gregory Armstrong, between 14 and 21 September 1638, but had no additional children with him. Eleanor is said to have died in Plymouth in March 1643.
Not much is known about Mary, but it is believed she was born in around 1569, because in an affidavit filed in Leiden, Holland, in June 1609, she then stated she was 40 years old.
Their first son, Jonathan, was born in Scrooby a year later, before a daughter, Patience, arrived in around 1600 or somewhat earlier.
About 1606, the church congregation began more formally meeting at the Scrooby Manor, where she and husband William resided.
With her husband’s involvement in establishing a separatist church with Richard Clyfton, using the Scrooby Manor for meetings - and with pressure mounting from the English authorities - Mary gave birth to another daughter, Fear, before the couple fled to Leiden with the other members of the congregation.
In Leiden, they buried an unnamed child - presumably one who had died in infancy - before Mary gave birth to two more sons, named Love and Wrestling respectively.
Mary sailed to Plymouth aboard the Mayflower in 1620 with her husband and her two youngest children.
She was one of only five reported adult women aboard who survived the first winter, and one of just four still alive for the so-called ‘First Thanksgiving’ in the autumn of 1621.
Brewster's son, Jonathan, joined the family in November 1621, arriving at Plymouth on the ship Fortune, before his daughters, Patience and Fear, arrived in July 1623 aboard the Anne. Sadly, both daughters later died in 1634, when smallpox and influenza ravaged the region.
Mary passed away in Plymouth in 1627, at about the age of 60. Her husband, William, never remarried and died 17 years later.
Daughter of Henry and Katherine May, Dorothy was born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, about 1597.
New research by Sue Allan and Caleb Johnson has shown that Dorothy certainly moved to Amsterdam around 1608 with her non-conformist father, who was a leading church elder in the Henry Ainsworth church congregation in the city.
Five years later, 16-year-old Dorothy married William Bradford, then 23, before returning with her husband to take up residence in Leiden.
The couple had a child, John, who was probably born in 1617, though he was left behind when Dorothy and William sailed for North America - presumably with the intention of sending for him when Plymouth Colony was built and more suitable for a young child.
The Mayflower anchored off Provincetown Harbour on 11 November 1620, and the Pilgrims sent out several men to explore the region to seek out the best place to build their Colony.
Less than a month later, while her husband was ashore exploring, Dorothy accidentally drowned in the freezing waters of the Harbour after falling from the Mayflower.
In June 1869, a fictional story was published in Harper's Weekly, in which Dorothy's fall from the Mayflower was portrayed as a depression-induced suicide, involving an affair with Master Christopher Jones.
Although this story had no historical proof, it has nevertheless made it into some popular accounts of the Pilgrims and gets regularly debated in television documentaries about the Mayflower.
Humility was the youngest passenger aboard the Mayflower, being only one year old when she journeyed across the Atlantic with her aunt and uncle, Edward and Ann Tilley (nee Cooper).
Her father, Robert Cooper - who was originally from Henlow, Bedfordshire - was living in Leiden, Holland, at the time and is believed to have passed Humility to the Tilleys.
Both Edward and Ann died in the winter of 1620/1621, after which Humility was sent back to either England or Holland.
Records show that in 1638, she was baptised in London, but no other record of her or any family has been found - outside of the fact that William Bradford, writing in 1651, indicated she had died.
Records show the Minter family were present in Leiden in 1613. They came from Norwich, so it is likely that Desire was born there or nearby.
Her father, William, died in 1617 or early 1618 and her mother, Sarah remarried, with John Carver acting as a witness.
Desire possibly became a maid servant to Thomas Brewer as in 1622, he signed a document stating he owed money for 'raising the daughter of William and Sarah Minter'.
As Brewer was arrested for printing pamphlets, he may have moved Desire to the care of Carver, who then took her with him on the Mayflower.
After Carver’s death in 1621, Desire was one of the people (Humility Cooper was another) who returned to England.
According to William Bradford, 'Desire Minter returned to her friend and proved not very well and died in England'. Some sources say she died sometime before 1651.
You'll be the first to hear the latest Mayflower news, events, and more. | <urn:uuid:0408cd94-e13a-42cd-beb5-dea3db86f63d> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.mayflower400uk.org/education/women-of-the-mayflower/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.985247 | 3,033 | 3.578125 | 4 |
How do we identify special educational learning needs?
- When pupils have an identified special educational need or disability before they join our school, we liaise very closely with the people who already know them in their previous school. We use the information available to identify what the possible barriers to learning may be within our school setting and to help us to plan appropriate support strategies.
- If you tell us you think your child has a special educational need we will discuss this with you and assess your child accordingly. Often these assessments will be carried out by the school; sometimes we seek advice from more specialised services such as Educational Psychology or Speech Therapy.
- If teachers feel that your child has a special educational need this could be because they are not making the same progress as other pupils. The earlier we take action and modify our provision, the sooner we can resolve concerns and help children towards success. We will observe your child’s learning characteristics and how they cope within our learning environment, we will assess their understanding of what we are doing in school and where appropriate, use tests to pinpoint what is causing difficulty. This will help us to decide what is happening and why. If school become concerned about your child you will be contacted immediately by their class teacher or the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). | <urn:uuid:27e833b0-7e89-46b5-b986-33b41a59c845> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.michaeldraytonjunior.co.uk/how-do-we-identify-special-educational-learning-ne/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.965009 | 265 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Understanding Graves' Disease
Just Some of the Symptoms of Graves
G - Goitre
R - Risks (genetic factors)
A - Autoimmune system
V - Ventricular Premature Contraction (VPC)
E - Eyes (Exophthalmos)
S - Seizures
What Is Graves Disease?
First described by Sir Robert Graves in the early 19th century, Graves' disease is one of the most common of all thyroid problems.
It is also the leading cause of hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland produces excessive hormones.
Although the symptoms can cause discomfort, Graves' disease generally has no long-term adverse health consequences if the patient receives prompt and proper medical care.
What Causes Graves Disease?
Hormones secreted by the thyroid gland control metabolism, or the speed at which the body converts food into energy. Metabolism is directly linked to the amount of hormones that circulate in the bloodstream. If, for some reason, the thyroid gland secretes an overabundance of these hormones, the body's metabolism goes into high gear, producing the pounding heart, sweating, trembling, and weight loss typically experienced by hyperthyroid people. Normally, the thyroid gets its production orders through another chemical called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), released by the pituitary gland in the brain. But in Graves' disease, a malfunction in the body's immune system releases abnormal antibodies that mimic TSH. Spurred by these false signals to produce, the thyroid's hormone factories work overtime and exceed their normal quota.
Exactly why the immune system begins to produce these aberrant antibodies is unclear. Also, women are more likely than men to develop the disease. And smokers who develop Graves' disease are more prone to eye problems than nonsmokers with the disease. No single gene causes Graves’ disease. It is thought to be triggered by both genetics and environmental factors, such as stress.
Eye trouble -- usually in the form of inflamed and swollen eye muscles and tissues that can cause the eyeballs to protrude from their sockets -- is a distinguishing complication of Graves' disease. However, only a small percentage of all Graves' patients will experience this condition, known as exophthalmos. Even among those who do, the severity of their bout with Graves' has no bearing on the seriousness of the eye problem or how far the eyeballs protrude. In fact, it isn't clear whether such eye complications stem from Graves' disease itself or from a totally separate, yet closely linked, disorder. If you have developed exophthalmos, your eyes may ache and feel dry and irritated. Protruding eyeballs are prone to excessive tearing and redness, partly because the eyelids can no longer shelter them effectively from injury.
In severe cases of exophthalmos, which are rare, swollen eye muscles can put tremendous pressure on the optic nerve, possibly leading to partial blindness. Eye muscles weakened by long periods of inflammation can lose their ability to control movement, resulting in double vision.
Rarely, people develop a skin condition known as pretibial myxedema. It is a lumpy reddish thickening of the skin on the shins. It is usually painless and is not serious. Like exophthalmos this condition does not necessarily begin with the onset of Graves' nor does it correlate with the severity of the disease.
What Are the Symptoms of Graves' Disease?
The symptoms of Graves' disease include:
Weight loss despite increased appetite
Faster heart rate, higher blood pressure, and increased nervousness
Increased sensitivity to heat
More frequent bowel movements
Muscle weakness, trembling hands
Development of a goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland, causing a swelling at the base of the neck).
Reddish, thickened, and lumpy skin in front of the shins
In women, change in frequency or total cessation of menstrual periods
Call Your Doctor About Graves' Disease If:
You are feverish, agitated, or delirious, and have a rapid pulse. You could be having a thyrotoxic crisis, in which the effects of too much thyroid hormone suddenly becomes life-threatening!
How Do I Find Out If I Have Graves' Disease?
Although Graves' disease can be diagnosed from the results of one or two tests, your doctor may use several methods to double-check the findings and rule out other disorders. An analysis of your blood will show if the levels of two hormones -- tetraiodothyrinine (free T-4) and triiodothyronine (free T-3), which are produced or regulated by the thyroid -- are higher than normal. If they are, and if levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood are abnormally low, you are hyperthyroid, and Graves' disease is the likely culprit. Blood analysis can also detect the presence of the abnormal antibody associated with Graves' disease, but this test is somewhat expensive and generally not necessary.
To confirm a diagnosis of Graves' disease, your doctor may conduct a radioactive iodine uptake test, which shows whether large quantities of iodine are collecting in the thyroid. The gland needs iodine to make thyroid hormones, so if it is absorbing unusually large amounts of iodine, it obviously is producing too much hormone.
