Datasets:

yushengsu

/

fineweb_edu_cleaned_modified

like 0

January 10, 2002 Parshat Vaerah (Exodus 6:2-9:35) From the Torah's beginning until its end, God is portrayed as being personally involved in the welfare of humanity. Deism is not a Jewish notion. God is not an "unmoved mover," the proverbial clockmaker who after assembling and winding his ware, steps back watching it tick down, never to again involve Himself with it. On the contrary, God hears our innermost thoughts, feels our deepest concerns, judges us and guides us through our lives. A traditional Jewish concept of God is one that is interactive and intimately personal. This week's Torah portion, Vaerah, begins with God hearing, and ultimately reacting to, the Israelites brutal enslavement. "I have now heard the moaning of the Israelites because the Egyptians are holding them in slavery, and I have remembered My covenant." (Exodus 6:5) The covenant being remembered is between God and the Israelite people. Curiously, it was the king of Egypt, and not God, or the Israelites themselves, who coined the phrase, "Israelite People." Acting out of panic, Pharaoh wanted to do away with the Hebrews, when he declared they were becoming too numerous. (Exodus 1:9) Even so, the distinction placed on our understanding of covenant is an important one. The covenant serves to bind God to an entire group, not to an individual, or a handful of individuals. "The God of Israel is no mythological deity who mingles freely with men in history," writes philosopher Rabbi Emil Fackenheim in his book, "God's Presence in History." "Nevertheless, not messengers, not angels, not intermediaries, but God himself acts in human history." God hears the cries of the people Israel and responds. The plagues used to dislodge the Hebrew slaves are physical indicators of God's personal involvement. Admittedly, not all the Hebrew slaves were liberated from their miserable environment. Over the span of several hundred years, countless generations of Israelites were born and died while held captive by Pharaoh and his cohorts, never having experienced the beauty of life. Collectively, we have survived as a people, and the covenant between God and us continues. While unimaginably large numbers of Jews have suffered and died throughout history, the Jewish People continue to thrive; the covenant remains intact. To those who are turned off to faith because of great personal, or even national loss, little can be said; out of respect, perhaps nothing ought to be said. After the Holocaust, for example, a number of Jewish theologians have felt the covenant was so compromised that it is no longer binding. All that notwithstanding, the spiritual question most of us encounter is whether life is little more than a series of coincidences. To some, our existence is the outgrowth of luck, possibly karma, astrology or magic. To the Jew, our people's existence is the result of God, and the covenant we have with Him. No doubt, life is made more palatable because of it. And, if the message conveyed throughout the Torah is correct, all peoples, Jewish or not, are additionally blessed to have a God who is personally involved in the day-to-day affairs of their lives. Michael Gotlieb is the rabbi of Kehillat Ma'arav in Santa Monica.

<urn:uuid:507b5db3-5b77-4c98-9bf9-9e586af2ff36>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.jewishjournal.com/torah_portion/article/gods_covenant_20020111

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

What is it? An atherectomy is a minimally invasive treatment used to remove fatty deposits (plaque) from the arteries, thus eliminating blockage and improving blood flow. This is done by inserting a catheter into an artery in the arm or leg and, guided by X-ray technology, cutting and suctioning the soft plaque from the affected area. Rotablation is a procedure performed on plaque that has hardened and become calcified. An olive-shaped, diamond-tipped burr, called a rotational atherectomy catheter, is rotated at a high speed within the artery and pulverizes the plaque into small particles that are then washed away by the bloodstream and filtered out of the body by the liver and spleen. These techniques are effective for atherosclerosis and are commonly used for peripheral arterial disease in the lower extremities. Our expert team of cardiologists and peripheral vascular surgeons are trained in evaluating, diagnosing and treating patients with varying degrees of atherosclerosis and can tailor the best treatment plan for patients. The Loyola difference Loyola is a nationally recognized leader in cardiac care. U.S. News & World Report ranked us 18th in the nation for cardiology and heart surgery in 2012, making this our 10th year in the top 50. Learn more about our performance outcomes.

<urn:uuid:e7dc9033-57dd-4378-b757-3193db063385>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.loyolamedicine.org/heart/clinical-services/treatments-procedures/atherectomy

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

By Vendor > AgBio Communications > grassland plants of south dakota and the northern great plains grassland plants of south dakota and the northern great plains "Learning to identify and understand the plants that produce the forage, provide the cover, protect the soil, and enrich our lives in many ways is an essential first step to conserving our native grassland, whether they are the grasslands we own and manage, or the grasslands we hunt and hike over, or simply the grasslands we view from our vehicles. This photographic guide can help you discover and learn about the plants inhabitating our northern prairies and plains." David J. Ode, Botanist/Ecologist, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department Authors are James R. Johnson and Gary E. Larson $19.95 and Free Shipping As Done By: AgBio Communications — Click to view all items by this member.

<urn:uuid:33d1ac47-0039-4ab9-bb75-7bac80e23076>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.madeinsouthdakota.com/Catalog/Product.cfm?shopBy=vendor&vendorId=833&productId=14745

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Impact of sugar production on the environment in Mauritius : state of play and current practices by K F Ng Kee Kwong Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius State of the environment In Mauritius sugar cane production is sustained through the use of non-renewable resources such as the 360 tonnes a.i. of herbicides and 65 000 tonnes chemical fertilizers containing 11 000 tonnes nitrogen, 5 000 tonnes P2 02 and 14 000 tonnes K20. These resources, in bringing success to sugar cane production, have also become since the 1970s, a focus of concern to the community on account of their possible negative effects on the environment. Indeed, with the detection limits that have become possible with sensitive instruments such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), trace levels of persistent pesticide residue or phosphate and nitrate in surface and ground waters have turned out to be commonplace. Faced with this public concern, the Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI) endeavoured in the 1990s to acquire a detailed knowledge of the impact of sugar cane production on the environment, particularly on water quality. In this context, potable water was monitored regularly every month for nitrate from 1990 to 1994 at 25 locations in Mauritius. The data acquired showed that the amount of nitrate (NO3) in potable water, as expected, fluctuated with time but it never exceeded the maximum permissible level of 50 mg NO3 L-1 recommended by the World Health Organization. In fact, more than 70% of the more than 1000 water samples analyzed contained less than 15 mg NO3 L-1 and concentrations higher than 25 mg NO3 L-1 were found in less than 10% of the water samples. Furthermore, more than 60% of the 750 groundwater samples (50% for the 1000 river waters) analyzed during 1995 and 1996 did not contain any detectable level of herbicide residue. Even when present, of all herbicides available for use in sugar cane cultivation, only residues of atrazine, hexazinone and diuron could be detected, with their concentrations being most often in the lower limits (0.05-0.5 ppb) measurable on the high performance liquid chromatograph and far below the maximum limit of 3 ppb atrazine, 14 ppb diuron and 210 ppb hexazinone recommended for drinking water by the United States Environment Protection Agency. Degradation of the environment by sugar cane production is in fact a concern common to all sugar producing countries and is best dissipated by international research linkages. In this context, a large scale collaborative study between MSIRI and the Queensland Department of Natural Resources with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) was undertaken to measure and predict the movement of agrochemicals in tropical sugar cane cultivation. This collaborative study which lasted four and a half years enabled the export of sediment and agrochemicals from sugar cane plantations to surface and groundwaters to be quantified. Thus, despite the undulating topography often encountered in Mauritius with 70% of the yearly rainfall (which may exceed 4000 mm in the superhumid areas) occurring as high intensity downpours between April and January, not more than 1 Kg phosphorus ha-1 yr-1, 10 Kg nitrogen ha-1 yr-1, 0.2% of the herbicide applied and 2 tonnes sediment ha-1 yr-1 would be transported by surface/subsurface runoff to rivers and lagoons. The impact of an annual load of 10 Kg N ha-1 and of the 0.2% of herbicides applied on the concentration of nitrate and herbicide residues in river waters can be seen by the fact that, as opposed to the generally undetectable level of nitrate and herbicide residues in the river still under the pristine natural forest environment at Black River, sugar cane cultivation raises nitrate concentrations in streams and rivers to not more than 2 mg NO3-N L-1 and results in herbicide residue concentrations not exceeding 1 µg L-1 atrazine or diuron. Apart from the higher concentration of dissolved P observed during storm events, the dissolved P concentration as a result of sugar cane cultivation would not deviate from that observed under the pristine conditions at Black River. The extensive science-based data set that has been gathered by MSIRI should comfort both the planting community and the public in showing that sugar cane production as practised now, even under the superhumid conditions in Mauritius, do not pose a threat to the environment as agrochemicals and soil moved offsite are agronomically insignificant and environmentally inconsequential. Based on visual observation of crystal clear watercourses becoming loaded with sediment during or after a heavy rainfall event, the perception of the general public has been that large quantities of sediment and agrochemicals are transported to reservoirs, rivers and lagoons in Mauritius. The data at hand showed that this perception is not founded. Development of sound agronomic practices The current little impact of sugar cane production on the environment owes a lot to the sound agronomic practices adopted by the planting community and developed through research. Thus, harvesting sugar cane inevitably removes nutrients from the soils and if they are not replaced, all cropped soils will ultimately run short of available nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other essential elements to become ultimately incapable of sustaining a profitable sugar cane production. Mineral fertilizers and their management are therefore key issues in sugar cane production. A balanced approach to mineral fertilizer use to ensure, on the one hand, that soils are not depleted of nutrients while on the other hand, avoiding excesses to minimize their detrimental impact on the quality of ground and surface waters is practised by the agricultural community through - Site-specific fertilization using soil testing to prevent over-fertilization or depletion of soil reserves, and - Judicious use of fertilizers particularly through appropriate time of application. With the rapid degradation of the herbicides in the surface 2.5 cm layer or the fast transformation of fertilizers in the top 15 cm soil, little herbicide residue or fertilizer remains in the surface soil after a month for transport into streams, rivers and aquifers. Water in Mauritius is thus at risk from herbicides and fertilizers only if runoff or leaching from the sugar cane fields occurs within a month from the time of applying the agrochemicals. In this context, in every climatic or geographical zone of Mauritius, the bulk of herbicides and fertilizers is applied to sugar cane during the second half of the year (July-December) when high intensity rainfall is rarely encountered. More than 70% of rainfall in Mauritius is in effect received from January to April. The bulk (more than 70%) of the herbicides and fertilizers in sugar cane are consequently used when the risk to contaminate fresh water resources is at its lowest. The delicate desirable balance that has been achieved between sugar cane production and environmental cleanliness could not have been possible without the effort to maintain the topsoil quality and quantity. Indeed preserving the surface soil where the organic matter is located is a sound practice not only from the agronomic but also from the environmental viewpoint. Its preservation keeps it from contributing to the world's greenhouse warming problem and from contaminating the freshwater resources through erosion. Though as a perennial crop, sugar cane covers the land extensively thereby minimizing soil erosion, nevertheless, the risk of sediment and associated agrochemicals being carried into water courses is reduced even further through the following soil conserving or cultural practices adopted by the planting community : - Planting of barrier crops such as Vetiveria on edges and banks of sugar cane fields, - Establishment of riparian buffer zones along streams and rivers, - Contour planting and minimum tillage on slopes to minimize erosion, - Extension of minimum tillage practice to flat lands to avoid soil disturbance, - Development of green cane harvesting not only to ultimately eliminate burning and its deleterious consequences, e.g. emission of smoke, greenhouse gases and particulate matter, to the atmosphere, but also to increase the plant litter acting as a mulch for protecting the soil surface against the beating action of raindrops and for reducing herbicide use. Development of sound agricultural practices would not be complete if management of the water needs of the sugar cane crop is not considered. In fact, the most critical issue regarding resource is water because its management is the only effective measure we have against an uneven spatial and seasonal distribution of rainfall. Water use efficiency in sugar cane production in Mauritius is being constantly improved to reduce losses and thus pollution of the environment. The improvement in water management has to-date implied the following : - Complete replacement of surface irrigation by more efficient techniques such as drip and centre pivot systems, - Resort to prescription (and now to deficit) irrigation based on crop water requirements. Importance of other research disciplines The current harmony between sugar cane production and the environment in Mauritius, it must be recognized, is not due solely to sound agronomic management. Research and development to attain that harmony have spanned the whole production cycle, starting from crop improvement through cultural practices and disposal of factory wastes after the sugar manufacturing processes to technology transfer to the planting community. Indeed, the contribution of other disciplines in the protection of the environment may be gauged through the following : - Only sugar cane varieties resistant to diseases and pests are released for commercial production to avoid the need for fungicides and insecticides during cultivation. - Insecticides are not used in sugar cane production, except in special circumstances, such as, during the 1997/1998 cropping season when 230 L of synthetic pyrethroids were applied over 455 ha to control an outbreak of locust epidemic. Biological control within a strategy of integrated pest management or cultural practices are preferred in pest control in sugar cane. As an example, scale insects are controlled by thrashing the sugar cane. - Trash blanketing is practised in the subhumid zones to reduce, if not to eliminate, herbicides use in sugar cane. Already the amount of herbicides used has decreased from 700 tonnes a.i. in the 1990s to less than 400 tonnes a.i. in 2003. Going hand in hand with the endeavour to reduce herbicide application in sugar cane, are efforts to improve the techniques of applying the herbicides, and efforts to screen for herbicides which are safer and non-toxic to the environment. - Treatment of factory effluents in wastewater ponds and by other techniques to meet environment standards and to enable re-use of the wastewaters in irrigation. - To enable producers to fulfill their role not only in support of productivity but also in the protection of the environment, they are constantly kept informed of the more efficient and environmentally sound technologies with respect to use of agrochemicals, adoption of high-yielding varieties, cultural operations, crop protection, natural resource management, and so on. In commercial agriculture, regulations or standards for environmental protection are perceived by the agricultural community to be associated with increased costs and are considered a hindrance to productivity. Research and development on sugar cane in Mauritius have accomplished the feat of bringing sugar cane production and environmental protection from their diametrically opposed positions, to one where they are in synchrony with each other. Sugar cane production in Mauritius has in fact become a vivid example of how profitable agriculture can be pursued while keeping the environment clean and beautiful.

<urn:uuid:f377d06a-40ae-41a9-8c04-24d0f95c3430>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.mchagric.org/php/int_main.php?rub=251&langue=