If bulging eyeballs (called exophthalmos) is the only symptom, your doctor will probably run blood tests to check for hyperthyroidism, since this eye disorder is not always related to Graves' disease. The doctor may also evaluate eye muscles using ultrasound, a CT scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Signs of swelling in any one of these tests will go along with the diagnosis of Graves' disease.
What Are the Treatments for Graves' Disease?
If you have Graves' disease, or even suspect that you have it, you should have a professional diagnosis and, if necessary, a treatment plan that suits your particular condition. Although the disorder is rooted in a malfunctioning immune system, the goal of treatment is to restore thyroid hormone levels to their correct balance and to relieve discomfort.
Conventional Medicine for Graves' Disease
The two most frequently used treatments involve disabling the thyroid's ability to produce hormones.
One common approach uses a strong dose of radioactive iodine to destroy cells in the thyroid gland. Despite its destructive effect on thyroid cells, the iodine used in this procedure will not harm surrounding tissues and organs. To be on the safe side, during this treatment, you should also limit contact with infants, children, and pregnant women for at least seven days after you ingest the iodine. Over the next several months, the thyroid's hormone secretion should gradually begin to drop. During this time you need to see the doctor for periodic checkups to determine how well the treatment is progressing. If the condition hasn't improved three months or so after your initial treatment, your practitioner may give you a second dose of iodine. Once the doctor has decided that your Graves' disease is effectively under control, you will still need to have routine checkups to make sure that your thyroid levels remain within the normal range.
It should be noted that most people become hypothyroid after taking radioactive iodine for Graves' disease. If this occurs, you will have to take thyroid replacement medication for the rest of your life.
Antithyroid drugs such as propylthiouracil and methimazole (Tapazole), which interfere with thyroid hormone production, can be used to treat Graves' disease. After you begin treatment, it may take several months for hyperthyroid symptoms to subside. This is because the thyroid has already generated and stored enough hormone to keep it circulating at elevated levels. Once the stores are drained, hormone production should drop to its normal level. Although your disease may seem to go away entirely, you might still need drug therapy to keep your thyroid operating properly. Even if your case of Graves' disease does go into remission and your doctor says it's safe to stop taking medication, you will need to be evaluated every year or so to make sure hyperthyroidism has not returned since relapse is common.
Beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal), and metoprolol (Lopressor), frequently prescribed to treat heart disease and high blood pressure, are also used by some patients to alleviate the heart palpitations and muscle tremors that characterize Graves' disease. Before prescribing beta blockers for this condition, however, your doctor needs to know if you are asthmatic or have any kind of heart trouble. These drugs aren't a cure; instead they are given to block some of the effects of thyroid hormones. They are used in conjunction with other treatments.
Radioactive iodine treatments and antithyroid drugs are usually effective in slowing down thyroid hormone output, but in some cases surgery is the best approach for Graves' disease. If you develop the disorder before or during pregnancy, for example, or if you are reluctant or unable to undergo radioactive treatment or are allergic to antithyroid medication, your doctor may recommend subtotal thyroidectomy, a relatively safe and simple procedure in which most of the thyroid gland is removed.
Because many conventional remedies severely limit the thyroid's ability to manufacture thyroid hormone, they increase the chances that you will develop hypothyroidism, a potentially serious condition marked by insufficient thyroid hormone production.
Some degree of eye complaints occur in 25%-50% of those that develop Graves' disease but most can be managed with the home remedies. Surgery is rare and reserved for those with severe symptoms.
Graves' disease patients with eye problems can find temporary relief from the redness, swelling, and pain through a number of drugs, including prednisone, methylprednisolone, and dexamethasone. However, these medications should not be used for long periods of time, as they can lead to bone loss, muscle weakness, and weight gain. Vision problems and severe cases of eye protrusion can often be corrected through radiation therapy and surgery. A person who has Graves' disease should also see an eye doctor. Make sure to ask your doctor about any possible complications before undergoing surgery. | <urn:uuid:1f2bdfd8-90ba-485f-8373-2a54db554d9a> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.rjgfoundation.com/projects-c21kz | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.939975 | 2,092 | 3.53125 | 4 |
As we delve into the realm of fitness and wellness, it’s crucial to understand the fundamental elements that govern calorie burn. In this comprehensive guide, we will uncover the three essential pillars of calorie burn, shedding light on the intricate mechanisms that drive this vital aspect of physical health and well-being.
In This Article
What is Metabolism?
Metabolism, often described as the body’s calorie-burning rate, refers to the complex set of biochemical processes that occur within living organisms to maintain life. It involves the conversion of nutrients from the food we consume into energy, as well as the regulation of various physiological functions necessary for the survival and growth of cells.
There are two primary aspects of metabolism:
Catabolism: This phase involves breaking down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy in the process. For example, during digestion, large food molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are broken down into smaller units like glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids.
Anabolism: In this phase, smaller molecules are combined to create larger, more complex molecules, requiring energy input. Anabolic processes are responsible for building and repairing tissues, such as the synthesis of proteins from amino acids.
Metabolism is crucial for several key functions in the body, including:
Energy Production: The primary role of metabolism is to generate energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is utilized by cells for various activities.
Maintenance of Cellular Structure: Metabolism is involved in the synthesis and repair of cellular components, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Elimination of Waste Products: Metabolism helps in the elimination of waste products produced during cellular activities, preventing the accumulation of harmful substances.
Regulation of Hormones: Metabolism plays a role in the production and regulation of hormones that control various physiological processes, including growth, development, and reproduction.
Metabolism is often described in terms of basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the amount of energy expended by the body at rest to maintain basic physiological functions such as breathing, circulation, and cell production. Factors such as age, gender, body composition, and genetics can influence an individual’s metabolic rate.
Understanding metabolism is essential for managing weight, as a person’s metabolic rate can impact how efficiently they burn calories. Factors like regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can influence metabolism positively. Conversely, certain medical conditions, aging, and hormonal imbalances can affect metabolism negatively.
The Three Pillars of Calorie Burn
The concept, the pillars of calorie burn, encompasses three fundamental factors or elements pivotal in the expenditure of calories within the human body. Calorie burn denotes the essential measure of energy expended by the body during a myriad of functions and activities.
The following is the breakdown of what the three pillars could potentially represent:
1. The Thermic Effect of Eating
Between 10 and 30 percent of your daily calorie burn stems from the thermic effect of eating. This intriguing phenomenon reveals that the simple act of digesting food contributes significantly to energy expenditure. 1 2
Notably, not all calories are created equal—your body expends more energy digesting protein compared to fats and carbohydrates. This insight forms the foundation of dietary strategies aimed at transforming your body into an efficient fat-burning machine.
2. Exercise and Movement
A notable portion, 10 to 15 percent, of your daily calorie burn is attributed to physical activity. Whether it’s lifting weights, sprinting for the bus, or even fidgeting, movement engages your muscles and accelerates calorie consumption. 3 4
While acknowledging the undeniable importance of exercise, it’s essential to grasp that the calories burned during workout sessions constitute only a fraction of the broader metabolic panorama.
3. Basal Metabolism: The Silent Dynamo
The cornerstone of metabolism lies in basal metabolism, representing the calories expended during rest. Astonishingly, 60 to 80 percent of daily calorie burn occurs while you’re seemingly inactive—sleeping, watching TV, or enduring corporate presentations. 5 6 7
This underlines the perpetual motion within your body: the constant beating of the heart, rhythmic breathing, and cellular activities during moments of stillness.
Redefining the Significance of Exercise
While exercise plays a pivotal role in a holistic health regimen, its impact on daily calorie burn is often overemphasized. Contrary to popular belief, the calories burned during a workout are not the primary focus of an effective fitness plan. Instead, the objective is to manipulate basal metabolism, transforming periods of inactivity into potent fat-burning intervals. This paradigm shift challenges conventional thinking and directs attention to the 23.5 hours beyond the gym.
Beyond Calorie Burn
In the labyrinth of fitness ideologies, the conventional emphasis on the immediate caloric output of exercise typically overshadows a more profound reality. While exercise unquestionably contributes to overall health, its transformative power extends far beyond the simplistic calculus of calories burned during a workout.
Contrary to prevailing perceptions, the true essence of an effective fitness plan lies not merely in the calories shed during a gym session, but in the strategic orchestration of metabolic processes that linger long after the last treadmill step. It is a paradigm shift, urging us to recalibrate our understanding of exercise’s role in the broader context of metabolic dynamics.
Moving Beyond the Caloric Treadmill
In the traditional narrative, the measure of a successful workout is often reduced to the immediate energy expenditure—how many calories were torched during that intense hour of cardio or weightlifting. However, this narrow focus overlooks the intricate dance of physiological adaptations that continue well into post-exercise recovery and, more importantly, during periods of rest.
The recalibration of our perspective involves acknowledging that the real goal is not just to burn calories while actively exercising, but to influence basal metabolism. This internal engine, responsible for the lion’s share (60 to 80 percent) of daily calorie burn, operates relentlessly, even when the body seems at rest. Therefore, exercise becomes a catalyst, not just for the temporary caloric torching but for the enduring impact on the body’s metabolic rhythm.
Transformative Inactivity: Leveraging Basal Metabolism
The key to this paradigm shift lies in recognizing that exercise isn’t confined to the confines of a gym or a designated workout hour. Instead, it extends its influence far beyond, seeping into the 23.5 hours when one is not actively engaged in deliberate physical activity. It’s during these seemingly passive moments—while sleeping, working, or engaging in sedentary pursuits—that the magic of basal metabolism unfolds.
Strategic exercise interventions are designed not merely to boost immediate calorie burn, but to trigger adaptations in the body that optimize its baseline metabolic rate. This, in turn, transforms periods of inactivity into potent fat-burning intervals. The body becomes an efficient, calorie-incinerating machine, responding not just to the exertion of a workout but to the sustained impact on its internal workings.
A Holistic Approach to Fitness
This redefined perspective on exercise aligns with a holistic approach to health—one that extends beyond the treadmill or weight room, permeating every facet of daily life. The synergy between structured workouts and the subtle, continuous influence on basal metabolism forms the cornerstone of a truly effective fitness regimen.
As we liberate ourselves from the shackles of conventional calorie-centric thinking, we embark on a journey that recognizes exercise as a catalyst for long-term metabolic efficiency. It’s a nuanced understanding that empowers individuals to appreciate the transformative potential of every movement, every workout, and every moment of rest, all contributing to the symphony of metabolic health that plays on, well beyond the walls of the gym.
The Diet-Exercise Synergy
Your diet becomes a catalyst in this metabolic transformation, capitalizing on the thermic effect of eating. Emphasizing lean, healthy proteins amplifies calorie burn during digestion, aligning with the overarching goal of converting the body into a fat-frying dynamo. The synergy between a thoughtfully crafted diet and strategic exercise regimens aims to optimize overall metabolic efficiency.
1. Diet as the Catalyst
Your diet serves as the catalyst for this metabolic transformation, wielding a potent influence on the body’s intricate energy processes. One key player in this metabolic orchestra is the thermic effect of eating, a phenomenon where the act of digestion itself expends calories. By strategically choosing the right nutrients, particularly emphasizing lean and healthy proteins, you amplify this thermic effect.
The decision to prioritize proteins in your diet becomes pivotal, as they demand more energy for digestion compared to fats and carbohydrates. This strategic dietary choice aligns seamlessly with the overarching objective—transforming your body into a formidable fat-frying dynamo. The metabolic furnace is stoked not just by the quantity of calories consumed but by the quality and composition of the foods that enter your system.
2. Emphasizing Lean Proteins
The emphasis on lean, healthy proteins is not a mere dietary preference; it’s a deliberate strategy to optimize calorie burn during digestion. For every 100 calories consumed, proteins demand a higher energy expenditure (approximately 25 calories) compared to fats and carbohydrates (ranging from 10 to 15 calories). This nutritional nuance becomes the cornerstone of a diet designed not just for satiety but for metabolic prowess.
Lean proteins, found in sources like poultry, fish, legumes, and tofu, become the building blocks of this strategic dietary approach. They not only satiate hunger but also engage your body in a metabolic ballet, where the digestion process itself becomes a calorie-consuming performance. It’s a mindful selection that transcends the simple act of eating, becoming a deliberate step in sculpting a metabolism finely tuned for efficiency.
3. The Synergy Unleashed
The true magic unfolds when your diet’s calculated precision harmonizes with a strategically designed exercise regimen. This is where the symphony of metabolic transformation reaches its crescendo. The synergy between these two pillars of health amplifies their individual impacts, creating a multiplier effect on overall metabolic efficiency.
As exercise stimulates the body, your thoughtfully crafted diet becomes the fuel that propels these physiological processes forward. It’s not a dichotomy of diet versus exercise but a seamless integration, each element enhancing the other. The result is a metabolic orchestra playing in perfect harmony, where the body efficiently burns calories, both at rest and during physical exertion.
4. Beyond Caloric Counting
This diet-exercise synergy transcends the limitations of traditional caloric counting. It’s a holistic approach that recognizes the intricate relationships within the body’s metabolic machinery. The focus shifts from a quantitative obsession with calories to a qualitative appreciation of how specific nutrients and movements impact the body’s internal workings.
In embracing this synergistic approach, individuals embark on a transformative journey—a journey where the careful selection of foods complements the intentional movements of exercise. Together, they create a metabolic symphony that resonates not only in the immediate aftermath of a meal or workout but as a continuous, harmonious melody that defines a lifestyle devoted to holistic health and metabolic vitality.
In the intricate dance of metabolism, the body orchestrates a symphony of calorie burn through digestion, movement, and basal metabolism. Understanding the nuanced interplay of these components unveils the true essence of metabolism, beyond mere calorie counting. As you embark on a journey to transform your body into a resilient, fat-burning powerhouse, remember—it’s not just about the calories you burn in the gym but the continuous metabolic rhythm that shapes your health around the clock.
- Calcagno M, Kahleova H, Alwarith J, Burgess NN, Flores RA, Busta ML, Barnard ND. “The Thermic Effect of Food: A Review.” J Am Coll Nutr. 2019 Aug;38(6):547-551. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2018.1552544. Epub 2019 Apr 25. PMID: 31021710.
- von Loeffelholz C, Birkenfeld AL. “Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis in Human Energy Homeostasis.” [Updated 2022 Nov 25]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279077/.
- Chung N, Park MY, Kim J, Park HY, Hwang H, Lee CH, Han JS, So J, Park J, Lim K. “Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT): a component of total daily energy expenditure.” J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. 2018 Jun 30;22(2):23-30. doi: 10.20463/jenb.2018.0013. PMID: 30149423; PMCID: PMC6058072.
- Cox CE. “Role of Physical Activity for Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance.” Diabetes Spectr. 2017 Aug;30(3):157-160. doi: 10.2337/ds17-0013. PMID: 28848307; PMCID: PMC5556592.
- Crouter SE, Churilla JR, Bassett DR Jr. “Estimating energy expenditure using accelerometers.” Eur J Appl Physiol. 2006 Dec;98(6):601-12. doi: 10.1007/s00421-006-0307-5. Epub 2006 Oct 21. PMID: 17058102.
- Villablanca PA, Alegria JR, Mookadam F, Holmes DR Jr, Wright RS, Levine JA. “Nonexercise activity thermogenesis in obesity management.” Mayo Clin Proc. 2015 Apr;90(4):509-19. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.02.001. PMID: 25841254.
- von Loeffelholz C, Birkenfeld AL. “Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis in Human Energy Homeostasis.” 2022 Nov 25. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, Boyce A, Chrousos G, Corpas E, de Herder WW, Dhatariya K, Dungan K, Hofland J, Kalra S, Kaltsas G, Kapoor N, Koch C, Kopp P, Korbonits M, Kovacs CS, Kuohung W, Laferrère B, Levy M, McGee EA, McLachlan R, New M, Purnell J, Sahay R, Shah AS, Singer F, Sperling MA, Stratakis CA, Trence DL, Wilson DP, editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000–. PMID: 25905303. | <urn:uuid:627f0b58-b6ad-4905-8a19-469bec97b849> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.sharpmuscle.com/fitness/metabolism-pillars-of-calorie-burn/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.882439 | 3,145 | 3.71875 | 4 |
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal part of 21st-century education, transforming traditional teaching methods and learning environments. This powerful technology aids in creating personalized learning experiences and serves as a guiding force in multiple academic domains. AI Tools for Students has inspired the development of smart tutoring systems and automated feedback units that help to simplify complex study subjects, thereby enhancing learning outcomes.
These AI Tools for Students not only aid in learning but also contribute significantly to research, data analysis, and effective administration in education. This article will explore how AI aids in revolutionizing education and improving how learning is imparted.
Transforming Educational Experience via AI
The influence of AI in altering traditional learning and teaching methods is significant. AI-enabled tools, designed to assist learners based on their individual learning patterns, provide tailored study paths backed with instant evaluations. This fosters a comprehensive understanding and a deeper grasp of subjects, thereby propelling students towards academic excellence.
These AI tools provide assistance not only academically but also in areas like project management and boosting writing skills. To make use of this cutting-edge technology, these tools have been made affordable and accessible universally, ensuring that all students can benefit.
How AI Tools are Benefitting Students
AI tools offer a plethora of advantages to students as well as educators. They have been designed to deliver personalized learning experiences, paving the path for targeted learning. AI-enabled study aids and writing enhancement tools help in building students’ comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills. Likewise, AI platforms with project management capabilities offer streamlined task organization and progress tracking.
By offering these benefits and more, AI tools have the potential to radically enhance students’ academic performance and expedite the attainment of their educational goals.
Utilizing AI Tools for Effective Learning
In today’s digital age, AI tools have become instrumental in shaping the learning experience. These tools leverage AI’s advanced capabilities to offer personalized learning experiences and instant evaluations. AI-powered writing enhancement tools, for instance, offer invaluable assistance by providing grammar and style suggestions, thereby facilitating the improvement of writing skills.
Also, AI-powered knowledge acquisition tools simplify complex subjects making it easier for students to absorb information. The affordable and universally accessible nature of these tools makes them a helpful resource of immeasurable value for students worldwide.
Top Artificial Intelligence Tools for Modern Education
Utilizing ClickUp for Improved Learning
ClickUp, an AI-powered tool, significantly elevates the learning experience for students by providing a plethora of features. It serves as a robust project management tool, helping students stay organized, create tasks, set deadlines, and track progress efficiently. With its AI-powered writing features, it aids students in improving their writing skills by suggesting corrections for grammar and spelling errors.