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Herbal In Italy ( Originally Published 1912 ) The Italian botanists of the Renaissance devoted them-selves chiefly to interpreting the works of the classical writers on Natural History, and to the identification of the plants to which they referred. This came about quite naturally, from the fact that the Mediterranean flora, which they saw around them, was actually that with which the writers in question had been, in their day, familiar. The botanists of southern Europe were not compelled, as were those whose homes lay north of the Alps, to distort facts before they could make the plants of their native country fit into the procrustean bed of classical descriptions. One of the chief of the commentators and herbalists of this period was Pierandrea Mattioli [or Matthiolus] (Text-fig. 40), who was born at Siena in 1501, and died of the plague in 1577. We realise something of the frightful extent of this scourge, when we remember that it claimed as victims no less than three of the small company of Renaissance botanists, Gesner, Mattioli and Zaluzian. Leonhard Fuchs was brought into fame by his successful treatment of one of these epidemics. It should also be recalled that, while Gaspard Bauhin, one of the best known of the later herbalists, was practising as a physician at Basle, no less than three of these terrible outbreaks occurred in the town. Mattioli was the son of a doctor, and his early life was passed in Venice, where his father was in practice. He was destined for the law, but his inherited tastes led him away from jurisprudence to medicine. He practised in several different towns, and became physician, successively, to the Archduke Ferdinand, and to the Emperor Maximilian II. Mattioli's ` Commentarii in sex libros Pedacii Dioscoridis,' his chef-d'oeuvre, the gradual production and improvement of which occupied his leisure hours throughout his life, was first published in 1544. It was translated into many languages and appeared in countless editions. The success of the work was phenomenal, and it is said that 32,000 copies of the earlier editions were sold. The title does not do the book justice, for it contains, besides an exposition of Dioscorides, a Natural History dealing with all the plants known to Mattioli. The early editions had small illustrations only (Text-figs. 41, 42, 93 and 94), but, later on, editions with large and very beautiful figures were published, such as that which appeared at Venice in 1565. Mattioli's descriptions of the plants with which he deals are not so good as those of some of his contemporaries. He found and recorded a certain number of new plants, especially from the Tyrol, but most of the species, which he described for the first time, were not his own discoveries, but were communicated to him by others. Luca Ghini, for instance, had projected a similar work, but handed over all his material to Mattioli, who also placed on record the discoveries made by the physician, Wilhelm Quakelbeen, who had accompanied the celebrated diplomatist, Auger-Gislain Busbecq, on a mission to Turkey. Busbecq brought from Constantinople a wonderful collection of Greek manuscripts, including Juliana Anicia's copy of the Materia Medica of Dioscorides, now in the Vienna Library (see pp. 8 and 154). He discovered this great manuscript in the hands of a Jew, who required a hundred ducats for it. This price was almost prohibitive, but Busbecq was an enthusiast, and he successfully urged the Emperor, whose representative he was, to redeem so illustrious an author from that servitudes." His purpose in buying the manuscript seems to have been largely in order to communicate it to Mattioli, who would thus be able to make use of it in preparing his Commentaries on Dioscorides. The personal character of Mattioli does not appear to have been a pleasant one. He engaged in numerous controversies with his fellow botanists, and hurled the most abusive language at those who ventured to criticise him. Another Italian herbalist, Castor Durante, slightly later in date than Mattioli, should perhaps be mentioned here, not because of the intrinsic value of his work, but because of its widespread popularity. At least two of his books appeared in many editions and translations. Durante was a physician who issued a series of botanical compilations, bedizened with Latin verse. The best known of his works is the Herbaro Nuovo,' published at Rome in 1585 (Text-figs. 45 and 103). A second book, the original version of which is seldom met with, has survived in the form of a German translation, by Peter Uffenbach. The German version was named ` Hortulus Sanitatis.' As an illustration of Durante's charmingly unscientific manner, we may take the legend of the " Arbor tristis " which occurs in both these works. The figure which accompanies it (Text-fig. 45) shows, beneath the moon and stars, a drawing of a tree whose trunk has a human form. The description, as it occurs in the ` Hortulus Sanitatis,' ay be translated as follows : "Of this tree the Indians say, there was once a very beautiful maiden, daughter of a mighty lord called Parisa taccho. This maiden loved the Sun, but the Sun forsook her because he loved another. So, being scorned by the Sun, she slew herself, and when her body had been burned, according to the custom of that land, this tree sprang from her ashes. And this is the reason why the flowers of this tree shrink so intensely from the Sun, and never open in his presence. And thus it is a special delight to see this tree in the night time, adorned on all sides with its lovely flowers, since they give forth a delicious perfume, the like of which is not to be met with in any other plant, but no sooner does one touch the plant with one's hand than its sweet scent vanishes away. And however beautiful the tree has appeared, and however sweetly it has bloomed at night, directly the Sun rises in the morning it not only fades but all its branches look as though they were withered and dead." Much more famous than Durante was Fabio Colonna, or, as he is more generally called, Fabius Columna (Plate IX), who was born at Naples in 1567. His father was a well-known littérateur. Fabio Colonna's profession was that of law, but he was also well acquainted with languages, music, mathematics and optics. He tells us in the preface to his principal work that his interest in plants was aroused by his difficulty in obtaining a remedy for epilepsy, a disease from which he suffered. Having tried all sorts of prescriptions without result, he examined the literature on the subject, and discovered that most of the writers of his time merely served up the results obtained by the ancients, often in a very incorrect form. So he went to the fountain head, Dioscorides, and after much research identified Valerian as being the herb which that writer had recommended against epilepsy, and succeeded in curing himself by its use. This experience convinced Colonna that the knowledge of the identity of the plants described by the ancients was in a most unsatisfactory condition, and he set himself to produce a work which should remedy this state of things. This book was published in 1592, under the name of ` Phytobasanos,' which embodies a quaint conceit after the fashion of the time. The title is a compound Greek word meaning "plant torture," and was apparently employed by Colonna to explain that he had subjected the plants to ordeal by torture, in order to wrest from them the secret of their identity. But it must be confessed that Colonna himself is by no means free from error, as regards the names which he assigns to them. The great feature of the `Phytobasanos,' however, is the excellence of the descriptions and figures. The latter are famous as being the first etchings on copper used to illustrate a botanical work (Text-figs. 46 and 105). They were an advance on all previous plant drawings, except the work of Gesner and Camerarius, in giving, in many cases, detailed analyses of the flowers and fruit as well as habit drawings. We owe to Colonna also the technical use of the word "petaI," which he suggested as a descriptive term for the coloured floral leaves'. By means of his wide scientific correspondence, Colonna kept in touch with many of the naturalists of his time, notably with de l'Écluse and Gaspard Bauhin. A passing reference may be made here to a book which is rather of the nature of a local flora than a herbal, entitled Prosperi Alpini de plantis .iEgypti,' which was published at Venice in 1592. It contains a number of wood-cuts, which appear to be original. The one reproduced (Text-fig. 47) represents Salicornia, the Glasswort. The author was a doctor who went to Egypt with the Venetian consul, Giorgio Emo, and had opportunities of collecting plants there. He is said to have been the first European writer to mention the Coffee plant, which he saw growing at Cairo. Prospero Alpino eventually became Professor of Botany at Padua, and enriched the botanical garden of that town with Egyptian plants.

<urn:uuid:1b1ebe26-94c4-4b92-bb8f-ba22fa0f2460>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles31n/herbals-14.shtml

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Joseph Banks Rhine changed the face of Psychical Research (Parapsychology) when he took experimental research to a new level in the late 1920’s. It was then that he created the Zener cards, or ESP cards, as a new form of testing for Extra Sensory Perception. ESP can be thought of as receptive psychic energy and can be simply defined as the ability to gain knowledge through means other than the five physical senses or by logical inference. ESP is broken into three categories; telepathy (awareness of information in the mind of another), clairvoyance (ability to receive information from objects or events from present time), and precognition (receiving information about objects or events in the future). Of these three, clairvoyance is the focus in basic ESP card...

<urn:uuid:fe9f13c3-7ecd-4b64-b4b9-accfa6f2c212>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.paranexus.org/index.php?action=blog;bact=tag_articles;member=229;blogid=6;article=120;err=0;brr=0;comment=0;tag=statistics;where=Keyword_Search

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

03/10/2012 - Gloucester, Mass., on the northeast tip of the Bay State, is one of the oldest fishing towns in the United States. It may also be the continent’s best departing point to find the hardest-to-catch fish on the planet. Those would be bluefin tuna, the highly-prized flesh used in upscale sushi, for which Japanese consumers will pay up to $10,000 for a single fish. Taken from icy waters, one can weigh as much as 800 pounds. Wrestling it into a bobbing boat takes more skill and coordination than riding an angry bull. That’s the premise of Wicked Tuna, a show produced by National Geographic Channel that’s attracted both accolades and consternation before the series’ first episode airs on April 1. The reason is that the bluefin itself is currently listed as a threatened species by international conservation groups, which have imposed quotas to keep the fish from heading toward the whirlpool of extinction. In some ways bluefin are the perfect species to pursue. “It’s hard to be opposed to the selective fishery for bluefin tuna,” says Lee Crockett, director of fishery policy with the Pew Environment Group. “They don’t have broader environmental impact. [People who catch them] don’t harm other wildlife, and they don’t damage the habitat.” Indeed, one of the most challenging parts of landing a catch is the fishermen’s low-tech approach: federal regulations put limits on industrial muscle, so deck hands mostly hunt the scaly behemoths with a basic—albeit durable—reel and rod. Read the full article, National Geographic Revives Debate Over Imperiled Bluefin Tuna in New Show, on The Daily Beast's Web site.

<urn:uuid:55c10bba-3336-43af-9794-8ae0b788603d>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=85899375980

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Commemorating Physics History UDC Site is Where Significant Discovery Was Made WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the 1950s, the site in the Van Ness neighborhood of Northwest that is now home to the University of the District of Columbia, contained facilities for the former National Bureau of Standards (now known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology). In 1956, a team of researchers made a discovery that revolutionized modern understanding of natural law. It was in a research laboratory on the Van Ness campus that physicists C-S Wu, Ernest Ambler , Raymond W. Hayward , Dale D. Hoppes , and Ralph P. Hudson performed an experiment that changed everything. Their experiment revealed that, in certain nuclear processes, pairs of events characterized as mirror images of each other occur with different probabilities. This reversal of parity law shattered a fundamental concept of nuclear physics that had been universally accepted for the previous 30 years. It thus cleared the way for a reconsideration of physical theories and led to new, far-reaching discoveries regarding the nature of matter and the universe. On Wednesday, November 9th, Dr. Kate P. Kirby , Executive Officer of the American Physical Society, will present a plaque commemorating this historic discovery. University of the District of Columbia President Dr. Allen L. Sessoms , himself a nuclear physicist, will accept the plaque, designating the site as a "Historic Physics Site." "There is a proud history on this campus," said Dr. Sessoms. "It's a history that evolves as we continue building up the great public university that exists here now." WHAT: American Physical Society Plaque Presentation WHEN: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 – 11:30 AM WHERE: University of the District of Columbia – Administration Building Third Floor Board Room 4200 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC As the only urban land-grant institution in the United States, the University of the District of Columbia (www.udc.edu) supports a broad mission of education, research and community service across all member colleges and schools, which include the Community College, College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, College Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Public Administration, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and David A. Clarke School of Law. The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a full version of the University's EO Policy Statement, please visit: http://www.udc.edu/equal_opportunity. The University of the District of Columbia is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education - 3624 Market Street - Philadelphia, PA 19104 - (267) 284–5000 CONTACT: Alan Etter (202) 345-6371 SOURCE University of the District of Columbia More by this Source Browse our custom packages or build your own to meet your unique communications needs. Learn about PR Newswire services Request more information about PR Newswire products and services or call us at (888) 776-0942.

<urn:uuid:b0fd32d7-6a34-484a-a1b8-49118bfd0e5d>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/commemorating-physics-history-133374028.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Cave closures expanded across West to protect bats Written byAssociated Press Managers on the Bighorn National Forest are reminding the public of a ban against entering caves in the forest to protect bats from contracting a disease that's killed millions of bats elsewhere in the country. Regional Forester Dan Jirón recently extended an order that bars entering caves or abandoned mines in national forests and grasslands in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. The Forest Service says the closure is necessary to protect bat species and habitat from the spread of White-nose Syndrome. Experts estimate that the fungal disease has killed more than 5 million bats in the eastern U.S. and Canada. They say it's continuing to spread west.VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE

<urn:uuid:dc4a0a9c-28a5-42ac-aff4-843304854fb1>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.rlch.org/news/cave-closures-expanded-across-west-protect-bats

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

My daily routine Along with the bipolar disorder treatment you receive from your doctor, there are many things you personally can do to reduce mood swings and improve your life. A healthy lifestyle — from getting enough physical exercise to eating the right foods — can help you live fully and productively while helping to keep your bipolar disorder symptoms under control. Here are important lifestyle wellness strategies you can incorporate into your daily routine: Control your weight Individuals with bipolar disorder are at risk for obesity and overweight. That's because they may gain weight during the depressive stages of bipolar disorder. They also may gain weight when using certain medications. Weight gain increases risk for diseases such as diabetes type II, heart disease and some cancers such as breast and colon cancer. Obesity can also lead to sleep apnea. When that happens, not getting enough regular sleep can trigger a mood change. And bipolar patients who are obese may have a shorter time before a new episode occurs, when compared with non-obese patients. Your wellness plan: Talk to your doctor about strategies to control your weight. Along with eating a healthy diet and getting enough physical activity, personal weight loss counseling may help you learn how to lose weight and keep it off. Be physically active Physical activity can be beneficial to individuals with bipolar disorder in several ways. Exercise helps burn calories to manage weight gain. And the "feel good" endorphins created by physical activity can increase your feelings of well being. Regular exercise also may reduce the number of bipolar episodes you experience. Your wellness plan: Try to plan for at least 20 minutes of activity three times a week. Aerobic exercise can be effective at treating depression. Walking works for all fitness levels. Other good choices are biking, swimming and dancing. Make the food/mood connection Foods can affect your moods, as any "chocoholic" knows. However, choosing foods with excessive amounts of refined sugar and other carbohydrates can increase blood glucose levels and contribute to a disturbed mood. Alcohol, chocolate and caffeine can also affect mood. On the other hand, fruits, vegetables and fish rich in omega-3 fatty oils (salmon, sardines) may help stabilize your mood and are good sources of healthy nutrients. Your wellness plan: - Keep a food and mood diary in the kitchen. Jot down what you eat at each meal — and your mood. Try to eat mindfully. - Eat your meals at the same approximate times each day to help stabilize your social rhythms. - Plan for stress eating. If you anticipate a demanding day at work or school, have some healthy snacks ready, such as cut-up fruits from the produce section or yogurt with granola. Strike a balance Doing too much or too little may be the hallmark symptoms of bipolar episodes, but during times of wellness attempt to strike a better equilibrium. Work/school, family and friends, physical activity — these all are important components of a healthy life. In order to avoid social rhythm disruption and stress triggers, however, they need to be carefully balanced. Your wellness plan: Plan out your week in advance, leaving time for recreation, socializing and accomplishing important tasks. When it comes to completing school work or job projects, prioritize the most urgent ones first. Once you have settled yourself to accomplishing these tasks, others will more easily follow. There are times when a call to your doctor is necessary, even when you believe you feel well. Contact your doctor immediately if you have: - Suicidal or violent feelings - Changes in mood, sleep or energy - Changes in medication side effects - A need for over-the-counter medication (cold or pain medicine) - An acute illness or need for surgery, extensive dental care or changes in other medicines you take - A change in your medical situation, such as pregnancy

<urn:uuid:dbdc064e-f6cb-446a-8c8b-ca70cce44b6c>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.stavzor.com/learning/my-daily-routine.php