These features collectively work to enhance the quality of students’ work, optimize their productivity, and accelerate their learning process.
Exploring Educational Advantages of Quillbot
AI utilities like Quillbot offer a plethora of educational benefits for students. These tools are designed to provide personalized learning experiences, back with immediate feedback, thereby aiding students in enhancing their abilities. Tools like Quillbot can assist students significantly by offering writing suggestions, enhancing grammar and vocabulary, and providing valuable insights to refine their writing style.
AI utilities remain affordable and accessible, ensuring that students of all budgets can avail of their benefits.
Making Study Easier with Gradescope
The AI-powered tool, Gradescope, significantly simplifies study routines for students. This tool streamlines grading, saves time, and allows online submission of assignments with immediate feedback. It even offers automated grading for handwritten tasks through advanced optical character recognition technology. All these features contribute to enhancing efficiency, enabling swift identification of improvement areas and tracking progress.
How Otter.ai is Assisting Students in Learning
Otter.ai has been instrumental in enhancing student learning engagements. Otter.ai employs AI to fulfill varied student needs such as real-time transcriptions of lectures, allowing students to review complex topics easily. Furthermore, it provides a handy speech-to-text functionality beneficial for notetaking and enhancing organization skills. Due to its user-friendly nature, Otter.ai becomes a valuable ally in students’ academic journeys.
Knowji: An Ally in the Learning Journey
Enjoying a place of prominence among AI utilities, Knowji offers personalized real-time feedback that is both cost-effective and designed for all student budgets. It excels in areas such as writing and project management, and by utilizing its writing features and productivity analysis tools, students can greatly elevate their academic performance. Knowji proves that AI can significantly augment learning experiences, enabling students to gain maximum returns from their academic pursuits.
OpenAI: A Game Changer in Education
OpenAI is spearheading the revolution in education by equipping students with powerful AI tools that enhance their learning experience. These tools provide effective real-time evaluations and customized study materials. AI-fueled writing tools, such as those from OpenAI, assist students in refining their writing skills by suggesting improvements in grammar and clarity.
They also offer AI-fueled tutoring platforms that provide a tailored learning experience based on each student’s unique needs and capabilities.
Audiopen.ai: Learning the Fun Way
Audiopen.ai is an interactive educational tool that makes learning an enjoyable and engaging experience. It offers unique features like immersive audio lessons, quizzes, and interactive games, allowing students to delve deep into various subjects. Along with personal feedback and recommendations, Audiopen.ai assist students in identifying areas for improvement while augmenting their depth of understanding. The primary focus of Audiopen.
ai is to make the learning journey more dynamic, fun, and engaging for students.
Brainly: Making Study Less Daunting
Brainly, an AI tool, simplifies the study process by providing a platform where students can collaboratively interact and learn. It promotes learning by enabling students to ask questions and receive answers from peers, aiding in a better understanding of complex topics. Brainly also gives students access to a rich repository of educational resources and study materials, making the learning process less daunting and more enriching.
Smart Sparrow: An Innovative Approach to Learning
Smart Sparrow stands at the forefront of AI-based learning, employing state-of-the-art technology to enhance the academic experience. This tool provides personalized real-time feedback based on an in-depth analysis of students’ performance data. It identifies areas for improvement and suggests relevant study materials. In addition to these features, it also provides interactive simulations and adaptive assessments to encourage active engagement with coursework and bolster understanding.
Wolfram Alpha: A Pioneer in AI Learning
Standing as a testament to the immense potential of AI in learning, Wolfram Alpha provides personalized instant feedback. It allows students to input math problems or scientific queries and receive step-by-step solutions or detailed explanations, making it a potent resource for comprehensive academic support. By providing assistance in various subjects, it has become a valuable learning asset for students who seek a deeper understanding of complex academic concepts. | <urn:uuid:44edad0a-c6c3-48ea-9e5a-2479892ac4e0> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://yassinebentaleb.com/ai-tools-for-students-revolutionizing-learning/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474746.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228211701-20240229001701-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.932257 | 1,450 | 3.640625 | 4 |
As you get older, there is some change in your body function that hearing loss is one of them. Age-related hearing loss is a common condition in many elderly age people. Among two people over the age of 65, one of them experiences some degree of the hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss also called presbycusis. Although it is not a threat for your life but if does not treat, it will effect on your life quality.
How do we hear?
Hearing depends on a series of events that convert sound waves in the air into electrical signal. Then the auditory nerve will be sent to the brain by an intricate series of steps. These steps are as bellow:
- Sound waves enter the outer ear and move via a narrow pathway called the ear canal, which direct to the eardrum.
- The eardrum will be vibrating by incoming sound, then eardrum will send the vibrations to three small bone as called malleus, incus and stapes.
- The middle ear’s bones connect the sound vibration from the air to the fluid vibrations in the cochlea of the inner ear which is shaped like a snail and filled with fluid. An elastic partition moves from the beginning to the end of the cochlea and divide it into an upper and lower part. This partition is called the basilar membrane because it acts as the base or as the ground floor of the hearing system original sit.
- The vibration which is cause to crisp the fluid inside the cochlea, leads to a wave along the basilar membrane. Hair cells-sensory cells placing on top of the basilar membrane and activate the wave.
- Moving the hair cells to up and down, microscopic hair-like projections (called as stereocilia) that stand on top of the hair cells, strike the upper structure and bend. Bending causes to open pore-like channels. These pores placed at top of the stereocilia. Then chemical steepen to the cells and make an electrical signal.
- The auditory nerve takes the electrical signal to the brain and convert it into a sound that is distinguishable and understandable.
Why do we lose our hearing as we get older?
Many factors are causes hearing lose as you get older. It is difficult to distinguish the age-related hearing loss from loss hearing due to the other reasons such as exposing loud noise for a long time. It can cause hearing loss. It leads to damage to the hair cells-sensory in ear. Once these cells are damaged, they can’t grow up and consequently hearing ability will be reduced.
Some common conditions in the old ages like high blood pressure or diabetes also can leads to hearing loos. Some medicines that are harmful for ear’s inner sensory cells (such as chemotherapy drugs) may even cause hearing loos.
Rarely, age-related hearing loss is causes by any problem of outer or middle ear such as reduce function of the tympanic membrane (the eardrum) or three small bones in the middle ear that take sound waves from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear.
In most of the elder people, both age-related hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss interfere in hearing loss.
Causes of age-related hearing loss (or presbycusis)
Presbycusis is a gradually process. Different changes in the inner ear can cause to age-related hearing loss as bellow:
- Changes in the inner ear’s structure
- Changes in blood flow to the ear
- Defectiveness in the hearing nerves
- Change in the sound and speech process by brain
- Damage to the small hairs that are responsible for transferring sound from ear to the brain
Age-related hearing loss may occur due to the other issues such as:
- Poor circulation
- Exposure to loud noises
- Use of specific medicines
- Family history of hearing loss
Symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Signs of age-related hearing loss mostly begin with inability to hear high sounds. The person will find it’s difficult to hear the child and female’s voices as well as difficulty to hear the background noise or the other person voice clearly.
The other symptoms are as follow:
- Speak loudly
- Difficulty to hear in noisy places
- Difficulty to hear the differences between “S” and “th” sounds.
- Ringing in the ears
- Turning up the volume higher than normal on radio and television
- Requesting people to repeat their words
- Difficulty to hear conversation over the phone
If you have any of above symptoms you need to consult with your doctor because these symptoms could be signs of the other disorders, so should be checked out by a doctor.
How it’s diagnosed
If you have any symptom of age-related hearing loss, you should see your doctor and he will do some general test to find the reason of your condition. More addition, he will check inside your ears by an otoscope.
If your doctor can’t find any other reason for this issue, so it is age-related hearing loss. You will be referred to a specialist called an audiologist to distinguish your hearing loss level by hearing test.
Still there is no treatment for age-related hearing loss. If you are diagnosed with this status, your doctor will help you to improve your hearing and quality of life. He maybe recommends you the following items:
- Using of hearing aids to help for better hearing
- Using of booster devices such as phone amplifiers
- Learning sign language or lip reading (for sever hearing loss)
In some cases, your doctor may suggest you a cochlear implant. It is a small electronic device that is placed into the ear via surgery. Although cochlear implants make sounds louder but it cannot restore normal hearing. This option is only usable for those who suffer of sever hearing loss.
Is it possible to prevent of age-related hearing loss?
Although there is no finding for prevention of presbycusis, but you can protect your hearing from noise-induced hearing loss. You should avoid repeated high sounds as well as decreasing times that you are exposure by these loud sound and also caring of ears by ear protections. These are the simple ways that you can protect of your hearing and decrease the level of age-related hearing loss.
Can my friends and family help me?
You and your family can cooperate together to make living easier by hearing loss. You can do the following items:
- Speak with your friends and family about your hearing loss. The more numbers who are informed about your problem, the more people will be there to help you manage this issue.
- Ask them to face you when they are talking because you can see their faces and will be able to lip reading and understanding their words.
- Ask them to speak louder but not shout. There is no need to speak words by word and slowly, just to speak clearly.
- Turn off the TV when nobody watches it.
- Be aware of noise around you. For example, when you go to a restaurant, don’t sit near the kitchen or music band. The background sounds make the hearing difficult for you.
May cooperation with others in order to better hearing be difficult for you. For instance, facing with other when they are talking to you or speaking loudly and clearly with you is time consuming and needs more energy for others, but be patient and ask help from others. Better hearing is worth it.