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General Chapter 9: Prevention and Treatment for Those Who Have Bone Diseases - Key Messages - A Pyramid Approach - The Base of the Pyramid: Maintaining Bone Health and Preventing Fractures - The Second Level of the Pyramid: Assessing and Treating Secondary Causes - The Third Level of the Pyramid: Treatment - Drug Therapy for Osteoporosis - Treatment of Osteoporotic Fractures - Rehabilitation of Osteoporotic Fractures - Treatment of Other Diseases of the Bone - Key Questions for Future Research - There have been important advances in the ability to prevent and treat fractures in the last 10 years, especially in those with skeletal fragility. Just as with the use of diagnostic measures, there has been a failure in the United States to apply appropriate preventive and treatment measures to many persons at risk for bone disease. - Everyone should be informed of the basic elements of maintaining bone health and preventing bone disease. Paying attention to the basics—appropriate physical activity, nutrition, and smoking—is critical for everyone, especially those who have, or who are at risk of developing, osteoporosis. - Any individual who is diagnosed with osteoporosis should be evaluated for potential secondary causes of the disease, including the presence of other disorders or the use of medications that can cause harm to bone. If secondary causes are present, actions should be taken to minimize their impact. - For the most common bone diseases, drugs that prevent bone breakdown (antiresorptives) have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of future fractures. These drugs not only slow any further deterioration of the skeleton, but also allow for some repair and restoration of bone mass and strength. - When antiresorptive therapy is not enough, anabolic therapy is available to help build new bone and further reduce the risk of fracture. While this approach has been developed for the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures, it can also be applied to other bone diseases. - For individuals who remain at high risk of fracture, an extensive fall prevention program should be developed. This program should aim to minimize the risk of falls in the home and community; avoid the use of drugs that increase the risk of bone disease or falls; and protect those who do fall through the use of hip protectors. - Specific, effective treatments exist for a number of bone diseases other than osteoporosis, including hyperparathyroidism, rickets, and osteomalacia. Treatment is also available for some congenital bone disorders and for bone disease associated with kidney failure. For all of these conditions, early detection and treatment are critical to avoiding crippling deformities and fractures. Just as there have been great advances in the ability to identify individuals at risk of fracture (see Chapter 8), there have been equally important advances in the ability to prevent and treat fractures in these individuals, especially those with skeletal fragility. In particular the introduction of bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) has given health care providers new approaches to therapy. Just as for the use of diagnostic measures, numerous studies indicate that there has been a failure in the United States to apply preventive and treatment measures to many persons at risk for bone disease. As a result, most high-risk individuals (e.g., those who have suffered a fragility fracture) do not get the testing and treatment that they need. Use of bone mineral density (BMD) testing in this population ranges from 3–23 percent, while use of calcium and vitamin D supplementation ranges from 11–44 percent, and use of antiresorptive therapy ranges from 12–16 percent (Morris et al. 2004, Smith 2001 et al.). In fact, most physicians fail to discuss osteoporosis with their patients, even after a fracture (Pal 1999). In a large study of older adults, four out of five hip or wrist fracture patients did not receive any treatment after the fracture. The same study also found that certain groups of patients, including men, older persons, non-Whites, and those with comorbid conditions, were less likely than White women to receive treatments (Solomon et al. 2003). Even when physicians do suggest therapy, it often does not conform with recommended practice, as many patients with low BMD are not treated while others with high BMD are (Solomon et al. 2000). In other words, the gap between clinical knowledge and its application in the community remains large. It is also important to recognize that the ideal drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis or other bone disorders have yet to be developed. Inexpensive, effective agents with few side effects are needed so that they can be used broadly to prevent fractures and deformities in the enormous number of individuals who will be at risk of bone disease as the population ages. (See Chapter 4 for more details on the large at-risk population.) This chapter reviews the latest evidence on the prevention and treatment of fractures in individuals with or at high risk for bone disease. As the box below indicates, the use of the terms “prevention” and “treatment” can be confusing, since the goal of many treatments is the prevention of disease or fractures. At the same time, prevention is often considered a treatment for those with or at risk for bone disease. Nonetheless, it is important to recognize the critical role of prevention in all individuals, including (and perhaps especially) in those known to have bone disease and/or to be at high risk of fracture. Treatment as Prevention, and Prevention as Treatment The concept of prevention within the area of bone health is complex, and often encompasses measures that may be more commonly considered as treatments. In fact, in the field of bone health, the terms treatment and prevention are often used in an interchangeable manner, since the major goal of treatment is the prevention of fractures. Within both bone health and general health care, prevention can be thought of as taking anticipatory actions designed to reduce the possibility that an event or condition will occur that could lead an individual to a state of dependency. Within this broad definition are three different types of preventive activities. - Primary prevention refers to actions that prevent a disease or injury (e.g., osteoporosis) that could lead to a state of impairment. - Secondary prevention refers to activities that block the progression of an existing impairment (e.g., bone disease) to a disability (e.g., fracture); interventions within this area are often also considered to be treatments. - Tertiary prevention refers to actions that block or slow the progression of a disability (e.g., fracture) to a state of dependency. In some cases these actions may also be considered treatments. Preventive measures within the area of bone health span all three types. For example, certain measures to achieve optimal bone mass can be considered primary prevention, including encouraging adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, appropriate physical activity, and other bone-healthy lifestyle behaviors. Other measures that are commonly considered treatments for osteoporosis, such as using antiresorptive and anabolic agents, should also be thought of as secondary prevention, since they are designed to retard the progression of the disease to prevent disability. Fall prevention in this population may also be seen as secondary prevention, since its purpose is to prevent disability in an individual who already has bone disease. Appropriate and comprehensive treatment of a fracture is considered tertiary prevention, because such treatment attempts to prevent a person with a disability from becoming dependent. Drugs prescribed to individuals who have already sustained a fracture are also a part of this tertiary prevention effort. From a public health perspective, physical therapy and other forms of rehabilitation are considered methods of tertiary prevention in this population. This paradigm also fits the management of other bone diseases. For example, early treatment of Paget’s disease can prevent fractures and hence can be considered as either secondary or tertiary prevention, depending on the status of the patient when the treatment is given. The bottom line is that a spectrum of preventive activities exists within the area of bone disease, and treatment is a part of that spectrum. Assuring bone health requires that preventive measures be implemented in all its aspects: to optimize peak bone mass;, to block excessive resorption; to increase bone formation; to decrease skeletal fragility; to decrease the severity and frequency of falls; and to accelerate recovery from fracture. In fact, this entire spectrum of prevention is central to promoting bone health in all populations. Treatment of Osteoporosis = Prevention of Fractures One of the primary goals in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases is to maintain bone health by preventing bone loss and perhaps even by building new bone. Another goal is to minimize the risk and/or impact of falls, since they are typically the precursor to the most devastating consequence of bone disease: fractures. The best way to realize these goals is to employ a combination of various prevention and treatment strategies. In fact, maintaining bone health and preventing fractures and deformities requires a “pyramid” approach (Figure 9-1). The building blocks of physical activity and good nutrition (particularly with respect to adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D) represent measures are not enough there are now additional treatments that can be given to build new bone (anabolics) and further reduce fracture risk. While this approach has been developed for the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures, it can also be applied to other bone diseases. For those individuals who remain at high risk of fracture even after treatment (e.g., the frail elderly), the base of the pyramid should include an extensive program to minimize the risk of falls in the home and community, to avoid the use of drugs that increase the risk, and to provide hip protectors that reduce the risk of fracture in those who do fall. Prevention is, by far, the most effective way to promote bone health, and thus represents the base of the pyramid (Figure 9-1a). Everyone should be informed of the basic elements of maintaining bone health. Everyone should strive for adequate levels of calcium and vitamin D intake. Everyone should engage in regular weight-bearing exercise and avoid behaviors that impair bone health such as smoking. Everyone should understand the basics about how to avoid falling. These elements serve as the foundation of prevention of bone disease and fractures. They may be all that are required in individuals at low risk of bone disease, but they are critically important for high-risk patients as well. The remainder of this section provides a very brief overview of the key elements of prevention that every individual and provider should know. Much more detail about each of these areas is provided in Chapters 6 and 7. Calcium . For postmenopausal women, the recommended total daily calcium intake is 1,200 mg per day in two or more doses. These levels of intake can be achieved through dietary sources of calcium, including both dairy and non-dairy products. A detailed list of these foods and beverages appears in Chapter 7, while another list ranked by calcium content can be found in Chapter 10. In addition, calcium supplements (e.g., calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, other calcium salts) are available in the form of pills, chewable tablets, and liquids, as discussed in Chapter 7. The total daily calcium intake should not exceed 2,500 mg (IOM 1997). Vitamin D . Vitamin D is important for absorption of calcium and mineralization (hardening) of bone. As discussed in Chapter 6, vitamin D is synthesized in the skin through sunlight exposure, or it may be taken as a supplement. However, the skin of older individuals does not synthesize vitamin D as well as the skin of younger individuals, and in some parts of the country, the winter sun does not produce vitamin D in the skin of all individuals. In addition, vitamin D is not available in many foods other than fortified milk, which contains 100 IU (international units) per cup. Thus, many individuals will need to take a supplement, especially those who avoid sun exposure, use sun block, or do not drink milk. The recommended dose of vitamin D is 200 to 600 IU daily, with the dose dependent on age, as shown in Table 7-1 (IOM 1997). However, many experts are recommending more vitamin D for the frail elderly (Heaney and Weaver 2003). The total daily vitamin D intake of persons who are not vitamin D deficient should not exceed 2,000 IU (IOM 1997). Many calcium supplements contain vitamin D. Most multivitamins contain 400 IU of vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements can be taken on their own, or with calcium or food. Patients who are vitamin D insufficient (low levels of vitamin D in the blood) or deficient (very low levels of vitamin D in the blood) require treatment with higher doses of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to secondary hyperparathyroidism (see below) with normal levels of blood calcium. Severe cases lead to osteomalacia or rickets (see Chapter 3). It should be noted that the optimal range for 25-hydroxyvitamin D is higher than the “normal” ranges reported from clinical laboratories, since these ranges are obtained from a population that includes individuals with sub-optimal levels. Patients can be treated with vitamin D supplementation of 50,000 IU once a week for up to 3 months with follow-up blood tests of vitamin D, calcium, and PTH levels. Some patients may require longer courses of treatment (Pettifor 2003). Physical Activity . Weight-bearing, strength, and balance-training exercises are also an important part of any osteoporosis prevention and treatment program, regardless of age. They can help increase or preserve bone mass and may also help reduce the risk of falling. As discussed in Chapter 6, all types of physical activity can contribute to bone health. Activities that are weight bearing or involve impact are most useful for increasing or maintaining bone mass. Activities that are not weight bearing or are low impact may help improve balance and coordination and maintain muscle mass, which can help prevent falls. To encourage increased levels of physical activity among all age groups, “Physical Activity and Health: A Surgeon General’s Report” recommends a “minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity (such as brisk walking) on most, if not all, days of the week” (USDHHS 1996). Since the skeleton responds preferentially to strength training and short bouts of high-load impact activity (such as skipping or jumping), the same report recommends that adults supplement their cardiorespiratory endurance activity with strength-developing exercise at least two times per week. Chapter 7 addresses specific ways to incorporate strength and loading activities into an overall habit of physical activity. For those who cannot engage in regular physical activity due to disability, mechanical stimulation of the skeleton might prove beneficial. Recent, small studies found that use of vibrating platforms increased BMD and slowed bone loss (Rubin 2004 et al., Verschueren et al. 2004, Ward et al. 2004). This may provide another way to reduce fracture risk both in the elderly and in younger individuals with disabling conditions that limit their ability to exercise. However, the long-term safety and efficacy of such approaches remain to be determined, and therefore specific rehabilitation and exercise programs aimed at increasing activity and function remain critically important in the frail elderly and in younger individuals with neuromuscular disabilities. Fall Prevention . Falls represent perhaps the biggest threat to the bone health and the functional independence of older individuals. Falls are common and frequently are the precipitating event that leads to a fracture or fractures in an individual. Thus, fall prevention offers another important opportunity to protect the bones throughout life, but particularly in those over age 60. Falls occur for a variety of reasons, with multiple factors often contributing to a single fall. These factors include problems with balance, mobility, vision, lower extremity weakness, and/or blood pressure or circulation. Often these problems are compounded by an acute illness (e.g., infection, fever, dehydration, arrhythmia), a new medication, or an environmental stress (e.g., standing or walking on an unsafe surface, poor lighting) that leads to the fall. To reduce the risk of falls, a variety of fall prevention measures should be encouraged for frail, elderly individuals. These include regular vision checks; elimination (where possible) of medications and/or dosages that may cause dizziness, low blood pressure, or confusion; and addressing environmental problems or obstacles that can lead to falls, including removing throw rugs, installing night lights, installing railings on stairs and grab bars in showers, encouraging use of rubber-soled shoes and slippers, and attaching phone cords and other wires to the baseboard of the wall. Hip protectors or hip pads might also be useful in reducing the impact of those falls that do occur. More information on fall prevention strategies can be found in Chapter 7. The first level of the pyramid applies to all individuals whether or not they have low bone mass or multiple risk factors for osteoporotic fractures. The second level (Figure 9-1b), which is important for patients at high risk for fractures, involves determining whether there are secondary causes or aggravating factors for the osteoporosis and addressing them therapeutically if they exist. The vast majority of older postmenopausal women with osteoporosis will have the primary form of the disease, with secondary factors likely playing only a limited role. However, there can be considerable therapeutic benefit from uncovering such factors and dealing with them appropriately if they exist. In men and younger women with osteoporosis, secondary factors often play a major role, and the diagnosis and treatment of these factors may be the most important part of managing their bone disease. For a complete list of secondary factors that can cause or contribute to osteoporosis, see Chapter 3. One important reason for dealing with secondary factors is that the therapeutic response to specific treatment can be substantial. For example, large increases in BMD have been observed after treatment of hyperparathyroidism (Silverberg 1995) and epidemiologic studies have shown that fracture rates decrease substantially when glucocorticoid therapy is discontinued (van Staa 2000). A careful history can suggest possible secondary factors and guide the health care provider in carrying out appropriate tests. At a minimum, serum calcium concentration should be measured. In populations and geographic areas where vitamin D deficiency is common, measurement of 25-hydroxy vitamin D is another useful screening test. Measurement of calcium and creatinine in fasting, second-voided morning urines or 24-hour urines may be useful in detecting high or low calcium excretion. High calcium excretion may be associated with bone loss while low calcium excretion may be associated with malabsorption and vitamin D deficiency. Patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathy or sprue may present with osteoporosis yet have few gastrointestinal symptoms. Weight loss is often a key sign of this disorder or of other underlying diseases such as malignancy. Many physicians recommend screening for thyroid disease, which is relatively inexpensive. Because screening for Cushing’s syndrome can be difficult and costly, it should be reserved for patients in whom the history and physical examination strongly suggest the possibility of this disorder. Treatment of most secondary causes of bone loss and fractures is generally well established and is described later in this chapter. In patients with severe osteoporosis the treatment of secondary factors should be carried out together with pharmacotherapy for the bone itself, as this approach helps to improve bone strength and minimize fracture risk as quickly as possible. BMD measurements, which are ordinarily done every 2 years during the treatment of primary osteoporosis, may be done more frequently for some individuals with secondary osteoporosis, including those with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, which can cause relatively rapid changes in BMD. Study Design Issues Related to Treatment Many studies have focused on the effectiveness and safety of treatments for bone disease, and consequently many issues must be considered in examining and comparing the results of these studies. First, therapeutic effectiveness is best examined with interventions that have been assessed in randomized (i.e., treatment is randomly given to patients), double-blinded (i.e., patients and physicians are not told what treatment the patients are on), placebo-controlled (i.e., some participants take an inactive pill to control for expectations) trials. Second, a study duration of at least 3 years is preferable in order to see meaningful results. In recent years, the FDA has required organizations that apply for FDA approval for drugs to treat osteoporosis to conduct randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of at least 3 years’ duration to test the drug’s effectiveness with respect to fracture reduction. Studies of fracture reduction can focus on clinical fractures (fractures that are painful), spine fractures assessed by standard x-rays (two-thirds of these fractures are not painful), non-spine fractures, and hip fractures. Although the most important study outcome is fracture risk reduction, changes in BMD or markers of bone turnover (see Chapter 8) can be used as supportive evidence of the effectiveness of treatment. Another study outcome relates to how quickly the medication will work in improving BMD or reducing risk of fractures. In addition, it is important to consider the duration of therapies (to help in determining the recommended length of treatment) and to know what happens when therapies are discontinued. Despite the multitude of good studies, it is not possible to compare the effectiveness of different therapies by comparing the results from separate investigations. This is because the inclusion and exclusion factors for patient enrollment in the various studies are different; the duration, intensity of daily physical activity, outcome measures, and statistical analyses vary; and the amount or type of calcium/vitamin D supplements varies. Therapies can only be compared if they have been given to patients in the same trial. For this reason, the differences in effects on fracture reduction and BMD that are reported for medications from different studies may not represent true differences in the efficacy of the drug being used, but rather differences in the populations being tested. Because comparative studies require unrealistically high numbers of patients, it is unlikely they will be funded. A meta-analysis is a summary of multiple studies evaluating the same type of treatment. Because it incorporates many studies, such analysis often provides the best available evidence on the effectiveness of a given treatment. Several meta-analyses have been conducted that help to better understand the value of treatments, including for calcium and vitamin D. The results of these studies are reported in Chapter 6. Treatment represents the third level of the pyramid (Figure 9-1c). This section reviews treatment options for bone disease, with an emphasis on osteoporosis, the disease for which the most treatment options exist. There are two primary types of drug therapy for osteoporosis. The first is use of antiresorptive agents, which are drugs that reduce bone loss, while the second involves use of anabolic agents, which are drugs that build bone. Antiresorptive therapies include use of bisphosphonates, estrogen, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), and calcitonin. Antiresorptive therapies reduce bone loss, stabilize the microarchitecture of the bone, and decrease bone turnover—all leading to fracture reduction. They increase BMD because the resorption spaces in bone get refilled with new bone and the amount of mineral in the bone increases. Antiresorptive therapies act by decreasing the activity of the osteoclasts, the cells responsible for bone resorption (breakdown). Antiresorptive therapy should be considered for all patients with the diagnosis of osteoporosis as well as for some other bone disorders. This therapy is effective in reducing the risk of future fractures, although, as discussed below, different forms of antiresorptive therapy vary in their safety and efficacy. At present, the Food and Drug Administration has approved two bisphosphonates, alendronate and risedronate, for prevention or treatment of osteoporosis for either daily or weekly oral administration. Another bisphosphonate, ibandronate, is being considered and additional agents (see below) are under investigation, including intravenous forms. Only one SERM, raloxifene, is FDA-approved. Many estrogen preparations are approved for prevention of bone loss. Nasal and injectable calcitonin are also approved for treatment of osteoporosis. Anabolic therapy is now available for those individuals who continue to fracture or lose bone on an adequate program of general prevention and antiresorptive therapy. The only FDA-approved anabolic agent is a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone known as teriparatide. Teriparatide, which is given as a daily subcutaneous injection, costs substantially more than does antiresorptive therapy. In some situations individuals with osteoporosis have been treated with a combination of two antiresorptive agents or with an antiresorptive and an anabolic agent. Sometimes the two agents are given simultaneously while other times they are given sequentially. The effectiveness of these types of combination therapies is currently being studied. The remainder of this section reviews the evidence to date on the effectiveness of the different types of antiresorptive and anabolic agents that are available and of therapies that combine two antiresorptive agents or an antiresorptive agent with an anabolic agent. Bisphosphonates . Bisphosphonates are phosphate-based, non-hormone compounds that have been shown to increase BMD and decrease fractures (Fleisch 2001). At present, there are two bisphosphonates that are FDA-approved and readily available for osteoporosis prevention and treatment: alendronate (Fosamax®) and risedronate (Actonel®). These medications bind to the bone surface and then are taken up by osteoclasts (cells that break down bone) as these cells attempt to resorb that bone. They block the pathway that leads to production of certain essential lipid compounds inside the osteoclast, thus leading to earlier cell death and therefore a diminished ability for osteoclasts to cause bone loss. The effectiveness of this approach has been well documented. For example, alendronate has been shown to increase BMD by 6–8 percent at the spine and by 3–6 percent at the hip over a three-year period in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (Black et al. 1996, Liberman et al. 1995). These seemingly modest increases in BMD are associated with significant reductions in fracture risk—roughly 50 percent, in fact, for spine, hip, and wrist fractures (Black et al. 1996, Cranney et al. 2002a). These agents show benefits quickly, as evidence of a reduced risk of fracture can be seen as early as a year for spinal fractures and in 18 months for hip fractures (Black et al. 2000). In addition, approximately 95 percent of postmenopausal women who take alendronate maintained or increase their bone mass (Black et al. 2000, Liberman et al. 1995). Alendronate has been shown to prevent bone loss in a diverse array of patients, including younger postmenopausal women without osteoporosis and elderly, frail residents of long-term care facilities (Fleisch 2001). The drug has been studied in clinical trials and appears to be safe and effective for up to 10 years (Bone et al. 2004). Furthermore, the benefits of alendronate appear to continue after the therapy is stopped; for example, when older postmenopausal women discontinue therapy after several years of treatment, BMD appears to be maintained for 2 years (Tonino et al. 2000). Alendronate also appears to work for men, and it is therefore approved for the treatment of male osteoporosis. In one study, BMD of the spine increased approximately 5 percent at the end of 2 years in men with osteoporosis (Orwoll et al. 2000). In another 3-year study of men with primary osteoporosis, alendronate was compared to alfacalcidol, an active vitamin D analog, and found to reduce vertebral fractures by 57 percent and increase spine BMD by 11.5 percent, as compared to the alfacalcidol-treated group (Ringe et al. 2004). Alendronate and calcitriol were found to slow the rapid bone loss that occurs after heart transplantation, but calcitriol was found to cause an excessive increase in urine calcium excretion in many patients (Shane et al. 2004). Finally, alendronate is approved for the prevention of steroid-induced osteoporosis (Saag et al. 1998) and for the treatment of Paget’s disease (Lyles et al. 2001) and has also been shown to be helpful for patients with osteoporosis imperfecta and bone loss due to hyperparathyroidism (Chow et al. 2003) (see below and Chapter 3). Alendronate is currently approved for all women for prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis at a dose of 5 mg daily or 35 mg if taken once a week. It is approved for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis at a dose of 10 mg daily or 70 mg if taken once a week. Alendronate is well-tolerated (Liberman et al. 1995, Black et al. 1996, Cranney et al. 2002a); the most common side effects include pain in the stomach or esophagus and swallowing difficulties. Esophageal ulcers have occurred in some patients on these types of daily bisphosphonates. Alendronate should not be used in patients with abnormalities of the esophagus that delay esophageal emptying, such as stricture (narrowing) or achalasia (muscle spasm). Like alendronate, risedronate has also been shown to increase BMD and reduce fracture risk significantly. Studies have found that risedronate increases spine BMD by approximately 5 percent and hip BMD by 2–3 percent over 3 years in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (Harris et al. 1999). Treatment with risedronate is associated with a 41 percent reduction in spine fractures (Harris et al. 1999), a 39 percent reduction in non-spine fractures (Harris et al. 1999), and a 30 percent reduction in hip fractures (McClung et al. 2001). Like alendronate, the benefits of risedronate can be seen relatively quickly. For example, reductions in spine fractures can occur after 1 year of therapy (Harris et al. 1999). Studies have examined the safety and effectiveness of risedronate for up to 5 years and have shown persistent reduction in fractures without adverse effects (Sorensen et al. 2003). Risedronate also has been shown to prevent bone loss at the hip and spine in postmenopausal women with low bone mass who do not have osteoporosis but have low bone mass (as indicated by BMD). Risedronate is approved for both the prevention and treatment of steroid-induced osteoporosis in men and pre- and post-menopausal women (Reid et al. 2000), and for the treatment of Paget’s disease (Lyles et al. 2001) (see below and Chapter 3). Risedronate is approved at a dose of 5 mg per day or 35 mg once per week. The most common side effects include pain in the stomach or esophagus and difficulties in swallowing. Ibandronate is another bisphosphonate that is currently FDA-approved for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at a dose of 2.5 mg daily; however, it is not readily commercially available. Over a 3-year period, ibandronate has been shown to decrease the incidence of new spine fractures by 52 percent and to increase BMD at the spine by 5 percent (Delmas et al. 2002), with no abnormalities found on bone histology (Recker et al. 2004). Ibandronate has also been shown to prevent bone loss in early postmenopausal women who are not yet osteoporotic (McClung et al. 2004). Etidronate is a bisphosphonate that is not FDA-approved for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in the United States, although it is approved in Canada and other countries. It is approved in the United States for the treatment of Paget’s disease (see below). Several small studies in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis have shown that etidronate increases BMD by 4–5 percent at the spine over 2–3 years and decreases spine fractures by approximately 50 percent (Watts et al. 1990, Hanley et al. 2000). It also has been shown to prevent bone loss in patients who start or are on chronic steroid therapy. In contrast to the other bisphosphonates that are taken daily, etidronate is taken on an intermittent schedule of 400 mg per day for 2 weeks every 3 months which is repeated for 2 years or more. A generally well-tolerated drug (Hanley et al. 2000), etidronate acts differently than do other bisphosphonates. When it is removed from the bone surface by osteoclasts, it forms toxic products inside the cell, thus resulting in early death of osteoclasts. However, it is not as potent as the newer bisphosphonates and can also impair the laying down of mineral during new bone formation if given in high doses. All bisphosphonates are poorly absorbed and therefore should be taken alone first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with a full glass of water. Food should not be eaten for at least 30 minutes after taking the drug. Patients should not lie down during this period, to prevent irritation of the esophagus. Physicians should proceed cautiously when prescribing amino-bisphosphonates (alendronate or risedronate) to patients with a known history of narrowing or ulcers of the esophagus or long-term problems with stomach ulcers and heartburn that require medication. Bisphosphonates are incorporated into bone and, therefore, may continue to provide benefits for a long period of time after treatment is discontinued (unlike hormone therapy, as discussed earlier). Bisphosphonates should not be given to pregnant women or patients with poor kidney function, since good kidney function is required to clear this drug from the blood. Little information is available on the use of bisphosphonates in children. Bisphosphonates that need only be administered once a year on an intravenous basis are currently under investigation (see Future Agents). This approach would circumvent the problems of poor absorption and gastrointestinal irritation and might also improve compliance. Hormone Therapy . As noted in earlier chapters, estrogen is a hormone that is important throughout life to bone development and maintenance in both men and women. Unlike the bisphosphonate drugs discussed earlier in this chapter, estrogen acts on many reproductive and non-reproductive tissues in the body. Therefore, the use of exogenous forms of estrogen as a drug for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis necessarily involves consideration of how the form and dose of estrogen might affect other tissues. Of particular importance is whether there are any risks that might limit its use. - Background on Hormone Therapy Fuller Albright, a clinical researcher in the 1930s, observed that most of his patients with osteoporosis were postmenopausal women. Given this, Albright proposed that estrogen triggers a buildup of calcium reserves in bone during adolescence to provide for later reproductive needs (pregnancy and lactation), and that bone is lost after menopause when estrogen levels decrease (Riggs et al. 2002). Many subsequent observations have confirmed the theory that “replacing” estrogen in postmenopausal women prevents bone loss, and thus this approach naturally seemed to be an effective way to stave off the effects of menopause on bone. The FDA approved estrogen in 1942 in the form of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE), derived from the urine of pregnant horses, for the relief of menopausal symptoms. The use of hormone therapy by postmenopausal women increased dramatically during the 1960s, and, in 1972, the FDA approval was extended to postmenopausal osteoporosis. This latter approval was based on evidence from trials that evaluated the impact of estrogen therapy on bone mass, not on fracture reduction. However, by the early 1970s it also became clear that estrogen alone (without progestin) was associated with an increased risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer. Since this time only women who have had their uterus removed by hysterectomy are prescribed estrogen alone; others receive estrogen combined with some form of progesterone, another hormone, to protect the uterus. - The Evidence on Estrogen and Combination Hormone Therapy Randomized, placebo-controlled studies have been conducted on the impact of hormone therapy on BMD, including the Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) trial (Writing Group 1996) and the Women’s Health, Osteoporosis, Progestin, Estrogen (HOPE) study (Lindsay et al. 2002). These trials and a recent meta-analysis (Wells et al. 2002) show that postmenopausal hormone therapy has a consistent and favorable effect on BMD at all sites, including increases at the spine (3.5–7 percent), hip (2–4 percent), and forearm (3–4.5 percent). These studies also suggest that increases in BMD become apparent within the first year of hormone therapy. Both the PEPI trial and the meta-analysis, which included different forms of estrogen (CEE as well as estradiol, the natural form of estrogen in humans) and combination therapy, found no significant differences in the effects of different formulations of estrogen on bone density. Research evaluating the impact of hormone therapy on fracture rates, however, is more limited. Studies comparing women who had taken postmenopausal hormones over a long period of time with women who had never taken hormones indicate that there are fewer fractures in the hormone users (Kiel et al. 1987, Cauley et al. 1995). These types of “observational” studies, which observe what people decide to do or take on their own, are subject to biases. For example, women who take hormones are also more likely to take other measures to enhance their health. In fact, up until the mid-1990s, there