Mostly age related hearing loss is a progressive condition, it is not reversible and may lead to loss hearing. This condition may force you to stay at home, but you should avoid of isolation by your family and friend’s cooperation. You can manage this condition and have a relax and joyful life.
Loss hearing can cause both physical (such as not hear the alarm) and emotional (like social isolation) problems.
When we should refer to specialist?
If you have any problem for hearing you should quickly consider it because if it is caused because of more hair in your ear or a drug side effect, it can be treat more sooner. you should do a hearing test. If you find any change in your hearing or any other sign such as headache, visual change or dizziness, you need to see your doctor quickly. | <urn:uuid:8b544943-5598-435b-be34-fe5c2d528219> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | http://www.drtaherian.com/age-related-hearing-loss/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.954908 | 1,723 | 3.8125 | 4 |
64 million European children spend more time at school than anywhere else other than their own home.
These formative years should not be spent in dark, decrepit buildings. Especially since numerous studies show that it is not just teachers, but also the physical environment, that inspires learning.
As architects, we have a responsibility to ensure that tomorrow’s classrooms are healthier and more supportive of great learning outcomes.
In this erBook, you will learn more about six select design elements that can enhance learning:
- Daylight: Ensuring more daylight which is critical to learning
- Indoor air quality: How to improve air quality without sacrificing temperature
- Temperature: Adaptive thermal comfort throughout the year
- Acoustic environment: Helping teachers be heard over traffic, kids and more
- Classroom design: Giving teachers flexibility and children a sense of ownership
- Stimulation: Balancing colour and complexity | <urn:uuid:72b33fca-033d-4e1d-8856-3542aed3095d> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://commercial.velux.co.uk/inspiration/ebooks/building-better-schools?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email-ext&utm_campaign=vc_uk_designingbuildings_article_buildingbetterschools_ebook_local-base | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.939419 | 183 | 3.59375 | 4 |
- The characteristic of treating others with fairness and impartiality
- The philosophical concept of treating everyone fairly and in accordance with the rules
- The process of applying and implementing law to ensure fairness
- The legal procedure in which everyone is treated fairly and without bias
- The role of the justice system is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and the law is applied evenly.
- In our society, justice demands that all individuals are treated with dignity and fairness.
- The judge presides over the court to administer justice according to the law. | <urn:uuid:431ea0ba-3cc5-4749-935b-33e737b631ac> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://dictionary.justia.com/justice | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.953414 | 110 | 4.03125 | 4 |
The Equality Act is federal legislation that if passed would extend protection against discrimination to explicitly include lesbian, gay, and transgender Americans. In this activity, you will investigate how members of Congress are using social media to discuss, promote, or oppose the Equality Act and then consider how you might respond as well online.
At the end of February, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, a bill designed to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The 1964 legislation banned discrimination based on “sex.”
The Equality Act was one of the policies that President Joe Biden wanted to have passed during his first 100 Days in office. It was reintroduced in Congress by Democrats in June 2023.
Support and opposition for the bill is sharply divided along partisan lines - Democrats support and Republicans oppose. Both sides cite the importance of individual freedoms to support their views.
Then, critically evaluate how members of congress used Twitter to discuss, promote, or oppose the Equality Act. Use the Teacher and Student Guide to Analyzing Social Media (Questions About Social Media Content) as well as the following prompts to guide your analysis.
Do you think their tweets were effective in persuading their viewers' thoughts about the Equality Act? Why or why not?
What are common themes or central ideas presented in the tweets?
How was language used to try to convince people to support one side or the other?
Do you think the language and visuals used were effective? Why or why not?
What might you have done differently if you were a member of Congress trying to persuade your constituents to think a certain way about the Equality Act?
Present your critical media analysis via a video, blog, or paper.
Explain the historical context and significance of laws passed by Congress that have expanded the civil rights and equal protection for race, gender and disability. (Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for History and Social Studies) [8.T5.4] | <urn:uuid:d7f58e88-b207-4ff5-b173-0e02797875fb> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://edtechbooks.org/mediaandciviclearning/for_against_equality_act | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.966621 | 406 | 4.125 | 4 |
Small goals drive intrinsic motivation
Big goals are achieved by setting and achieving smaller goals along the way. Short, attainable goals are especially helpful for students who struggle with executive function. For example:
Big goal: Get an A in Science
Smaller goals to help get there:
- Make better use of class time by paying closer attention and taking more (or some!) notes.
- Make sure all homework is handed in on time.
- Practice self-advocacy and plan to meet with the teacher at least once a week after school to ask questions about things they don’t understand.
- Study an extra 10 minutes per night to reinforce what was taught in class that day.
Achieving smaller, more specific goals as your child works toward their bigger goal will help keep them focused and give them a greater sense of accomplishment, thereby driving intrinsic motivation. | <urn:uuid:3f5f4bb1-d2d5-4751-86c4-94b34ae42fb7> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://engagingmindsonline.com/blog-posts/the-immense-value-of-smaller-goals | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.964115 | 179 | 4.03125 | 4 |
‘The Story of an Hour’ is a minimally structured tale that employs various literary devices. They literary techniques convey the emotions and themes of the story. The story is deeply emotional and makes us think about a woman’s life in a society where her freedom is limited. The writer uses special tools to tell this strong story and make us think about the rules and customs of that time. Here are a few of those tools used in the story:
Literary Devices In The Story of An Hour
The irony in the story lies when Louise derives a sense of freedom and joy from realizing the news of the death of her husband. This is ironic because one would expect a woman to feel sad or devastated upon hearing about the death of her spouse. Following sentence employs irony: –
“Her husband’s death was a blessing, not a sadness.”
The use of irony in this line is striking as it is exactly the opposite of what one would expect. Many readers may assume that Louise would be devastated by death of her husband and feel a deep sense of sadness, however, Chopin subverts these expectations by having Louise feel a sense of liberation and freedom. This irony highlights the oppressive nature of Louise’s marriage and the limited freedom and autonomy available to women in the late 19th century.
The minute taken to describe Louise’s reaction to her husband’s death is a symbol of the time she takes to realize the true nature of her marriage. The story suggests that Louise has been living in a state of oppression and the news of her husband’s death is a liberating experience for her. Relevant example of symbolism from the book is as under: –
“There stood Mrs. Mallard in the open doorway, with irons in her hands.”
Chopin uses the open window as a symbol of the freedom that Louise desires. The image of Mrs. Mallard standing in the doorway with irons in her hands creates a vivid contrast between the confinement of her marriage and the possibility of a new more liberated life. The use of the window also serves to emphasize the theme of freedom and the oppression of women as it represents the potential for escape and liberation from the constraints of marriage and society.
The vivid imagery has been used to describe the emotions and surroundings of Louise. For example, she describes Louise’s heart as ‘beating with joy and the ‘open window through which she sees the ‘blue sky and the golden tree tops’. These images convey the sense of freedom and possibility that Louise feels upon realizing her husband’s death. Here the imagery has been used by the writer: –
“The city was a sea of houses, with here and there a palace.”
In the sentence, the writer uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the densely populated city that Louise sees from her husband’s window. The image of a ‘sea of houses’ serves to emphasize the idea that society is crowded and oppressive and that Louise feels trapped and confined by it. The use of the word ‘palace’ also creates a sense of contrast as it suggests a more grand and spacious environment than the crowded cramped city. This contrast highlights the themes of freedom, oppression and the constrictive nature of society that are central to the story.
The story has an ironic tone as it shows how Louise feels about her husband’s death and what it means for her life as a married woman. It is also sad because it hints that Louise was unhappy in her marriage and feels some relief after her husband’s passing. Following sentence suggest the tone employed by the writer: –
“Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble.”
In the aforesaid sentence, Chopin begins the story while mentioning a heart problem that becomes important later. He using the term ‘heart trouble’ in a factual way, which shows a distant tone suggesting the story is more about women’s oppression than romance. This tone highlights the themes of freedom and women’s limitations in the story.
Chopin uses foreshadowing to hint at the outcome of the story. For example, when Louise says ‘Her bosom rose and fell with the motion of her breathing‘. The reader can infer that she is experiencing a deep emotion that will have significant consequences. The writer say : –
“there was a feeling of freedom in every step she took” has been foreshadowing the eventual death of Mrs. Mallard.
Here, the use of foreshadowing is to hint at the eventual death of Mrs. Mallard which will be revealed later in the story. The word ‘freedom’ used to describe Mrs. Mallard’s steps hints at something important ahead. This hinting adds depth to the story, building suspense and making the reader curious.
You might be interested: List of 75 Literary Devices
The repetition of the phrase ‘She was alive’ throughout the story is to emphasize Louise’s newfound sense of freedom and vitality. This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the idea that Louise’s life has been given a new purpose.
“She was free, free, free! She soght or heard the madme’s words.”
Here the literary technique of repetition has been used to emphasize the idea of freedom and liberation. The repetition of the phrase ‘free, free’ creates a sense of rhythm and emphasis underscoring the significance of this theme. The repetition also serves to draw attention to the word ‘madme’, which suggests a sense of oppression and constraint.
7- Point of view
The story’s use of a third-person narrative provides a unique perspective on Louise’s emotions and experiences allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of her feelings and the themes presented in the story
“She sat forthwith in stiff, rigid abandonment.”
In aforesaid line, Chopin uses limited point of view to create a sense of intimacy and immediacy. The use of the word ‘stiff’ to describe Mrs. Mallard’s posture creates a sense of rigidity and constraint, which emphasizes the themes of oppression and freedom. The limited point of view also serves to draw attention to Mrs. Mallard’s emotions and thoughts as the reader is only able to experience them through her inner monologue.
There is no direct flashback in the story, but Chopin uses Louise’s thoughts and feelings to give a glimpse into her past, revealing the sources of her unhappiness and the reasons why she feels so liberated by her husband’s death.
“She was having a walk in the square.”
In the line, Chopin employs a flashback to provide insight into Mrs. Mallard’s life with her husband. The use of the phrase ‘she was having a walk in the square’ serves to create a sense of atmosphere and setting drawing the reader into the story. The flashback also serves to provide context for Mrs. Mallard’s emotions and thoughts.
‘In the story of an hour’, the writer uses metaphors to effectively express the character’s emotions and feelings. For instance, ‘She was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window’ is a metaphor used to illustrate the profound and almost intoxicating sense of freedom that Mrs. Mallard experiences. He creates a powerful image of Mrs. Mallard’s emotional awakening. The comparison of the fresh air to an ‘elixir of life’ that Mrs. Mallard consumes, which creates a poignant picture of her transformation and the feeling of liberation she experiences.
Chopin uses simile to aid in character development and description. For instance, “She carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory” uses a simile to depict the transformative effect freedom has on Mrs. Mallard.
Personification involves attributing human characteristics to non-human entities. For example, “And the trees twittering their new spring life” use the verb “twittering”, usually associated with human chattering, for the trees, emphasizing the new lease of life Mrs. Mallard feels.
The writer employs contrast to highlight characters’ emotions and situations. The visibility of the spring day from her window against the enclosed, dark room where she mourns magnifies the newfound freedom of Mrs. Mallard.
“She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.”
In the excerpt, Chopin uses contrast to create a profound impact on the readers. Instead of reacting with ‘paralyzed inability’, Mrs. Mallard swiftly goes through a wave of emotions eventually leading to a sense of liberation. This contrast between the expected social norm and her actual reaction lays bare the oppressive nature of her married life.
Foreshadowing is subtly used to hint at Mrs. Mallard’s death. An example being: “She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression”. The sentence suggests that Mrs. Mallard has been suffering from some form of repression or oppression which is confirmed later in the story when she acquires her newfound freedom. The adjectives ‘young’ and ‘fair’ describe Mrs. Mallard’s appearance and suggest a sense of innocence and vitality, while the phrase ‘whose lines bespoke repression’ implies that there are underlying tensions or conflicts in her life. The use of the word ‘lines’ also suggests a sense of etching or carving implying that Mrs. Mallard’s face may have been scarred or marked in some way by the experiences she has undergone.
14- Plot Twist
The sudden revelation at the end, that Mr. Mallard was alive all along, is a plot twist which highlights the irony and tragedy of Mrs. Mallard’s situation.
Mr. Mallard was dead. He had been obliged to write and tell her so.”
In the aforesaid excerpt, Chopin uses the plot twist to subvert the expectations of the readers and creates a sense of surprise and intrigue. The surprising news of Mr. Mallard’s passing triggers Mrs. Mallard’s emotional awakening and the realization of her freedom. This unexpected turn gives the story more depth and highlights the themes of personal freedom and women’s oppression in the late 1800s.
- Can Literary Devices Be Used In Argumentative Essays?
- Literary Devices In A Thousand Splendid Suns
- The Crucible Escape Room Literary Devices
- Literary Devices In Glass Castle | <urn:uuid:c11f7a22-ba31-4119-b702-31e8d1b4d17c> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://englishleaflet.com/literary-devices-in-the-story-of-an-hour/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.949172 | 2,269 | 3.640625 | 4 |
By no means does the complex succumb all at once or quickly—the stages of advancing collapse northward are distinct. As each great chunk of the complex rift system gives way, hundreds more square miles of the surface fracture, break and crumble—until, now more compact, they settle lower down into the earth’s crust. They are all covered as the waters rush in, filling each new lowland as soon as it develops. Within hours—a day or two at most—the enormous added weight collapses each next segment northward. With the New Madrid segments submerged, the cataclysm advances on into the Wabash Valley…and southern Indiana hills become islands. When the Wabash segments have all collapsed and drowned, up beyond Chicago and encompassing much of Lake Michigan, the Midcontinental Rift follows in turn, and then the Great Lakes Tectonic Zone. The beloved lakes’ remaining outlines and salinity are changed forever.
In eastern Canada, running from Lake Huron up through Quebec and on into Labrador, is an old geologic feature known as the Grenville Front. The Front is but one segment of a much longer scar on the earth’s surface. Little known to anyone other than geologists, this very ancient line known as the Grenville Orogenic Belt represents what has been called perhaps the most dramatic collision of continent-sized tectonic plates in the history of planet earth.
Extending in linear fashion with few zigs or zags from southwest to northeast, Grenville has been studied and mapped from Mexico through Texas, across the American heartland to Eastern Michigan, Lake Huron and Ontario on up to Labrador, and thence across the north Atlantic past Scotland and on into northern Scandinavia. In North America, associated outliers reach far underneath Appalachia and over into east Greenland. The “Front” segment which is located just east and northeast of the great lakes is considerably fractured, and the underlying earth crust is thinner than elsewhere.
Piece by piece the collapse advances until failure of the Great Lakes zone brings this new North American rift into contact with the Grenville Front. With accumulated momentum, it is no contest. Even the Canadian Shield’s hard old igneous pre-Cambrian rock cannot stop the cascade from advancing through the Shield’s narrow waist just north of Lake Superior and on into Hudson Bay. The chain collapse of such a massive interconnected rift system is beyond any conceivable precedent, beyond human imaginations. Such massive earthquakes have never been seen or heard of since humans began recording their history. That ancient Noah’s-flood story is displaced by this all-too-real New Flood.
The Great North American Rift Valley has been born, and it will endure for millions of years. Unlike northeast Africa’s Great Rift Valley, this one is filled with salt water. Its new current flow is from south to north.
Accompanying the calamity, other unexpected phenomena play out. To the southwest, much of the eastern half of Texas collapses and drowns even before the Wabash collapse and advancing waters have completed their northward progression. Speculations after the fact focus on super-porous geology—i.e., this large region, though outside the fault zone, succumbed because of widespread weakening of the rock substrata by so many decades of hydraulic fracturing, making east Texas perhaps the most fracked place on earth. Totally fracked, as they say.
In today’s economic reality, whether wastewater injection should continue is off the table. Researchers at Stanford University have mapped the natural geologic stresses throughout Oklahoma and Texas and discovered that… faults oriented in a certain direction, relative to natural tectonic stresses in the ground, are the ones most primed to become active. Faults that are critically stressed—that is, under enough natural force coming from just the right directions—may require a surprisingly small amount of additional force to rupture. That pressure can be as little as a few pounds per square inch.
Man-Made Solutions for Man-Made Quakes. Scientific American, January 2017
In times past, desirous of countering widespread criticism of fracking, spokesmen for the old natural gas and oil industries long insisted that fracking had been routinely applied since the 1960s to ninety percent of the hundreds of wells in the region. And they were quite right. Contrary to their rationalizations, however, the massive fracturing of so very much subterranean rock over so many decades, up to depths of two miles and that much more laterally across eastern Texas, in combination with the colossal growing weight of water in the adjacent Mississippi estuary, is credited with causing the east Texas collapse. In 2220 neither the industry nor its lobbyists and sycophants are alive to face survivors.
At length, the waters cover the North American aulacogen and much more. The collapse has taken but a few short days to complete. Aftershocks continue for twenty five years, a brief instant geologically. A new generation of human descendants does not care whether fracking or warmed seas caused this fast evolution of North American topography. Very soon their children are forgetting that it evolved at all, for it’s all they’ve known.
And in any case, for many years from 2220 on, human attention is preoccupied with adapting to the old nation’s division by this expansive new “inland” sea—which isn’t really inland at all, as it now is the aquatic divide between the two string bean continents that used to be the east and west portions of that old North America. A surviving U.S. government, no longer situated in swampy, fast submerging Washington, pragmatically adapts its governance over remaining lands between the new sea and the Atlantic coast.
And to the west, to no one’s surprise, California leads a coalition of state and provincial governments in establishing hegemony over the great landmass between the Pacific coast and the new sea’s western shore. From Alaska southward, the Canadian provinces, western states and much of Mexico presently join the coalition, all designing their new federal nationhood. Their new joint constitution will have surprisingly few changes from that of the much reduced United States (the late unlamented Electoral College being a prominent exception).
With both descendant nations still in survival mode, there is surprisingly little political argument over these practical responses to the new geographic exigencies. All of eastern Canada quickly evolves into the large and prosperous new nation called Quebec. Most amazing of all, these changes occur without armed conflict, except for two former residents of western Kentucky, one of whom kills the other and seizes the fertile farmland both had claimed atop scenic bluffs overlooking the new coastline. In this new beginning, they are remembered chiefly because their names were George Kane and John Able.
In perspective of geologic time, these changes are fast evolution indeed. But by around 2250—less than two human generations later—all has settled down and become the new normal. That great old Father of Waters called Mississippi is a legend to the young, who will never experience it. Their very real experience is of blue ocean waters that lay calmly over a vast stretch of the former central plains northward as far as Saskatchewan and Alberta, far on up into Manitoba and Ontario.