had been very few randomized clinical trials of estrogen focusing on fracture as an outcome, and these trials tended to be quite small. Nevertheless, Torgerson and Bell-Syer attempted to fill this evidence gap by systematically reviewing those randomized trials of estrogen therapy that did include fractures as an outcome to be evaluated. Their meta-analyses suggest that estrogen reduces the risk of non-spine fractures by 27 percent (Torgerson and Bell-Syer 2001a) and spine fractures by 33 percent (Torgerson and Bell-Syer 2001b). The WHI Hormone Trials, which were designed and initiated in the early 1990s to address the primary question of whether postmenopausal HT decreased the risk of heart disease, have provided answers on a range of chronic disease outcomes in older women, including fractures. Two separate trials were conducted. One enrolled women with an intact uterus and evaluated the effects of an estrogen-progestin combination or E+P (0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen, CEE, and 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone, MPA, daily) (Rossouw et al., 2002), while the second evaluated the effect of estrogen (0.625mg CEE) alone in women who have had hysterectomies (Anderson et al. 2004). The WHI trial of combined continuous hormone therapy confirmed for the first time the effects of these hormones on osteoporotic fracture reduction at several sites, including the hip (Cauley et al., 2003). Hip and spine fractures were reduced by at least one-third in both of the trials and total fractures fell by 24–30 percent. Thus, these two large trials, which included 16,608 women in the E+P study and 10,739 women in the estrogen-only study, confirmed the anti-fracture efficacy of postmenopausal HT, and they are consistent with observational studies of hormone users and the results of trials evaluating the effect of HT on BMD. The clear benefits of postmenopausal HT to the skeleton must be tempered by the other results from the WHI trials, which were discontinued early because of the deleterious effects encountered. Both trials found an increased risk of stroke, cognitive impairment, and deep vein thrombosis in the women taking HT (Rossouw et al. 2002, Anderson et al. 2004, Shumaker et al. 2003; Shumaker et al. 2004). The trials also found no clear cardiovascular benefit to HT. Breast cancer risk was increased in women taking the combined continuous therapy (E+P) during the 5.2 years of the study, a finding that is consistent with observational studies (Collaborative Group 1997, Lagro-Janssen 2003). This increase in breast cancer was not observed in the estrogen-only trial after 6.6 years of use. Extended follow-up of all WHI hormone trial participants is planned, and may provide further insight into this discrepancy. - The Future for Hormone Therapy and Bone Health. Any decision to use hormone therapy must take into consideration its impact on the overall risk of negative health outcomes, including not only its potential to reduce the risk of fractures, but also its potential to increase the risk of other health problems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA 2003) has advised that postmenopausal women who use or are considering using estrogen or estrogen with progestin discuss the therapy’s benefits and risks with their physicians. These products are approved therapies for relief from moderate to severe hot flashes and symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy. Although HT is effective for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, it should only be considered for women at significant risk of osteoporosis who cannot take non-estrogen medications. The FDA recommends that estrogens and progestins should be used at the lowest possible doses for the shortest amount of time needed to achieve treatment goals. It is not yet clear whether following this advice will lead to long term benefits for bone health. Lower doses of estrogen or combination hormones can help to preserve bone density in the short term in postmenopausal women. For example, the Women’s HOPE study, a randomized, placebo-controlled study that investigated the efficacy of various lower doses of CEE and CEE/MPA found that doses as low as 0.3 mg per day of CEE or the combination significantly increased spine and hip BMD from baseline within 2 years of therapy (Lindsay et al. 2002). Prestwood et al. (2003) showed that low dose estradiol also preserves bone. Unfortunately, at this point, the long-term effects of different doses, formulations (including estrogens or progesterone), and modes of administration (e.g., transdermal administration) on bone and other tissues have simply not been studied. These results raise the question as to whether there might be some benefit to using hormone therapy for a short period of time and then terminating its use (so as to reduce the likelihood of negative health outcomes). Two randomized clinical trials shed some light on this issue, as they followed women who stopped hormone use at the end of a clinical trial. These studies indicate that bone loss begins again when hormones are withdrawn (Greendale et al. 2002, Greenspan et al. 2002b). Moreover, the long-term observational studies (Kiel et al. 1987, Cauley et al. 1995) suggest that even long-term hormone therapy users (including those on therapy for more than 10 years) who terminate therapy do not enjoy a lower risk of hip fractures many years later. In fact, a recent study (Yates et al. 2004) found that there was a higher rate of hip fracture in those who discontinued hormone therapy than in those who never used it. Another study, a large prospective trial of 5,200 fractures among 140,000 postmenopausal women in the United Kingdom, found that while there was a decrease in fracture risk at all sites in patients currently on estrogen, there was no decrease in risk in past users of hormone therapy, even those who had discontinued use within the past year (Banks et al. 2004). Thus, the bottom line is that taking hormone therapy during early menopause is unlikely to have a long-term effect on the risk of fractures. Despite all the negatives that have been raised recently about HT, it is important to remember that natural estrogen (i.e., that which is produced by the body) is still critical to bone health, even for postmenopausal women (and older men). The evidence suggests that postmenopausal women with extremely low endogenous estrogen levels face an increased risk of both spine and hip fractures when compared with postmenopausal women with average levels of estrogen (Cummings et al. 1998). Very low doses of hormone therapy for these individuals may be a promising treatment (Prestwood et al. 2003). The goal of this type of an approach is to capture the positive effects of estrogen on bone without incurring any of the deleterious effects on other tissues. In fact, this is the principle that has driven research into the selective estrogen receptor modulators or SERMS that are discussed in the next section; these agents selectively act on the estrogen receptors in bone, breast, and other tissues. —Fuller Albright, reflecting on the state of affairs of medicine in general and of endocrinology in particular in 1948 (Albright and Reifenstein 1948). Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators . Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) interact with estrogen receptors located throughout the body (McDonnell 2003). Estrogen receptors are the “switches” that turn cell activity on and off (see Chapter 2 for more details). SERMs bind to the estrogen receptors, altering the way they interact with other proteins and DNA. Different SERM medications may have different actions on cholesterol, breast and uterine tissue, clotting, BMD, and hot flashes. They have been shown to provide some of the benefits of estrogen (improvement of BMD and cholesterol) without some of the negative side effects (such as breast tenderness and menstrual bleeding or spotting) (Ettinger et al. 1999). In fact, in large-scale clinical trials of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, raloxifene (Evista®), the only FDA-approved SERM, has been shown to increase spine BMD by 2–3 percent and hip BMD by approximately 2.5 percent after 3 years (Ettinger et al. 1999). Spine fractures were reduced by approximately 50 percent, but there was no effect on hip or other non-spine fractures (Ettinger et al. 1999, Cranney et al. 2002b). Spine fracture reduction is evident at 1 year (Maricic et al. 2002) and is sustained for up to at least 4 years if patients remain on therapy (Delmas et al. 2002). When therapy is discontinued, bone turnover (breakdown) can return to its previous state, resulting in bone loss. Other potential benefits include a decrease in total cholesterol and low density cholesterol; there is no change in high density cholesterol. Although studies have not been specifically designed to examine prevention of breast cancer with raloxifene, investigators from the study mentioned above found that there was a decreased incidence of breast cancer in the women who took raloxifene for 3 years (Cummings et al. 1999). There are now studies ongoing to examine raloxifene’s effect on breast cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention. Raloxifene is FDA-approved for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis at a dose of 60 mg daily. There are some side effects, including the potential for a return of hot flashes, blood clots in the legs, or blood clots in the lungs. Therapy with SERMs must be discontinued for patients who are immobilized or inactive for long periods of time (e.g., during hospitalizations). Another SERM, tamoxifen, is used for the prevention of breast cancer, but it is not approved for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Small clinical trials in premenopausal and postmenopausal women participating in a breast cancer prevention study demonstrated that tamoxifen maintains or improves BMD in postmenopausal women but causes bone loss in premenopausal women (Powles et al. 1996). Information on fracture reduction from clinical trials is not available. Newer SERMs under development may be more beneficial to the bones, heart, and breast tissue. They may also decrease hot flashes and improve cholesterol. There are no data to suggest that SERMs would be beneficial in the treatment of male osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, or childhood osteoporosis. Calcitonin . Calcitonin is a hormone secreted by the parafollicular (non-thyroid) cells found within the thyroid gland (Silverman 2003). Its effect on bone is to inhibit bone resorption by acting directly on the osteoclasts. Its ability to inhibit osteoclast activity has been known for more than four decades. At one time in the 1970s, calcitonin was the only drug available to treat hypercalcemia of malignancy and Paget’s disease of the bone. Calcitonin was also one of the first drugs available for the treatment of osteoporosis. In the 1970s and 1980s, calcitonin was administered as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. More recently, nasal calcitonin replaced the injection form of this hormone. Although originally very popular as an alternative for postmenopausal women who could not tolerate bisphosphonates, estrogen, or raloxifene, its use has declined with the advent of newer treatments for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Oral and inhaled forms of calcitonin are currently under development. There are only a few randomized controlled trials for nasal calcitonin. The Prevent Recurrence of Osteoporotic Fractures (PROOF) trial, the largest RPCT of nasal calcitonin, reported that spine fractures declined by 33 percent for those individuals taking a 200 IU dose per day, but there was no significant decline for those receiving 100 or 400 IU per day. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in non-spine fracture rates after 5 years (Chesnut et al. 2000). The PROOF trial has come under scrutiny for a number of reasons, including the somewhat surprising finding that those individuals taking a higher dose did not see a reduction in fractures. In addition, a large number of the subjects did not complete the study. Hence flaws in the study methods used do not allow a firm conclusion about calcitonin’s impact on spine and non-spine spine fractures (Chesnut et al. 2000). Calcitonin may have a somewhat unique benefit in providing pain relief, particularly for women who have just sustained a spine fracture (Mehta et al. 2003). Studies looking at this potential benefit also do not provide a clear-cut answer. Nasal calcitonin has very few side effects, namely, nasal stuffiness, nausea, and dry mouth. It is currently approved at 200 IU per daily spray for the treatment (not prevention) of osteoporosis in women who underwent menopause five or more years ago. Although bisphosphonates, hormone therapy, and SERMs are all antiresorptive drugs, they work through different mechanisms of action, implying that they could have an additive effect if used in combination (i.e., using both would be more beneficial than would either used alone). Therefore, antiresorptive drugs have been studied in combination. One study compared 2-year use of two antiresorptive therapies together to similar use of estrogen and alendronate alone in postmenopausal women with a hysterectomy (Bone et al. 2000). BMD increased approximately 8 percent at the spine in those on combination therapy, compared to 6 percent in women taking alendronate or estrogen. Similar trends were noted in BMD at the hip, where combination therapy resulted in a 1–2 percent greater increase in BMD than either therapy alone. Importantly, participants in the combination therapy group did not have additional unexpected side effects. A recent 3-year study in women age 65 and older found that using hormone therapy and alendronate together resulted in greater increases in bone mass at the spine and hip than did therapy with either agent alone (Greenspan et al. 2003). Hormone therapy has also been used in combination with risedronate in a short-term study. At the end of a year, the hip BMD (but not the spine BMD) of participants on combination therapy was greater than that of participants receiving hormone therapy or risedronate alone (Harris et al. 2001). In another 1-year study, hip BMD was greater in participants taking a combination therapy of alendronate and raloxifene than in those taking either agent alone (Johnell et al. 2002). The study also found that BMD of the spine and hip in participants taking alendronate alone was significantly higher than in participants taking raloxifene alone; however, the study was not large enough to determine whether there was any difference in fracture reduction. Studies have also examined another important issue—whether combination therapy is better than single-agent therapy at maintaining BMD after discontinuation of the treatment. Investigators who examined BMD in women on combination therapy (alendronate and estrogen replacement) and single therapy (alendronate or hormone therapy) followed them for an additional year after therapy was discontinued. Those who had taken combination therapy or alendronate alone during the first 2 years maintained BMD of the spine and hip following discontinuation of therapy. However, women who gained bone during 2 years on hormone replacement lost their BMD gains at the spine and hip during the year after therapy was discontinued (Greenspan et al. 2002). Combination therapies (multiple drugs) are more expensive and, in principle, could cause more side effects than therapy with single drugs. Moreover, because these trials did not examine fracture reduction, it is unclear if combination therapy is a cost-effective strategy for reducing risk of fracture. Therefore, in clinical practice today, combination therapy is generally reserved for patients who have experienced a fracture while on therapy with a single drug, those who start out with a very low BMD and a history of multiple fractures, and those with very low BMD who lose more bone mass on therapy with a single drug. The combination of anabolic and antiresorptive agents is discussed below. Over the last half century, antiresorptive therapy has been the primary treatment for osteoporosis. Recent research has discovered the potential of intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) as a therapeutic option for patients with severe osteoporosis. Unlike other available agents, bone-building therapy with PTH features stimulation of new bone formation (Rosen and Rackoff 2001). Eighteen months of PTH therapy causes thickening of the outer shell of bones, large increases in connections between bony islands within the skeleton, and an overall net increase in bone strength. Every normal person has PTH. It is typically secreted at a low level, but secretion increases in response to reduced levels of serum calcium, a process that appears to contribute to bone breakdown. In fact, primary hyper-parathyroidism, that is, uncontrolled overactivity of the parathyroid glands, has been known to contribute to bone loss, particularly of the cortical (outer shell) of bone (see Chapter 3). Intermittent injections of PTH as a therapy actually hold promise as a means of building up bone. Animal studies have demonstrated that PTH given intermittently as a daily subcutaneous injection leads to significant increases in BMD, restoration of the inner structure of bone, and increases in bone size (Lotinun et al. 2002). This paradox—the fact that PTH secreted continuously can break down bone while intermittent injections of the same hormone may actually build bone—has never been fully explained. It may be related to the intermittent nature of the exposure to the hormone that occurs during treatment, as opposed to the exposure to continuous, excessive levels of PTH that occur in individuals with hyperparathyroidism. Human recombinant PTH (1-34), known as teriparatide, was developed in the 1980s, with the hope that it could promote bone building in humans. Clinical trials designed to test the impact on fracture rates in humans, which were originally designed to last 3 years, were stopped early because of animal data showing osteosarcoma (bone tumor) formation. Despite early discontinuation the studies demonstrated significant increases in BMD and reduction in fractures. For example, in a study with over 1,600 postmenopausal, osteoporotic women, spine BMD increased by 9.7 percent and hip BMD increased by 2.6 percent (Neer et al. 2001) after approximately 21 months on teriparitide. Spine fractures decreased by 65 percent and non-spine fractures by 53 percent (Neer et al. 2001). Teriparatide also increases BMD in men; in an approximately 10-month study, spine BMD increased by 5.9 percent and hip BMD by 1.2 percent (Orwoll 1998). The effects on fracture risk have not been studied in men. Because of these significant potential benefits, the FDA approved teriparatide for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men who are at high risk for fracture. The approved dose (20Fg daily by subcutaneous injection) and duration of treatment have not been found to be associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma in humans. While the PTH administered daily to postmenopausal women and men with osteoporosis may benefit some patients (particularly those with very severe disease), there are some limitations to use of the drug. First, it should not be prescribed to pediatric patients or adult patients with hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood), Paget’s disease (see below), kidney disease, kidney stones, bone metastases (cancers that have traveled from another part of the body to bone), or bone cancer. Second, a small subset of patients may develop high blood calcium as well as leg cramps and dizziness. Third, it may increase serum uric acid, which could potentially lead to gout, although there is no evidence of an increase in clinical gout. Fourth, there may be issues related to compliance since a daily injection is required. Finally, it is much more expensive than antiresorptive therapy. Additional forms of PTH therapy may be on the horizon. For example, PTH(1-84) has shown early promise as a treatment for osteoporosis in preliminary bone density studies (Hodsman et al. 2003). The idea of combining an anabolic agent with an anti-resorptive therapy has been around for more than a decade. With the advent of PTH, combination studies have been proposed to evaluate the impact of PTH therapy with antiresorptive therapies such as estrogen and alendronate. PTH plus estrogen has been shown to have a greater effect on spine and hip BMD than estrogen alone, but there are no trials comparing that combination to PTH alone, nor are there any studies that evaluate differences in the impact on fracture rates (Cosman et al. 2001). Two studies examining the effects of simultaneous PTH and alendronate treatment suggest that there may actually be smaller BMD increases with combination therapy than with PTH alone (Black et al. 2003, Finkelstein et al. 2003). Another recent study evaluated the impact of sequential treatment with PTH for a year followed by alendronate for a year in 66 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis year. This sequential treatment method resulted in substantial increases in spinal BMD (Rittmaster et al. 2000). The response to PTH treatment may be affected by prior treatment with different antiresorptive agents. Like those patients on estrogen therapy (Lindsay et al 1997), patients previously treated with raloxifene showed a rapid and complete response to PTH, while those previously treated with alendronate had a reduced response in terms of biochemical markers of bone formation and BMD (although they did show increases eventually) (Ettinger et al. 2004). No data on the relative impact of PTH treatment on fractures are available for these different groups. There are several new antiresorptive and anabolic drugs on the horizon for the treatment of osteoporosis. Among antiresorptive agents, progress has been made both in developing new treatments and in improving the means of administering bisphosphonates. For example, intravenous pamidronate has been available for the treatment of Paget’s disease and hypercalcemia of malignancy (high blood calcium due to cancer) for nearly a decade. Smaller studies have also demonstrated that it is effective in increasing bone mass when administered every 3 months to postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (Coleman et al. 2000). A newer drug, zoledronic acid, was recently approved for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, myeloma (see below) and hypercalcemia (Coleman et al. 2000). It is administered intravenously is extremely effective in treating these conditions. A recent trial of this agent, given as a single intravenous dose once per year, was shown to increase spine BMD in women with osteoporosis (Reid et al. 2002). A large phase III trial is in progress to assess its effectiveness at reducing fractures. Along with finding new uses for existing antiresorptive agents, researchers have also uncovered several potential new types of treatments during the drug discovery process. A newer class of antiresorptive drugs (known as integrin inhibitors) prevent osteoclasts from anchoring to bone surfaces and thereby absorbing the underlying bone (Hutchinson et al 2003). Early studies with this therapy are encouraging with respect to both safety and effectiveness. Agents that mimic the action of osteoprotegerin can also inhibit bone resorption and could become useful drugs (Onyia et al. 2004). Statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs, have been found to stimulate bone formation and may also decrease bone resorption in animals. Some observational studies in humans suggest that statin users have fewer fractures, while other studies do not. Controlled cardiovascular trials did not confirm a reduction in fractures (Bauer et al. 2004). Finally, strontium ranelate is an element that has some antiresorptive as well as anabolic qualities, but the method of action is unclear. In initial studies, strontium has been shown to improve spine bone density and reduce spine fractures (Meunier et al. 2002, 2004). Other new anabolic agents are also being developed and tested. PTH-related peptide (PTHrP), a naturally occurring relative of PTH that is normally made in the breast, uterus, and pancreas, is undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of osteoporosis. PTHrP is best known as a secretion of certain cancers that produces severe hypercalcemia (high calcium levels in the blood) and bone resorption. However, when administered as a single dose intermittently, it has been shown to markedly increase BMD without causing hypercalcemia (Horwitz et al. 2003). Osteoporosis Drug Therapy Antiresorptive agents (reduce bone loss) ~ Bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate) ~ Hormone or estrogen replacement ~ Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) (raloxifene) Anabolic agents (build bone) ~ Parathyroid hormone (teriparatide) For all osteoporotic fractures, the consistent goal is for patients to regain their pre-fracture level of function. All patients with low-trauma fractures should be evaluated for other bone diseases (see below) and secondary causes of bone loss (see Chapter 3). They should also be evaluated with respect to the need for additional preventive measures (calcium, vitamin D, exercise, fall prevention) and for drug therapy, as described earlier in this chapter. What follows is a review of the various available treatments for specific types of osteoporotic-related fractures, including fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist. Surgery is the most common treatment for individuals who suffer a hip fracture. Virtually all intertrochanteric fractures (those in the major part of the hip) and most femoral neck fractures (those in the neck section of the hip) are surgically stabilized with the use of internal metal devices. A large percentage of displaced (unconnected) femoral neck fractures are treated with partial or total replacement of the hip because of the significant risk of healing complications (Zuckerman 1996). Proper management of hip fracture patients begins before surgery, at the time of admission. Evaluation and management of pre-existing medical conditions is necessary before proceeding to surgery. When possible, management of pre-existing conditions and surgical repair within 24–48 hours of admission has been shown to decrease the incidence of post-surgery complications and the possibility of death within a year of surgery by more than 40 percent (Zuckerman et al. 1995). The procedure should be performed by a surgeon who has expertise in hip fracture stabilization, which will allow the initiation of mobilization immediately after surgery. The vast majority of hip fracture patients should be encouraged to become mobile by the first or second post-operative day. Mobility can help to avoid the medical problems associated with prolonged bed rest, such as muscle atrophy, blood clots in the legs or lungs, pressure sores, skin breakdown, and overall deconditioning. The use of antibiotics for the first 24–48 hours after surgery is also advisable, as this practice has been shown to be effective in decreasing post-surgery infections. Use of techniques to thin the blood after surgery has also been shown to be effective in decreasing the incidence of blood clots, particularly in patients who are slow to mobilize (Todd et al. 1995). Adequate pre- and post-surgery pain control is also important, not only for patient comfort, but also to promote active participation in rehabilitation. Since hip fractures generally occur in elderly patients with other, associated medical and psychosocial problems, the health care team should include professionals from many disciplines, including the orthopaedic surgeon, medical specialists (geriatricians, physiatrists [rehabilitation specialists], primary care physicians, and medical sub-specialists as necessary), nurses, physical and occupational therapists, nutritionists, and social workers. The in-hospital care of hip fracture patients should be guided, whenever possible, by the use of evidence-based clinical care pathways (clinical care based on medical studies) that make use of standardized evaluation and management approaches. This approach should also extend to the entire continuum of care, from the acute care hospital into the post-discharge setting, whether that setting is an acute or sub-acute rehabilitation facility, a skilled nursing facility, or a return home. Effective communication across health settings by health care providers is also important to effective care management (Morris and Zuckerman 2002). Discharge from acute care hospitals and independent rehabilitation facilities should be based on patient progress. Spine fractures usually occur in the middle or lower section of the back as a result of minor strain, such as lifting a grocery bag. Some patients develop fractures without any identifiable trauma. Spine fractures due to osteoporosis result in the progressive collapse of bones in these areas, which typically cause increasing levels of spinal deformity and pain. However, about two-thirds of spine fractures go undiagnosed because there is little or no pain, or the pain is attributed to one of the many other causes of back pain (Johnell et al. 2002). Similarly, other signs of a spine fracture, including deformities and height loss, are often accepted as a normal part of aging and thus not investigated further. It is not unusual for patients to have prolonged pain and disability following spine fractures. Treatment of spine fractures typically focuses on pain control and progressive increases in levels of mobilization. Back braces are of limited benefit. More recently, procedures have been developed to treat patients who have prolonged pain. Vertebroplasty is a technique in which acrylic cement (or orthopedic cement mixture) is injected into the spine bone for the purpose of stabilizing the fracture (Evans et al. 2003). Kyphoplasty involves using a balloon to re-expand the collapsed bone and then filling the cavity with bone cement. This procedure has the potential to stabilize the fracture, prevent further collapse, and restore some degree of height to the bone (Lieberman et al. 2001). Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty have been shown to provide effective pain relief and stabilization of the fracture (Evans et al. 2003, Lieberman et al. 2001). Although complications from these procedures have been infrequent, they can be significant if the bone cement leaks out into the blood stream or into the spinal canal, causing nerve damage. Unfortunately, the potential benefit of these two procedures has not yet been accurately assessed in RPCTs, where they might be compared to each other and to nonsurgical management. Wrist fractures commonly occur as a result of osteoporosis. They include fractures of the radius and/or ulna (the two long bones in the forearm), as well as of the small bones of the wrist. The term Colles’ fractures refers to fractures of the end of the radius, which has a large amount of trabecular bone. Wrist fractures are usually treated by either surgical repositioning and casting or placement of an external fixation device to prevent further fracture. Depending on the type of fracture, one of the following will be used to immobilize the wrist until an x-ray shows evidence of healing (usually in 4–8 weeks): a brace or splint, cast, external fixation, internal fixation, or combined external and internal fixation. Although most patients return to an adequate level of functioning, many do experience some loss of range of motion of the wrist. Osteoporotic fractures occur in other areas of the body, including the upper arm, thigh, shin, collar bone, and ribs. These fractures are treated by a variety of surgical and non-surgical measures. As noted previously, hip fracture patients typically undergo surgery to reposition the hip through internal fixation (e.g., insertion of a metal pin or plate) or to replace the hip through joint replacement. Immediately following either type of surgery, in-hospital rehabilitation focuses on training the patient to safely move in bed, to get out of bed, and to begin walking with partial weight-bearing on the surgical side using either a walker or crutches. A physician specializing in rehabilitation medicine or a physical therapist evaluates the patient, administers or supervises the treatment sessions, and makes discharge recommendations. An occupational therapist also may evaluate the patient and provide training in performing activities of daily living (e.g., bathing, dressing) during recovery from the fracture. The occupational therapist may also provide the patient with assistive devices, such as long-handled shoe horns and devices that help the patients put on his or her socks. Since the inpatient hospital stay typically is limited to 2–3 days after surgery, most patients require additional rehabilitation. Transfer to a rehabilitation facility (a specialty hospital or a skilled nursing home) is common, with length of stay in this setting ranging from several days to several weeks. Following discharge to home, rehabilitation is continued through in-home therapy with a physical therapist or visits to an outpatient facility. This phase of the rehabilitation focuses on general conditioning, strengthening of muscle, and walking longer distances on different terrains and with less assistance. The degree to which a patient progresses from relying on the support of assistive devices during walking to more complete weight-bearing on the fractured limb will depend on the type of surgery and implanted metal as well as the physical condition of the patient. The “typical” patient progresses from a walker to a four-footed cane to a single-point cane to no assistive device for walking. However, 85 percent of patients still use an assistive device for walking 6 months after the fracture (Marotolli et al. 1992). Nutrition has been shown to be important during recovery from hip fracture. Supplementation with calcium, vitamin D, and protein (20 grams per day) have been reported to improve hospital and rehabilitation courses and to increase BMD a year after the fracture (Schurch et al. 1998). Six months after hospital discharge, an evaluation should be performed to determine the patient’s functional status and to set goals for the future. Many patients require further therapy to reach these goals, whereas others may have reached their potential. As noted above, only about one-third of spine fractures come to clinical attention, but those that do usually are painful. Therefore, pain control is a high priority after the initial spine fractures and after multiple fractures, when chronic pain often becomes a problem. Bedrest should be partial (resting in bed interspersed with 30- to 60-minute periods of erect sitting, standing, and walking) and limited to 4 days or less. Individuals should be taught to position themselves (e.g., while sitting, standing, or lying down) and to move (e.g., when lifting, dressing, doing housework) while maintaining good posture, which reduces loads on the fracture and minimizes pain. To minimize pain and decrease risk of a new spine fracture, family members should be taught to assist patients in performing tasks without increasing the loads on the patient’s spine (Bonner et al. 2003). Walking should be encouraged even in frail individuals. A gradual progression starting at only 2–3 minutes and working up to twenty or more minutes can be achieved by adding a minute or two to walking sessions each week. Short-term use of a back brace is recommended when trunk weakness prevents a patient from maintaining an upright posture. An occupational therapist can fit the proper device. Weaning from the device, as muscle strength and endurance improve, will maximize recovery. However, in some patients with chronic pain and deformity, continued use of a flexible support device that helps maintain back strength and posture may be helpful in reducing pain and improving function (Pfeifer et al. 2004). If walking is limited due to pain, use of a rolling walker with four wheels and hand brakes may help the patient stay active during recovery, thus preventing loss of muscle strength and bone mass. This type of walker allows the use of the arms to keep the trunk erect, thereby shifting the weight of the upper body away from the newly fractured bone. Individuals with a new spine fracture should avoid use of a standard walker, since each time the walker is lifted the loads on the vertebral bodies are increased. Exercising in a way that safely challenges balance is also important for rehabilitation of spinal fracture patients, although this exercise must be accompanied by an assessment of the risk of falling and the addressing of modifiable risk factors for falling, such as vision problems, medications that cause dizziness, and hazards in the home. Active range of motion exercises should be continued during recovery, but resistance/strengthening exercises should not be initiated or resumed until the fracture has healed (in approximately 8 to 12 weeks). Since the risk of another spine fracture is high in patients who have had fractures, patients should be instructed to avoid exercises and activities that put high loads on the bones of the spine, such as flexing or rotating the spine (sit ups, toe touches). Exercises and activities done with good spine alignment and low to moderate amounts of weight should be gradually increased, with the goals of regaining muscle strength and promoting maintenance of bone mass. Abdominal strengthening (by tightening the muscles in the abdomen or belly without moving the back) is safe and important to reducing loads on the low back. Spinal extension exercise (i.e., stretching backwards) within a moderate range is safe and can improve hyperkyphosis (a spine that is bent excessively forward) and may help prevent new spine fractures (Sinaki et al. 2002). Rehabilitation of the wrist after the cast, brace, or surgical metal is removed requires about 3 months, but reaching maximum levels of recovery can take up to 24 months, and some problems may persist for years. During healing of a wrist fracture, all of the following are important: arm elevation; early mobilization of the hand, elbow, and shoulder; and control of swelling. Progressive exercises, taught by either a physical or occupational therapist, typically include active and passive range of motion and resistance and grip strengthening, such as squeezing a ball (Bonner et al. 2003). A small number of patients suffer from sympathetic dystrophy (complex regional pain syndrome) after a wrist fracture, resulting in swelling, weakness, and chronic pain in the wrist. There are specific, effective (and often curative) treatments for a number of bone diseases other than osteoporosis, including hyper-parathyroidism, rickets, and osteomalacia. There is also treatment available for some congenital bone disorders and for bone disease associated with kidney failure. Early recognition and treatment of all of these conditions is the key to avoiding crippling deformities and fractures. What follows is a brief review of treatment options for the most common of these diseases. Primary hyperparathyroidism is caused by an excessive release of PTH from one or more of the parathyroid glands. (See Chapter 3 for more a more detailed description.) Surgical removal of the parathyroid adenoma (benign tumor) or of three-and-a-half glands (if all four glands are enlarged) often cures the disease. In 2002, an NIH-sponsored workshop on the management of non-symptomatic primary hyper-parathyroidism concluded that patients who are clearly symptomatic with bone disease or kidney stones should be advised to have surgery (Bilezikian et al. 2002, Bilezikian and Silverberg 2004). There is considerable controversy concerning the need for intervention in patients who have no clear signs or symptoms of the disease. Treatment guidelines for non-symptomatic patients relate to the degree of hypercalcemia (greater than 1 mg/dL serum calcium above the upper limits of normal), hypercalciuria (greater than 400 mg per day urine calcium), and age (under age 50). An independent panel of experts that convened after the end of the NIH workshop suggested that new guidelines for surgery for non-symptomatic patients with primary hyperparathyroidism should be based on levels of bone density that are in line with modern definitions of osteoporosis. If T-score measurements are below –2.5 at any site, surgery is now being recommended. The evidence suggests, moreover, that parathyroid surgery is effective; patients who undergo such surgery have increased their bone mass by 10 percent or more over the 3- to 4-year period following surgery, with the largest gains occurring in the spine (Silverberg et al. 1999). Parathyroid surgery patients have also experienced a decreased incidence of fractures (Vestergaard and Mosekilde 2004). Optimal parathyroid surgery requires exceptional expertise in being able to localize and identify abnormal parathyroid glands and remove them with minimal injury to other tissues. Recent advances have led to newer approaches such as minimally invasive parathyroidectomy for removal of a single parathyroid adenoma with a small incision and minimal trauma to other tissues (Udelsman 2002). This approach requires successful pre-surgery location of the abnormal parathyroid gland, usually by technetium-99m-sestamibi scanning and/or ultrasound imaging (Alexander et al. 2002). Many patients who are not candidates for surgery for parathyroidectomy appear to do very well when they are managed conservatively with appropriate measures to avoid dehydration and further bone loss (Silverberg et al. 1999). Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications for primary hyperparathyroidism. However, medical therapy may be available in the future. Specifically, calcimimetic (calcium-mimicking) agents, which can inhibit parathyroid hormone secretion, offer a direct approach to the medical therapy of primary hyperparathyroidism (Silverberg et al. 1997). Antiresorptive therapy can be used in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and low bone mass who refuse surgery or for whom surgery is contraindicated (Rubin et al. 2003, Parker et al. 2002, Chow et al. 2003). Renal osteody-strophy is a complex bone disease that occurs because of chronic renal (kidney) failure; a more detailed description of the disease and its causes can be found in Chapter 3. Treatment of renal osteodystrophy depends on the type of abnormality in the bone and on the stage of the renal disease. An important aspect of prevention of renal osteodystrophy is the early implementation of dietary phosphate and protein restriction, oral 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (calcitriol) treatment, and adequate oral intake of calcium and vitamin D. A recent analysis of hemodialysis patients suggested that treatment with a vitamin D analog, paricalcitol, resulted in lower mortality than did treatment with calcitriol (Teng et al. 2003). All patients progressing to end-stage renal disease are offered treatment to control uremia (high levels of blood urea nitrogen) with dialysis. An increasing number of patients on dialysis are offered the option of kidney transplantation. The incidence of osteoporosis after transplantation (when bone loss can be aggravated by the drugs that are used to suppress the immune response and prevent rejection of the transplant) can be reduced by keeping the dose of corticosteroids and anti-transplant drugs to a minimum (Cohen and Shane 2003). However, osteoporosis in post-transplant patients may also be treated in its own right by anti-osteoporotic therapies such as bisphosphonates. Paget’s disease of bone is localized, excessive bone remodeling that leads to increased bone resorption and formation (see Chapter 3 for more details). The primary therapy involves use of bisphosphonates, which decrease bone resorption and slow bone turnover (Lyles et al. 2001). Alendronate, risedronate, tiludronate, and etidronate are bisphosphonates that are approved for the treatment of Paget’s disease. The doses used for treatment of Paget’s disease are generally higher than those used for osteoporosis treatment. Bisphosphonates lead to a decrease in alkaline phosphatase and often decrease the skeletal pain associated with the excessive bone turnover. Calcitonin (as an under-the-skin injection or nasal spray) has also been used to treat Paget’s disease, but is less effective than bisphosphonates (Deal 2004). PTH should not be given to patients with Paget’s disease. Bone metastases are common in a number of cancers, and they contribute heavily to morbidity and mortality, most prominently in prostate, breast, and multiple myeloma. Bone metastases are often associated with severe and frequently intractable pain (Mundy 2002). The relationship between prostate cancer and the bone is unique among cancers. Approximately 90 percent of advanced prostate cancer patients develop clinically significant bone metastasis, causing osteoblastic remodeling of the bone that contributes to the morbidity and mortality of patients. Bone metastases are also frequent in breast cancer, often leading to both osteoblastic and osteoclastic lesions. Multiple myeloma can cause rapid bone loss with pain, fractures, and increased blood calcium (see Chapter 3 for more details). The major source of morbidity and mortality associated with MM are osteolytic lesions that form throughout the axial skeleton, resulting from increased osteoclastic bone resorption that occurs adjacent to the myeloma cells. New bone formation that normally occurs at the sites of bone destruction is also absent, as local factors produced by myeloma cells appear to induce extensive bone destruction and block new bone formation. There are some treatments available to treat bone metastases caused by cancers. Bisphosphonates, which are potent inhibitors of bone resorption, significantly reduce skeletal morbidity in patients with advanced breast cancer and can reduce metastasis to bone by human breast cancer cells in an experimental model (Cancer Supplement 2003). Pamidronate, a second generation bisphosphonate, has recently been approved by the FDA for treatment of breast cancer osteolysis. Zoledronic acid, a third-generation bisphosphonate, has also been approved for treatment of cancer patients. Another inhibitor of bone resorption, the protein osteoprotegerin, has also been shown to be effective in reducing bone metastases in animal models of breast and prostate cancer and in reducing bone pain in patients (Cancer Supplement 2003). Although bisphosphonates significantly reduce skeletal morbidity associated with solid tumor metastases to bone, most studies indicate no improvement in survival (Cancer Supplement 2003). Thus, in order to improve therapy and ultimately prevent bone metastases, a more precise understanding of the pathophysiology of bone metastases is necessary, as the level of current understanding is very limited (Cancer Supplement 2003). Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an inherited skeletal disorder that results from several different genetic defects (see Chapter 3 for more details). Patients with OI have low bone mass and brittle bones that fracture easily. Treatment of patients is mainly oriented at preventing and treating fractures in these patients. It involves a team of health professionals that typically includes orthopedists, rehabilitation physicians, and physical therapists. Encouraging results have been reported with bisphosphonate therapy (Glorieux et al. 1998). Treatment of Other Bone Diseases - Primary hyperparathyroidism ~ Removal of parathyroid adenoma(s) by surgery if signs or symptoms meet guidelines ~ Hormone therapy or bisphosphonates may be helpful - Renal osteodystrophy (bone disease from kidney failure) ~ Treatment of kidney problem (dialysis, transplantation) ~ Special diets - Paget’s disease of bone ~ Bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, tiludronate, etidronate) ~ Stem cell transplantation - Osteogenesis imperfecta ~ Physical therapy There is good evidence that proper nutrition and lifestyle can promote bone health and that pharmacotherapy can slow bone loss or even build new bone. However, there is still no “cure” for osteoporosis or for most other bone disorders. Those drugs that do exist, moreover, are still not ideal in terms of their expense, ease of administration, and/or side effects. Answers to the following research questions would help to move the field closer to the development of “ideal” therapies that can prevent and/or cure bone disease: - What are the relative risks and benefits of different types of drug therapies in different populations? When is it best to use bisphosphonates, SERMS, or anabolic agents? - What is the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy in treating persons who have already sustained hip fractures? - Are combination therapies more effective than single therapies? Is there any time when it is best to use a combination of anti-resorptive and anabolic therapy? - What doses, schedules, and methods of administration are most effective in encouraging compliance and preventing fractures in the community (not just within the confines of a clinical trial)? Can lower doses, shorter courses, or wider spacing of treatment help? - What is the efficacy and utility of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty? - How can we improve the therapy of other bone diseases, particularly osteogenesis imperfecta, hyperparathyroidism, and renal osteodystrophy? Albright, Fuller; Reifenstein, Edward C. Jr. The parathyroid glands and metabolic bone disease: Selected studies. Baltimore (MD): Williams and Wilkins; 1948. Alexander HR Jr, Chen CC, Shawker T, Choyke P, Chan TJ, Chang R, Marx SJ. Role of preoperative localization and introoperative localization maneuvers including intraoperative PTH assay determination for patients with persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism. J Bone Miner Res 2002 No;17 Suppl 2:N133-40. Anderson GL, Limacher M, Assaf AR, Bassford T, Beresford SA, Black H, Bonds D, Brunner R, Brzyski R, Caan B, Chlebowski R, Curb D, Gass M, Hays J, Heiss G, Hendrix S, Howard BV, Hsia J, Hubbell A, Jackson R, Johnson KC, Judd H, Kotchen JM, Kuller L, LaCroix AZ, Lane D, Langer RD, Lasser N, Lewis CE, Manson J, Margolis K, Ockene J, O’Sullivan MJ, Phillips L, Prentice RL, Ritenbaugh C, Robbins J, Rossouw JE, Sarto G, Stefanick ML, Van Horn L, Wactawski-Wende J, Wallace R, Wassertheil-Smoller S; Women’s Health Initiative Steering Committee. Effects of conjugated equine estrogen in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy: the Women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004 Apr 14;291(14):1701-12. Banks E, Beral V, Reeves G, Balkwill A, Barnes I; Million Women Study Collaborators. Fracture incidence in relation to the pattern of use of hormone therapy in postmenopausal women. JAMA 2004 May 12;291(18):2212-20. Bauer DC, Mundy GR, Jamal SA, Black DM, Cauley JA, Ensrud KE, van der Klift M, Polo HA. Use of statins and fracture: Results of 4 prospective studies and cumulative meta-analysis of observational studies and controlled trials. Arch Intern Med 2004 Jan 26;164(2):146-52. Bilezikian JP, Potts JT, Fuleihan Gel-H, Kleerekoper M, Neer R, Peacock M, Rastad J, Silverberg SJ, Udelsman R, Wells SA. Summary statement from a workshop on asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: A perspective for the 21st century. J Bone Miner Res 2002 Nov;17 Suppl 2:N2-11. Bilezikian JP, Silverberg SJ. Clinical practice. Asymtomatic primary hyperparathyroidism. N Engl J Med 2004 Apr 22;350(17):1746-51.Black DM, Cummings SR, Karpf DB, Cauley JA, Thompson DE, Nevitt MC, Bauer DC, Genant HK, Haskell WL, Marcus R, et al. Randomised trial of effect of alendronate on risk of fracture in women with existing vertebral fractures. Fracture Intervention Trial Research Group. Lancet 1996 Dec 7;348(9041):1535-41. Black DM, Thompson DE, Bauer DC, Ensrud K, Musliner T, Hochberg MC, Nevitt MC, Suryawanshi S, Cummings SR. Fracture risk reduction with alendronate in women with osteoporosis: The Fracture Intervention Trial. FIT Research Group. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Nov;85(11):4118-24. Black DM, Greenspan SL, Ensrud KE, Palermo L, McGowan JA, Lang TF, Garnero P, Bouxsein ML, Bilezikian JP, Rosen CJ; PaTH Study Investigators. The effects of parathyroid hormone and alendronate alone or in combination in postmenopausal osteoporosis. N Engl J Med. 2003 Sep 25;349(13):1207-15. Bone HG, Greenspan SL, McKeever C, Bell N, Davidson M, Downs RW, Emkey R, Meunier PJ, Miller SS, Mulloy AL, et al. Alendronate and estrogen effects in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density. Alendronate/Estrogen Study Group. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Feb;85(2):720-6. Bone HG, Hosking D, Devogelaer JP, Tucci JR, Emkey RD, Tonino RP, Rodriguez-Portales JA, Downs RW, Gupta J, Santora AC, et al.; Alendronate Phase III Osteoporosis Treatment Study Group. 10 years’ experience with alendronate for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med 2004 Mar 18;350(12):1189-99. Bonner FJ Jr, Sinaki M, Grabois M, Shipp KM, Lane JM, Lindsay R, Gold DT, Cosman F, Bouxsein ML, Weinstein JN, et al. Health professional’s guide to rehabilitation of the patient with osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int 2003;14 Suppl 2:S1-22. Cancer (Supplement). Third North American Symposium on Skeletal Complications of Malignancy. 2003 Feb 1;97(3):719-892. Cauley JA, Seeley DG, Ensrud K, Ettinger B, Black D, Cummings SR. Estrogen replacement therapy and fractures in older women. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Ann Intern Med 1995 Jan 1;122(1):9-16. Cauley JA, Robbins J, Chen Z, Cummings SR, Jackson RD, LaCroix AZ, LeBoff M, Lewis CE, McGowan J, Neuner J, et al.; Women’s Health Initiative Investigators. Effects of estrogen plus progestin on risk of fracture and bone mineral density: The Women’s Health Initiative randomized trial. JAMA 2003 Oct 1;290(13):1729-38. Chesnut CH 3d, Silverman S, Andriano K, Genant H, Gimona A, Harris S, Kiel D, LeBoff M, Maricic M, Miller P, et al. A randomized trial of nasal spray salmon calcitonin in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis: The Prevent Recurrence of Osteoporotic Fractures study. PROOF Study Group. Am J Med 2000 Sep;109(4):267-76. Chow CC, Chan WB, Li JK, Chan MN, Chan MH, Ko GT, Lo KW, Cockram CS. Oral alendronate increases bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with primary hyperparathyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003 Feb;88(2):581-7. Cohen A, Shane E. Osteoporosis after solid organ and bone marrow transplantation. Osteoporos Int. 2003 Aug;14(8):617-30. Coleman RE. Optimising treatment of bone metastases by Aredia™ and Zometa™. Breast Cancer 2000;7(4):361-9. Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy: Collaborative reanalysis of data from 51 epidemiological studies of 52,705 women with breast cancer and 108,411 women without breast cancer. Lancet. 1997 Oct 11;350(9084):1047-59. Cosman F, Nieves J, Woelfert L, Formica C, Gordon S, Shen V, Lindsay R. Parathyroid hormone added to established hormone therapy: Effects on vertebral fracture and maintenance of bone mass after parathyroid hormone withdrawal J Bone Miner Res 2001 May;16(5):925-31. aCranney A, Wells G, Willan A, Griffith L, Zytaruk N, Robinson V, Black D, Adachi J, Shea B, Tugwell P, Guyatt G; Osteoporosis Methodology Group and the Osteoporosis Research Advisory Group. Meta-analyses of therapies for postmenopausal osteoporosis. II. Meta-analysis of alendronate for the treatment of postmenopausal women. Endocr Rev 2002 Aug;23(4):508-16. bCranney A, Tugwell P, Zytaruk N, Robinson V, Weaver B, Adachi J, Wells G, Shea B, Guyatt G; Osteoporosis Methodology Group and the Osteoporosis Research Advisory Group. Meta-analyses of therapies for postmenopausal osteoporosis. IV. Meta-analysis of raloxifene for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Endocr Rev 2002 Aug;23(4):524-8. Cummings SR, Browner WS, Bauer D, Stone K, Ensrud K, Jamal S, Ettinger B. Endogenous hormones and the risk of hip and vertebral fractures among older women. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. N Engl J Med 1998 Sep10;339(11):733-8. Cummings SR, Eckert S, Krueger KA, Grady D, Powles TJ, Cauley JA, Norton L, Nickelsen T, Bjarnason NH, Morrow M, et al. The effect of raloxifene on risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women: Results from the MORE randomized trial. JAMA 1999 Jun 16;281(23):2189-97. Deal C. The use of intermittent human parathyroid hormone as a treatment for osteoporosis. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2004 Feb;6(1):49-58. Delmas PD, Ensrud KE, Adachi JD, Harper KD, Sarkar S, Gennari C, Reginster JY, Pols HA, Recker RR, Harris ST, et al.; Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation Investigators. Efficacy of raloxifene on vertebral fracture risk reduction in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: Four-year results from a randomized clinical trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002 Aug;87(8):3609-17. Ettinger B, San Martin J, Crans G, Pavo, I. Differential effects of teriparatide on BMD after treatment with raloxifene or alendronate. J Bone Miner Res 2004 May;19(5):745-51. Ettinger B, Black DM, Mitlak BH, Knickerbocker RK, Nickelsen T, Genant HK, Christiansen C, Delmas PD, Zanchetta JR, Stakkestad J, et al. Reduction of vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis treated with raloxifene: Results from a 3-year randomized clinical trial. Multiple outcomes of Raloxifene evaluation (MORE) investigators. JAMA 1999 Aug 18;282(7):637-45. Evans A, Jensen M, Kip K, DeNardo AJ, Lawler GJ, Negin GA, Remley KB, Boutin SM, Dunnagan SA. Vertebral compression fractures: Pain reduction and improvement in functional mobility after percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate vertebroplasty—retrospective report of 245 cases. Radiology 2003 Feb;226(2):366-72. Finkelstein JS, Hayes A, Hunzelman JL, Wyland JJ, Lee H, Neer RM. The effects of parathyroid hormone, alendronate, or both in men with osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 2003 Sep 25;349(13):1216-26. Fleisch H. Development of bisphosphonates. Breast Cancer Res. 2002;4(1):30-4. Food and Drug and Administration. [homepage on the Internet]. Rockville (MD): Food and Drug Administration; 2003 Sep [cited 2004 Mar 12]. Menopause and hormones. Available from: http://www.fda.gov/womens/menopause/mht-FS.html. Glorieux FH, Bishop NJ, Plotkin H, Chabot G, Lanoue G, Travers R. Cyclic administration of pamidronate in children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta. N Engl J Med 1998 Oct 1;339(14):947-52. Greendale GA, Espeland M, Slone S, Marcus R, Barrett-Connor E; PEPI Safety Follow-Up Study (PSFS) Investigators. Bone mass response to discontinuation of long-term hormone replacement therapy: Results from the Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) Safety Follow-Up Study. Arch Intern Med 2002 Mar 25;162(6):665-72. Greenspan SL, Emkey RD, Bone HG, Weiss SR, Bell NH, Downs RW, McKeever C, Miller SS, Davidson M, Bolognese MA, et al. Significant differential effects of alendronate, estrogen, or combination therapy on the rate of bone loss after discontinuation of treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 2002 Dec 3;137(11):875-83. Greenspan SL, Resnick NM, Parker RA. Combination therapy with hormone replacement and alendronate for prevention of bone loss in elderly women: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003 May 21;289(19):2525-33. Hanley DA, Ioannidis G, Adachi JD. Etidronate therapy in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. J Clin Densitom 2000 Spring;3(1):79-95. Harris ST, Watts NB, Genant HK, McKeever CD, Hangartner T, Keller M, Chesnut CH 3d, Brown J, Eriksen EF, Hoseyni MS, et al. Effects of risedronate treatment on vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: A randomized controlled trial. Vertebral Efficacy with Risedronate Therapy (VERT) Study Group. JAMA 1999 Oct 13;282(14):1344-52. Harris ST, Eriksen EF, Davidson M, Ettinger MP, Moffett AH Jr, Baylink DJ, Crusan CE, Chines AA. Effect of combined risedronate and hormone replacement therapies on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001 May;86(5):1890-7. Heaney RP, Weaver CM. Calcium and vitamin D. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2003 Mar;32(1):181-94, vii-viii. Review. Hodsman AB, Hanley DA, Ettinger MP, Bolognese MA, Fox J, Metcalfe AJ, Lindsay R. Efficacy and safety of human parathyroid hormone-(1-84) in increasing bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Nov;88(11):5212-20. Horwitz MJ, Tedesco MB, Gundberg C, Garcia-Ocana A, Stewart AF. Short-term, high-dose parathyroid hormone-related protein as a skeletal anabolic agent for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003 Feb;88(2):569-75. Hutchinson JH, Halczenko W, Brashear KM, Breslin MJ, Coleman PJ, Duong le T, Fernandez-Metzler C, Gentile MA, Fisher JE, Hartman GD, Huff JR, Kimmel DB, Leu CT, Meissner RS, Merkle K, Nagy R, Pennypacker B, Perkins JJ, Prueksaritanont T, Rodan GA, Varga SL, Wesolowski GA, Zartman AE, Rodan SB, Duggan ME. Nonpeptide alphavbeta3 antagonists. 8. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a potent alphavbeta3 antagonist for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. J Med Chem. 2003 Oct 23;46(22):4790-8. Institute of Medicine. Dietary reference intakes for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride. Washington (DC): National Academy Press; 1997. Johnell O, Scheek WH, Lu Y, Reginster J.Y., Need AG, Seeman E. Additive effects of raloxifene and alendronate on bone density and biochemical markers of bone remodeling in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002 Mar;87(3):985-92. Kiel DP, Felson DT, Anderson JJ, Wilson PW, Moskowitz MA. Hip fracture and the use of estrogens in postmenopausal women. The Framingham study. N Engl J Med 1987 Nov 5;317(19):1169-74. Lagro-Janssen T, Rosser WW, van Weel C. Breast cancer and hormone-replacement therapy: Up to general practice to pick up the pieces. Lancet. 2003 Aug 9;362(9382):414-5. Liberman UA, Weiss SR, Broll J, Minne HW, Quan H, Bell NH, Rodriguez-Portales J, Downs RW Jr, Dequeker J, Favus M. Effect of oral alendronate on bone mineral density and incidence of fracture in postmenopausal osteoporosis. The Alendronate Phase III Osteoporosis Treatment Study Group. N Engl J Med 1995 Nov 30;333(22):1437-43. Lieberman IH, Dudeney S, Reinhardt MK, Bell G. Initial outcome and efficacy of “kyphoplasty” in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Spine 2001 Jul 15;26(14):1631-8. Lindsay R, Nieves J, Formica C, Henneman E, Woelfert L, Shen V, Dempster D, Cosman F. Randomised controlled study of effect of parathyroid hormone on vertebral-bone mass and fracture incidence among postmenopausal women on estrogen with osteoporosis. Lancet 1997 Aug 23;350(9077): 550-5. Lindsay R, Gallagher JC, Kleerekoper M, Pickar JH. Effect of lower doses of conjugated equine estrogens with and without medroxyprogesterone acetate on bone in early postmenopausal women. JAMA 2002 May22-29;287(20):2668-76. Lotinun S, Sibonga JD, Turner RT. Differential effects of intermittent and continuous administration of parathyroid hormone on bone histomorphometry and gene expression. Endocrine. 2002 Feb;17(1):29-36. Lyles KW, Siris ES, Singer FR, Meunier PJ. A clinical approach to diagnosis and management of Paget’s disease of bone. J Bone Miner Res 2001 Aug;16(8):1379-87. Maricic M, Adachi JD, Sarkar S, Wu W, Wong M, Harper KD. Early effects of raloxifene on clinical vertebral fractures at 12 months in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Arch Intern Med 2002 May 27;162(10):1140-3. Marottoli RA, Berkman LF, Cooney LM Jr. Decline in physical function following hip fracture. J Am Geriatr Soc 1992 Sep;40(9):861-6. McClung MR, Geusens P, Miller PD, Zippel H, Bensen WG, Roux C, Adami S, Fogelman I, Diamond T, Eastell R, et al. Effect of risedronate on the risk of hip fracture in elderly women. Hip Intervention Program Study Group. N Engl J Med 2001 Feb 1;344(5):333-40. McClung MR, Wasnich RD, Recker R, Cauley JA, Chestnut CH 3d, Ensrud KE, Burdeska A, Mills T; Oral Ibandronate Study Group. Oral daily ibandronate prevents bone loss in early postmenopausal women without osteoporosis. J Bone Miner Res 2004 Jan;19(1):11-8. McDonnell DP. Mining the complexities of the estrogen signaling pathways for novel therapeutics. Endocrinology. 2003 Oct;144(10):4237-40. Mehta NM, Malootian A, Gilligan JP. Calcitonin for osteoporosis and bone pain. Curr Pharm Des. 2003;9(32):2659-76. Meunier PJ, Slosman DO, Delmas PD, Sebert JL, Brandi ML, Albanese C, Lorenc R, Pors-Nielsen S, de Vernejoul MC, Roces A, et al. Strontium ranelate: Dose-dependent effects in established postmenopausal vertebral osteoporosis—a 2-year randomized placebo controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002 May;87(5):2060-6. Meunier PJ, Roux C, Seeman E, Ortolani S, Badurski JE, Spector TD, Cannata J, Balogh A, Lemmel EM, Pors-Nielsen S, et al. The effects of strontium ranelate on the risk of vertebral fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 2004 Jan 29;350(5):459-68. Morris AH, Zuckerman JD; AAOS Council of Health Policy and Practice, USA. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. National Consensus Conference on Improving the Continuum of Care for Patients with Hip Fracture. J Bone Joint Surg 2002 Apr;84A(4):670-4. Morris CA, Cheng H, Cabral D, Solomon DH. Predictors of screening and treatment of osteoporosis: A structured review of the literature. Endocrinologist. 2004 Mar/Apr;14(2):70-75. Mundy G. Metastasis to bone: Causes, consequences and therapeutic opportunities. Nat Rev Cancer 2002 Aug;2(8):584-93. Neer RM, Arnaud CD, Zanchetta JR, Prince R, Gaich GA, Reginster JY, Hodsman AB, Eriksen EF, Ish-Shalom S, Genant HK, et al. Effect of parathyroid hormone (1-34) on fractures and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 2001 May 10;344(19):1434-41. Onyia JE, Galvin RJ, Ma YL, Halladay DL, Miles RR, Yang X, Fuson T, Cin RL, Zeng QQ, Chandrasekhar S, et al. Novel and selective small molecule stimulators of osteoprotegerin expression inhibit bone resorption. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2004 Apr;309(1):369-79. Orwoll ES. Osteoporosis in men. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1998 Jun;27(2):349-67. Orwoll E, Ettinger M, Weiss S, Miller P, Kendler D, Graham J, Adami S, Weber K, Lorenc R, Pietschmann P, Vandormael K, Lombardi A. Alendronate for the treatment of osteoporosis in men. N Engl J Med 2000 Aug 31;343(9):604-10. Pal B. Questionnaire survey of advice given to patients with fractures. BMJ 1999 Feb 20;318(7182):500-1. Parker CR, Blackwell PJ, Fairbairn KJ, Hosking DJ. Alendronate in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroid-related osteoporosis: A 2-year study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002 Oct;87(10):4482-9. Pettifor JM. Nutritional and drug-induced rickets and osteomalacia. In: Favus MJ, editor. Primer on the metabolic bone diseases and disorders of mineral metabolism. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Society for Bone and Mineral Research; 2003. p. 399-407. Pfeifer M, Begerow B, Minne HW. Effects of a new spinal orthosis on posture, trunk strength, and quality of life in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: A randomized trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2004 Mar;83(3):177-86. Powles TJ, Hickish T, Kanis JA, Tidy A, Ashley S. Effect of tamoxifen on bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women. J Clin Oncol 1996 Jan;14(1):78-84. Prestwood KM, Kenny AM, Kleppinger A, Kulldorff M. Ultralow-dose micronized 17$-estradiol and bone density and bone metabolism in older women: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003 Aug 27;290(8):1042-8.Rauch F, Plotkin H, Travers R, Zeitlin L, Glorieux FH. Osteogenesis imperfecta types I, III, and IV: effect of pamidronate therapy on bone and mineral metabolism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003 Mar;88(3):986-92. Recker RR, Weinstein RS, Chestnut CH 3d, Schimmer RC, Mahoney P, Hughes C, Bonvoisin B, Meunier PJ. Histomor-phometric evaluation of daily and intermittent oral ibandronate in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: Results from the BONE study. Osteoporos Int 2004 Mar;15(3):231-7. Reid DM, Hughes RA, Laan RF, Sacco-Gibson NA, Wenderoth DH, Adami S, Eusebio RA, Devogelaer JP. Efficacy and safety of daily risedronate in the treatment of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis in men and women: A randomized trial. J Bone Miner Res 2000 Jun;15(6):1006-13. Reid IR, Brown JP, Burckhardt P, Horowitz Z, Richardson P, Trechsel U, Widmer A, Devogelaer JP, Kaufman JM, Jaeger P, et al. Intravenous zoledronic acid in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density. N Engl J Med 2002 Feb 28;346(9):653-61. Riggs BL, Khosla S, Melton LJ 3rd. Sex steroids and the construction and conservation of the adult skeleton. Endocr Rev. 2002 Jun;23(3):279-302. Ringe JD, Dorst A, Faber H, Ibach K. Alendronate treatment of established primary osteoporosis in men: 3-year results of a prospective, comparative, two-arm study. Rheumatol Int 2004 Mar;24(2):110-3. Rittmaster RS, Bolognese M, Ettinger MP, Hanley DA, Hodsman AB, Kendler DL, Rosen CJ. Enhancement of bone mass in osteoporotic women with parathyroid hormone followed by alendronate. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Jun;85(6):2129-34. Rosen CJ, Rackoff PJ. Emerging anabolic treatments for osteoporosis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2001 Feb;27(1):215-33. Rossouw JE, Anderson GL, Prentice RL, LaCroix AZ, Kooperberg C, Stefanick ML, Jackson RD, Beresford SA, Howard BV, Johnson KC. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: Principal results from the Women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2002 Jul 17;288(3):321-33. Rubin C, Recker R, Cullen D, Ryaby J, McCabe J, Mcleod K. Prevention of postmenopausal bone loss by a low-magnitude, high-frequency mechanical stimuli: A clinical trial assessing compliance, efficacy, and safety. J Bone Miner Res 2004 Mar;19(3):343-51. Rubin MR, Lee KH, McMahon DJ, Silverberg SJ. Raloxifene lowers serum calcium and markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women with primary hyperparathyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003 Mar;88(3):1174-8. Saag KG, Emkey R, Schnitzer TJ, Brown JP, Hawkins F, Goemaere S, Thamsborg G, Liberman UA, Delmas PD, Malice MP, et al. Alendronate for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis Intervention Study Group. N Engl J Med 1998 Jul 30;339(5):292-9. Schurch MA, Rizzoli R, Slosman D, Vadas L, Vergnaud P, Bonjour JP. Protein supplements increase serum insulin-like growth factor-I levels and attenuate proximal femur bone loss in patients with recent hip fracture. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 1998 Mary 15;128(10):801-9. Shane E, Addesso V, Namerow PB, McMahon DJ, Lo SH, Staron RB, Zucker M, Pardi S, Maybaum S, Mancini D. Alendronate versus calcitriol for the prevention of bone loss after cardiac transplantation. N Engl J Med 2004 Feb 19;350(8):767-76. Shumaker SA, Legault C, Rapp SR, Thal L, Wallace RB, Ockene JK, Hendrix SL, Jones BN 3rd, Assaf AR, Jackson RD, et al. Estrogen plus progestin and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women: The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2003 May 28;289(20):2651-62. Shumaker SA, Legault C, Kuller L, Rapp SR, Thal L, Lane DS, Fillit H, Stefanick ML, Hendrix SL, Lewis CE, et al. Conjugated equine estrogens and incidence of probable dementia and mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women. The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study. JAMA 2004 Jun 23;291(24):2947-58. Silverberg SJ, Gartenberg F, Jacobs TP, Shane E, Siris E, Staron RB, McMahon DJ, Bilezikian JP. Increased bone mineral density after parathyroidectomy in primary hyperparathyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1995 Mar;80(3):729-34. Silverberg SJ, Bone HG 3d, Marriott TB, Locker FG, Thys-Jacobs S, Dziem G, Kaatz S, Sanguinetti ES, Bilezikian JP. Short term inhibition of parathyroid hormone secretion by a calcium receptor agonist in primary hyperparathyroidism. N Engl J Med 1997 Nov 20;337(21):1506-10. Silverberg SJ, Shane E, Jacobs TP, Siris E, Bilezikian JP. A 10-year prospective study of primary hyperparathyroidism with or without parathyroid surgery. N Engl J Med 1999 Oct 21;341(17):1249-55. Silverman SL. Calcitonin. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2003 Mar;32(1):273-84. Sinaki M, Itoi E, Wahner HW, Wollan P, Gelzcer R, Mullan BP, Collins DA, Hodgson SF. Stronger back muscles reduce the incidence of vertebral fractures: a prospective 10-year follow-up of postmenopausal women. Bone 2002 Jun;30(6):836-41. Smith MD, Ross W, Ahern MJ. Missing a therapeutic window of opportunity: An audit of patients attending a tertiary teaching hospital with potentially osteoporotic hip and wrist fractures. J Rheum 2001 Nov;28(11):2504-8. Solomon DH, Levin E, Helfgott SM. Patterns of medication use before and after bone densitometry: Factors associated with appropriate treatment. J Rheumatol 2000 Jun;27(6):1496-500. Solomon DH, Finkelstein JS, Katz JN, Mogun H, Avorn J. Underuse of osteoporosis medications in elderly patients with fractures. Amer J Med 2003 Oct 1;115(5):398-400. Sorensen OH, Crawford GM, Mulder H, Hosking DJ, Gennari C, Mellstrom D, Pack S, Wenderoth D, Cooper C, Reginster JY. Long-term efficacy of risedronate: A 5-year placebo-controlled clinical experience. Bone 2003 Feb;32(2):120-6. Teng M, Wolf M, Lowrie E, Ofsthun N, Lazarus JM, Thadhani R. Survival of patients undergoing hemodialysis with paricalcitol or calcitriol therapy. N Engl J Med 2003 Jul 31;349(5):446-56. Todd CJ, Freeman CJ, Camilleri-Ferrante C, Palmer CR, Hyder A, Laxton CE, Parker MJ, Payne BV, Rushton N. Differences in mortality after fracture of hip: The East Anglian audit. BMJ 1995 Apr 8;310(6984):904-8. Tonino RP, Meunier PJ, Emkey R, Rodriguez-Portales JA, Menkes CJ, Wasnich RD, Bone HG, Santora AC, Wu M, Desai R, et al. Skeletal benefits of alendronate: 7 year treatment of postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Phase III Osteoporosis Treatment Study Group. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Sep;85(9):3109 15. aTorgerson DJ, Bell-Syer SE. Hormone replacement therapy and prevention of nonvertebral fractures: A meta-analysis of randomized trials. JAMA 2001 Jun 13;285(22):2891-7. bTorgerson DJ, Bell-Syer SE. Hormone replacement therapy and prevention of vertebral fractures: A meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2001;2(1):7-10. Udelsman R. Surgery in primary hyperparathyroidism: The patient without previous neck surgery. J Bone Miner Res 2002 Nov;17 Suppl 2:N126-32. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity and health: A report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta (GA): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, 1996. 300p. van Staa TP, Leufkens HG, Abenhaim L, Zhang B, Cooper C. Use of oral corticosteroids and risk of fractures. J Bone Miner Res 2000 Jun;15(6):993-1000. Verschueren SM, Roelants M, Delecluse C, Swinnen S, Vanderschueren D, Boonen S. Effect of 6-month whole body vibration training on hip density, muscle strength, and postural control in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled pilot study. J Bone Miner Res 2004 Mar;19(3):352-9. Vestergaard P, Mosekilde L. Parathyroid surgery is associated with a decreased risk of hip and upper arm fractures in primary hyperparathyroidism: A controlled cohort study. J Intern Med 2004 Jan;255(1):108-14. Ward K, Alsop C, Caulton J, Rubin C, Adams J, Mughal Z. Low magnitude mechanical loading is osteogenic in children with disabling conditions. J Bone Miner Res 2004 Mar;19(3):360-9. Watts NB, Harris ST, Genant HK, Wasnich RD, Miller PD, Jackson RD, Licata AA, Ross P, Woodson GC 3d, Yanover MJ, et al. Intermittent cyclical etidronate treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 1990 Jul 12;323(2):73-9. Wells G, Tugwell P, Shea B, Guyatt G, Peterson J, Zytaruk N, Robinson V, Henry D, O’Connell D, Cranney A; Osteoporosis Methodology Group and the Osteoporosis Research Advisory Group. Meta-analyses of therapies for postmenopausal osteoporosis. V. Meta-analysis of the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy in treating and preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Endocr Rev 2002 Aug;23(4):529-39. Writing Group for the PEPI. Effects of hormone therapy on bone mineral density: Results from the Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) Trial. JAMA 1996 Nov 6;276(17):1389-96. Yates J, Barrett-Connor E, Barlas S, Chen YT, Miller PD, Siris ES. Rapid loss of hip fracture protection after estrogen cessation: evidence from the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment. Obstet Gynecol 2004 Mar;103(3):440-6. Zuckerman JD, Skovron ML, Koval KJ, Aharonoff G, Frankel VH Postoperative complications and mortality associated with operative delay in older patients who have a fracture of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1995 Oct;77(10):1551-6. Zuckerman JD. Hip fracture. N Engl J Med 1996 Jun 6;334(23):1519-25. Published: October 14, 2004