Above the drowned old Minneapolis-St. Paul, over the submerged Red River, thence across Lake Winnepeg and up the old Nelson River valley, the new waters flow freely from old Gulf of Mexico up into old Hudson Bay. From the sea’s equatorial south, warmed currents flow northward and change both climate and agriculture clear to the Arctic Circle. Ocean currents are permanently altered around the world. Though global warming has caused disruptions across the earth, none equals the changes in North America. Its surviving parts come to be called “the twin continents.”
As if in recompense, climate in the new Americas returns to blue-sky mild and pleasant around the new sea—and few people are any longer aware of the reduced and declining measure of carbon dioxide remaining in the air. This sea isn’t terribly deep by world standards, but the old Gateway Arch, if it still stood, would no longer be visible. In the way of ever-evolving human language, people call it M’sippisea—an old Indian word, the children tell younger siblings, and theirs is the historical memory that will endure. Despite the horrendous changes it once wrought on that segment of humanity known as Americans, few adults and no children at all perceive it as merely the most recent—coincidentally rapid—development in the long evolution of the earth. It just is.
Thus in twain divided forever that lost old America land, the very earth itself acting out in affirmation that terrible dividing which began in the hateful mindsets of men when they sought to divide and conquer, to prevail and control regardless of cost to fellowship and feeling of community. Serving self, they sought to gather in to themselves all the wealth and all the power over others, over their fellow humanity, when they cleaved—yes, when with uncaring and selfish denial of their brothership and sistership, they despised each the other and ignored in wanton abandonment the unconditional endless love in which God’s evolution had fashioned them and their very inner selves from his love, which also made Sun and World to endure.
Harmon Elmr Bland Lightday, History Keeper
By 2320, after three hundred years, M’sippisea has been an accepted feature of life in the twin North Americas for a century. People born after the cataclysm have no memory of those violent birthing days, and the most senior elders who did remember have long since died away. Now there are new elders, and they live a lifestyle far different than that of their recent ancestors. Like those pre-Columbian native Americans and their living descendants, these new elders are close to nature, knowing themselves integral with it. No one much remembers those old broken treaties and stolen lands and reservations.
From birth The People are naturally adapted to the rhythms of natural earth processes. They understand themselves at one with nature, because the natural earth that sustains them is one of the endless manifestations of God and God is everything so nature thus is everything on earth, including themselves. Natural stewardship of plant life and animals is the cultural norm, and especially loving care is taken of those beasts which provide so much of the working power in their scattered communities, such necessary augmentation of their precious manmade technological power. The people and the animals exist in respectful symbiosis with the natural world, and God indeed is everywhere.
Around the sea’s edges, the surface rifts and gullies left by The Great Quake have mostly filled in or turned to stream beds. The new generations know only that M’sippisea has always been there, remembered since their childhood, beloved for its inviting beautiful blue waters in which to swim, fish, go sailing and be joyful in their robust health and wellbeing.
That’s how M’sippisea felt in my dream.
* * *
This season is in the shadow of climate change. I feel like I’m a member of a civilization that cannot awaken to the challenges that threaten to destroy it. One of the ways to awaken [people] is to give a dream of what the future could be if we use our science and technology with wisdom and foresight and begin to think in the timescales of science. Not the next balance sheet, the next quarter, the next election, but 1,000 years from now. What will it be like? | <urn:uuid:d852a26f-c5bb-46fb-a557-130fc0b167c6> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://fixypopulist.com/the-godly-algorithm-51-msippisea/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.956963 | 2,384 | 3.78125 | 4 |
“Biologic species” does not have a satisfactory definition. Most often “species” is defined as “the largest group of organisms in which two individuals can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction”. The fertility “barrier” is however arbitrary, inadequate for closely related species, and irrelevant to the vast group of asexually reproducing organisms. Since organisms do not come with tree of life place cards, not just species classification but also taxonomy in general is more or less arbitrary as shown by grouping issues and the frequent revisions to its structure. Darwin admitted in his “Origin of Species”: “I look at the term species, as one arbitrarily given for the sake of convenience to a set of individuals closely resembling each other.” (p52) and “We shall have to treat species in the same manner as those naturalists treat genera, who admit that genera are merely artificial combination made for convenience.” (p485)
Why keep “species” or why not redefine the concept if failed? Redefining would likely have been done long time ago if better criteria were available, while discarding the concept of “species” is opposed by those fond of Darwin’s “Origin of Species”. Those that believe the “reproductive isolation” story point to minor adaptations, which they call “speciation” (implying stability) and then ask us to extrapolate these small changes into the dramatic transmutations imagined yet never observed by Darwin or his followers. This is a classic trick – employed extensively by magicians, cinematographers and con artists among others – where one thing is shown and the brain then “sees” another that is not there.
Biologic changes like appearance, metabolic, and antibiotic resistance are all limited in scope and reversible when the triggering stimulus is removed. If the arctic environment turned animals white while maintaining their resemblance to the family, how could an almost identical environment turn apes into humans when the same environment did not impact much the other African fauna? Observed adaptation limits include sugar content of beets, drosophila bristles, no black tulip, no blue rose, no green rabbit. Humans are quite diverse, from black to white, pygmy, those adapted to high altitude, and even Neanderthals, yet we’re all one “species”. In contrast, minor variants in other organisms are too readily branded “speciation”. This is reflected in the inflation of hominid “species” as everyone that found a bone or two claimed they discovered a new one. And even after some cleanup, we’re still left with Neanderthals and Denisovans that successfully mated (fertile off-springs) with Sapiens despite some considering them “separate species”.
Various “natural selection” speciation mechanisms have been proposed based on geography: allopatric (separated), peripatric (isolated peripheral), parapatric (adjacent), sympatric (overlapping). To these, a number of “artificial” methods like polyploidy, hybridization, gene transposition that produce new “species” significantly different than the original, but their relatives are none other than the original organisms and the difference are comparable to those observed in sexual dimorphism. In the end, all speciation “mechanism” lacks clear threshold criteria while “natural selection” is not a logical, coherent mechanism, leaving us with just a vague, unsupported “speciation” story.
Con: What mechanisms do you think are responsible for the distribution of the black allele in some mice (moths)?
Pro: The story with the eaten moths (or mice) doesn’t fit because: 1. No one has seen a mix of colors and then one color being eaten by predators into disappearance (short of gluing dead moths to trees which is not a proper experiment). 2. We know that chameleons and all other changing color organisms do so “spontaneously” before predators have a chance to “naturally select” them. 3. Story does not explain why better color combinations are not seen.
https://www.edge.org/responses/what-scientific-idea-is-ready-for-retirement – see Dawkins Essentialism | <urn:uuid:82503b56-5d57-4921-94aa-7c0738b88d25> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://nonlin.org/speciation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.938528 | 930 | 3.515625 | 4 |
Learning Recognition includes strategies that recognize, assess, and validate all forms of learning, regardless of its source (e.g., classroom, employment, life experiences). Learning recognition assessment strategies provide ways for learners to integrate what they know and can do from various sources and connect that learning to new learning within academic settings. Learning recognition values what learners bring into the classroom and builds upon and integrates that learning through different assessment strategies.
There are many sources from which learners can gain knowledge and skills outside of the traditional learning environment:
- Workplace learning and training – learners may have gained knowledge and skills from professional development through the workplace and/or preparing for and acquiring licenses, certifications, badges. and other workplace related credentials. For example, someone may have taken customer service training, applied that learning on the job, continued with advanced training, and now is a trainer for other employees.
- Military experiences – learners have gained college level learning through training and occupations. The American Council on Education (ACE) has evaluated trainings and occupations across many fields in the military.
- Self-study – learners may have acquired knowledge and skills through their own self-study, workshops, on-line resources, or other means specifically to increase knowledge and skills of an area. For example, someone may have studied the civil war on their own to learn more about the history, social change, and economic impact of that time in the United States.
- Community work and volunteerism – learners may have acquired knowledge and skills through different community service and volunteerism activities. For example, someone may have acquired learning through public speaking or event planning or serve as a child advocate and has learned about the court systems.
- Personal experiences – learners may have rich personal experiences which have developed a depth and breadth of knowledge and skills in specific areas. For example, someone may be a caregiver and learned about a particular disease and the related nutrition, treatments, medications, and resources needed to provide the best care possible.
Classroom Learning Recognition Assessments
Assessments that focus on how learners understand a topic and connect that learning across different applications and contexts provides ways to understand more fully what a learner knows and can do. Some strategies include: | <urn:uuid:858188d0-45e8-40a9-a5f9-c8cc11e7f0cf> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://online.suny.edu/innovativeassessments/learning_recognition/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.962942 | 449 | 3.609375 | 4 |
Trees are important for preventing soil erosion and flooding, two natural disasters that have severe implications for the environment. Trees reduce the impact of environmental disasters and ensure a healthy ecosystem. They control soil erosion by reducing wind velocity, intercepting water, and stabilizing soil structure, and control flooding by reducing runoff, retaining floodwater, and filtering pollutants. Trees also provide other benefits for sustainable development, including improved agricultural productivity, carbon sequestration, and human health benefits. It’s essential to protect and plant trees to maintain healthy ecosystems and resilient communities.
The Role of Trees in Preventing Soil Erosion and Flooding
Trees are an essential part of our environment, and one of their many benefits is preventing soil erosion and flooding. Trees help maintain the balance of the natural world by reducing the impact of environmental disasters and ensuring a healthy ecosystem for all. This article explores the significance of trees in controlling soil erosion and flooding and the various ways trees can be used for sustainable development.
Importance of Trees in Soil Erosion Control
Soil erosion is the process of the removal of soil particles and the resulting damage to the landscape. It can be caused naturally by the wind and water or artificially by human activities such as overgrazing, deforestation, and construction. Soil erosion has severe implications for our environment, leading to soil degradation, loss of fertility, and reduced agricultural productivity.
Trees play a vital role in controlling soil erosion by:
1. Reducing Soil Erosion by Wind: Strong winds can carry away soil particles, leading to soil erosion. Trees act as windbreaks, reducing wind velocity and preventing soil particles from being carried away.
2. Preventing Soil Erosion by Rainwater: During heavy rain, water hits the ground, resulting in soil compaction and erosion. Trees reduce the impact of raindrops by intercepting water before it hits the ground, reducing soil erosion.
3. Stabilizing Soils: Trees have an extensive root system that binds soil particles together and stabilizes the soil structure, protecting it from erosion.
Importance of Trees in Flooding Control
Flooding is another natural disaster that trees help mitigate. Flooding is caused by the overflowing of water bodies such as rivers, lakes, or oceans, leading to costly damages and loss of life. Trees control flooding by:
1. Reducing Runoff: Trees intercept rainfall, reducing the amount of water that flows into rivers and other water bodies, which can cause flooding. This allows soil and plants to absorb the water slowly, giving it time to filter down and replenish groundwater.
2. Floodwater Retention: Trees with dense canopies and roots absorb water and retain it, reducing the impact on water flows and preventing flooding downstream.
3. Filtering Water: Trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, promoting a healthy atmosphere and filtering pollutants from the environment. This filtration process helps prevent blockages in rivers and lakes, reducing the risk of flooding.
Trees for Sustainable Development
Aside from preventing soil erosion and flooding, trees provide many other benefits that can be used for sustainable development. These benefits include:
1. Improved Agricultural Productivity: Trees help to replenish soil nutrients and attract pollinators, improving crop yields.
2. Carbon Sequestration: Trees play a vital role in climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon dioxide in their biomass and the soil.
3. Human Health Benefits: Trees provide shade, reduce air pollution, and promote mental well-being, providing numerous health benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do trees reduce soil erosion?
– Trees reduce soil erosion by stabilizing soils, reducing wind and rain impact, and promoting soil binding through their extensive root systems.
2. How do trees control flooding?
– Trees control flooding by reducing runoff, floodwater retention, and filtering pollutants, preventing blockages and reducing the risk of flooding downstream.
3. How can trees be used for sustainable development?
– Trees can be used for sustainable development by improving agricultural productivity, sequestering carbon, promoting human health, and providing various economic benefits.
Trees play a crucial role in preventing soil erosion and flooding while providing several other benefits for sustainable development. For centuries, humans have been cutting down trees for various purposes, leading to environmental degradation and worsening climate change impacts. It’s essential to protect and plant more trees as they provide a range of services that can lead to healthy ecosystems and resilient communities. | <urn:uuid:3528e932-e49b-448d-bd93-45b66834be76> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://plantarfasciitisguide.org/the-role-of-trees-in-preventing-soil-erosion-and-flooding/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.925095 | 920 | 3.90625 | 4 |
Snellen chart: What it is, how it works and printable download
The Snellen eye chart is the most common method used by eye doctors to measure visual acuity, which is how clearly a person can see. During an eye exam, patients will read the Snellen chart from 20 feet away. The farther down the chart the patient can read, the better their visual acuity is.
What is the Snellen chart?
The Snellen chart is an eye chart that measures a person’s vision by how well they can read and see detail. Dr. Herman Snellen, a Dutch eye doctor, created the eye chart in 1862 for his colleague, Dr. Franciscus Donders. Dr. Donders conducted eye exams by having people look at a chart on the wall and describe what they could see.
Dr. Snellen created his chart using a geometric scale that gives an exact measurement of a person's visual acuity. The chart has 11 lines of capitalized block letters, known as optotypes.
At the top of the chart is only one letter — a large “E.” As you move down the rows of the chart, the letters gradually get smaller.
The chart provided a standard for eye doctors to use when measuring a patient’s eyesight. More than 100 years after its invention, the Snellen chart is still being used by eye doctors around the world.
SEE RELATED: Test your vision with 3 different eye charts
How the Snellen chart works
To use the Snellen chart, stand 20 feet away and read the rows of letters, starting at the top and working your way to the bottom. Do this while covering one eye and reading the chart with your uncovered eye. When you finish with one eye, restart the test with your other eye uncovered.
Each row of the Snellen chart represents a level of visual acuity, which is based on two numbers. The first number describes the Snellen chart’s distance from the patient. In the U.S., this number will almost always be 20 to represent 20 feet of distance. Countries that use the metric system will normally use the number 6 to represent a distance of 6 meters.
The second number describes how clearly a person can read a line of the Snellen chart from 20 feet away. For example, if someone has 20/20 vision, or “normal” vision, it means they can clearly read a line from 20 feet away that the average person could.
If someone has 20/50 vision, it means they have to be 20 feet away to read a line from the chart that someone with “normal” vision could read from 50 feet away.
The Snellen chart makes it easy for eye doctors to prescribe corrective lenses and restore sharp vision.
Printable Snellen eye chart
Because it’s so quick and easy to use, the Snellen chart makes it possible to assess your visual acuity from the comfort of your home.
Download this printable Snellen chart to do your own vision screening. Just print the chart, hang it up on a wall, measure the proper distance from it and start reading.
Note: The size of the chart was adjusted for printing purposes, so you should place it 10 feet away from you rather than 20.
Using a Snellen chart at home can give you an idea of your visual acuity, but it does not replace an actual eye exam. You should still schedule regular eye exams to make sure your eyesight and eye health are in good shape.
READ MORE: Nearsighted vs. farsighted vision
Page published on Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Medically reviewed on Monday, October 11, 2021 | <urn:uuid:32ff9e84-c779-45d3-a8ce-03947a64bba3> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/eye-exams/snellen-eye-chart/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.929565 | 765 | 3.890625 | 4 |
Sound signals used on the waterways are like the turn light indicators used to signal intentions on the highways. Sound signals are also like an automobile’s horn used to let other drivers know you are near or to alert them of danger. All boaters should know proper sound signals, especially those boaters operating near commercial vessel traffic.
Sound signals are composed of short and prolonged blasts and must be audible for at least 0.80 km (one-half mile):
- Short blast—about one second in duration
- Prolonged blast—4-6 seconds in duration
Some common sound signals that you should be familiar with as a pleasure craft operator are as follows.
- One short blast tells other boaters "I intend to pass you on my left (port) side."
- Two short blasts tell other boaters "I intend to pass you on my right (starboard) side."
- Three short blasts tell other boaters "I am backing up (operating astern propulsion)."
- One prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes is the signal used by power-driven vessels when making way.
- One prolonged blast plus two short blasts at intervals of not more than two minutes is the signal used by sailboats.
- One prolonged blast is a warning signal (for example, used when coming around a blind bend or leaving a dock).
- Five (or more) short, rapid blasts signal danger or signal that you do not understand or that you disagree with the other boater's intentions. | <urn:uuid:6bb0cc3c-aed9-4d9f-8174-31d6e1706660> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.boat-ed.com/canada/studyGuide/Common-Sound-Signals/10119902_113917/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.926426 | 312 | 3.53125 | 4 |
The Magellan expedition was a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan which departed from Spain in 1519 and culminated, in 1522, with the first circumnavigation of the world. The expedition's goal, which it accomplished, was to find a western route to the Moluccas (Spice Islands). The fleet left Spain on 20 September 1519, sailed across the Atlantic and down the eastern coast of South America, eventually discovering the Strait of Magellan, allowing them to pass through to the Pacific Ocean (which Magellan named). The fleet completed the first Pacific crossing, stopping in the Philippines, and eventually reached the Moluccas after two years. A much-depleted crew finally returned to Spain on 6 September 1522, having sailed west, around the Cape of Good Hope, through waters controlled by the Portuguese. | <urn:uuid:0919b755-6a6b-4cdb-b62a-662dc9b7ab35> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-models/games-toys/toys/magellan-expedition | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.968811 | 169 | 3.84375 | 4 |
Fowl Colors: Peacock Color Mutations
Zoos manage populations of animals to maintain genetic diversity and preserve the species. However, sometimes color mutations show up in the offspring. Though these color mutations would probably not be successful in the wild, in zoos where predators are absent, they flourish and can get passed on to subsequent generations. In this activity, you will complete some sample genetic crosses for a few of the countless genetic
combinations that result in color mutations. You will also determine the mode of transmission for these genetic mutations.
A note about this species…
Indian blue peafowl (Pavo cristatus) are commonly bred and exhibited by zoos and other institutions around the world because of their beautiful, exaggerated, and colorful display. Males, known as peacocks, possess a set of vibrant tail feathers called a “train.” Females, known as peahens, find these features attractive and research has shown that males with the longer, more elaborate trains attract more females and these females produce more chicks for these males. Via selective breeding, many color variations have been perpetuated over the years producing some striking displays.
“Fowl” Colors: Peafowl Color Mutations (pdf file) | <urn:uuid:831bed54-f830-4ca6-b1c4-840b5ef25d2f> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.drcrean.com/xy-zoo-color-mutations | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475203.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20240301062009-20240301092009-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.934794 | 253 | 3.8125 | 4 |
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