<urn:uuid:3bb89971-fb13-4d05-88de-994511590c68>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/bonehealth/chapter_9.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Blood Cleansing Would Raise Need for Donors August 9, 2002 Treating donated blood to kill HIV and other dangerous organisms damages the blood enough to require blood centers to increase their drives for donations. This is but one consequence of a new procedure being introduced to clean blood products of bacteria and other pathogens. Officials with the Food and Drug Administration and the nation's blood banks are in agreement on making America's already safe blood supply even safer. However, many are concerned about the effects of the new pathogen reduction procedure, and some think the tradeoff will create more problems than it solves. "It will be up to the blood banks to tell us if it's worth the tradeoff," said Dr. Jaro Vostal, an FDA medical officer and chair of this week's conference at the National Institutes of Health on experimental blood-cleansing procedures. Dr. James AuBuchon, head of pathology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, put the question of risks in a more scientific light: "If the risk of HIV or [hepatitis C] is one in 2 million units, what risks should be acceptable? And how can we prove they are this small?" While FDA officials and blood researchers say they aren't particularly concerned about HIV and hepatitis C because tests since 1999 have cut the risk of infection to one in 2 million, they are concerned about a range of bacteria present in about one in every 2,000 units of blood that may sicken or even kill an estimated one in 100,000 transfusion recipients. Pathogen reduction works by adding a chemical to platelets to make pathogens more sensitive to light, then zapping them with ultraviolet light. Other systems use chemicals to destroy the pathogens. In both cases, the chemicals are then washed from the blood. However, while pathogens are destroyed, so is the survival time of platelets, with a 25 to 30 percent loss of them in the process. Although the platelets that survive the process work fine, the reduction is significant and will require blood centers to collect more blood -- perhaps 100,000 more units of whole blood a year. Already, blood banks barely collect enough blood. Finally, there is the question of what the unintended effects on patients will be by the chemicals used to cleanse the blood. Most experts agree that these will not be evident for years. St. Petersburg Times 08.09.02; Wes Allison This article was provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update. Visit the CDC's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.

<urn:uuid:6db30ad2-bc51-4d46-9148-05c57393c751>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.thebody.com/content/art22148.html?nxtprv

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Arrests without Warrant or Judicial Review: Preventive Police Action in Nazi Germany, as of February 28, 1933 Translated from Werner Best, Der Deutsche Polizei (Darmstadt: L.C. Wittich Verlag, 1940), pp. 31-33. Guidelines for Preventive Police Action against Crime: In the internal distribution of responsibilities of the police, prevention of “political crimes” is assigned to the Secret State Police [Gestapo]. In other cases the criminal police is responsible for the prevention of crime. The criminal police operates according to guidelines in the prevention of crime according to the following principles: The tools used in the prevention of crime are systematic police surveillance and police preventive arrest. Systematic police surveillance can be used against those professional criminals who live or have lived, entirely or in part, from the proceeds of their criminal acts and who have been convicted in court and sentenced at least three times to prison, or to jail terms of at least three months, for crimes from which they hoped to profit. Further, habitual criminals are eligible if they commit crimes out of some criminal drive or tendency and have been sentenced three times to prison, or to jail terms of at least three months, for the same or similar criminal acts. The last criminal act must have been committed less than five years ago. The time the criminal spent in prison or on the run is not counted. New criminal acts that lead to additional convictions suspend this time limit. All persons who are released from preventive police arrest must be placed under systematic police surveillance. Finally, systematic police surveillance is to be ordered despite these regulations if it is necessary for the protection of the national community [Volksgemeinschaft ]. In the application of systematic police surveillance the police can attach conditions such as requiring the subject to stay in or avoid particular places, setting curfews, requiring the subject to report periodically, or forbidding the use of alcohol, or other activities; in fact, restrictions of any kind may be imposed on the subject as part of systematic police surveillance. Systematic police surveillance lasts as long as is required to fulfill its purpose. At least once every year the police must reexamine whether the surveillance is still required. Preventive police arrest can be used against the following: Professional and habitual criminals who violate the conditions imposed on them during the systematic police surveillance of them or who commit additional criminal acts. Professional criminals who live or have lived, entirely or in part, from the proceeds of their criminal acts and who have been convicted in court and sentenced at least three times to prison, or to jail terms of at least three months, for crimes from which they hoped to profit. Habitual criminals if they have committed crimes out of some criminal drive or tendency and have been sentenced three times to prison, or to jail terms of at least three months, for the same or similar criminal acts. Persons who have committed a serious criminal offense and are likely to commit additional crimes and thereby constitute a public danger if they were to be released, or who have indicated a desire or intention of committing a serious criminal act even if the prerequisite of a previous criminal act is not established. Persons who are not professional or habitual criminals but whose antisocial behavior constitutes a public danger. Persons who refuse to identify, or falsely identify themselves, if it is concluded that they are trying to hide previous criminal acts or attempting to commit new criminal acts under a new name. Normally, police preventive arrest is to be used against these persons if it is concluded that the more mild measure of systematic police surveillance will unlikely be successful.

<urn:uuid:2a6fead2-1818-474e-aad8-7581a8fe7e37>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007891

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Source: Wired News A study from researchers at Stanford University and MRI technology company Omneuron suggests that’s possible, and the results could lead to better therapies for those suffering from crippling chronic pain. The researchers asked people in pain to try to control a pain-regulating region of the brain by watching activity in that area from inside a real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, machine. Initial results showed subjects could reduce their pain, some quite dramatically. It’s the first evidence that humans can take control of a specific region of the brain, and thereby decrease pain, said Stanford professor Sean Mackey, who co-wrote the paper, which was published last week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “(Similar to) going to a gym and working muscle using weights, here we’re using the real-time fMRI technology to exercise a certain brain region,” he said. Study co-leader and Omneuron CEO Christopher deCharms said for many people with chronic pain, available treatments like medication or surgery simply don’t work. But this exercise, which researchers have termed “neuroimaging therapy,” could one day help some of the millions of Americans who suffer from untreatable chronic pain. In the study, eight healthy subjects who’d been subjected to a painful stimulus and eight chronic pain patients underwent a series of fMRIs. The images tracked activity in the brain’s rostral anterior cingulate cortex — an area deCharms said is related to pain. Subjects watched this area on a monitor in real time during the procedure. Prompted by researchers’ suggestions of trying to lessen their own pain by ignoring it or imagining it as benign, they set out in a mental game of hot-and-cold to lessen their discomfort. Twenty-eight healthy subjects and four pain patients were also put into control groups that tried to control pain by viewing other patients’ brain data or using other mental strategies, but no fMRIs. These tactics didn’t show a significant reduction in pain, deCharms said. The pain patients reported that the fMRI helped them decrease their overall pain 64 percent. Healthy subjects said they saw a 23 percent increase in their ability to control the strength of their pain, and a 38 percent increase in their ability to master its unpleasantness. “I think most people found it very exciting to be able to watch the activity in their own brain, moment by moment, as it took place,” deCharms said. Vera A. Gonzales, a pain psychologist in League City, Texas, said she thinks the study lends scientific data to what scientists already knew empirically — that people can decrease their own pain by focusing on certain thoughts. It probably also helped that subjects could watch their brain activity unfold on a screen, she said. For years, some therapy methods have allowed patients to monitor and try to control their biofeedback by concentrating on things like skin temperature and heart rate. Mackey and deCharms cautioned it will be some time before such therapy could be available for commercial use. They’re investigating the process of getting Food and Drug Administration approval, and right now they’re focusing on a study to investigate the effects of long-term neuroimaging therapy, deCharms said. One day, patients may even be able to think away other problems like depression, anxiety and dyslexia. “We don’t yet have a good answer to what happens if you keep practicing and practicing,” he said. Subscribe to VC Cafe via email - RT @matthewclifford: Awesome video on #campuslondon via @ediggs youtu.be/3diA0zLlMh8 Echoes @EntreFirst's experience of being based there | 4 hours ago - @Cyclr @GerryMNewton @Simeon_Jeffrey looking good out there! | 5 hours ago - RT @bg_ventures: RT @ediggs: What is Campus? youtu.be/3diA0zLlMh8 #campuslondon featuring @gmehn and @bg_ventures | 5 hours ago - RT @rsohoni: @ediggs @Traityteam @SayduckLtd @seedcamp what an awesome video! Really inspiring | 5 hours ago VC Cafe Categories

<urn:uuid:2beb82db-c47e-4b04-b402-a7f6f02571ea>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.vccafe.com/2005/12/21/think-away-the-pain/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Hydrogen: the essentials Note that while hydrogen is normally shown at the top of the Group 1 elements in the periodic table, the term "alkaline metal" refers to the Group 1 elements from lithium downwards and not hydrogen. Hydrogen is the lightest element. It is by far the most abundant element in the universe and makes up about about 90% of the universe by weight. It is also the most abundant element in the earth's sun. Hydrogen as water (H2O) is absolutely essential to life and it is present in all organic compounds. Hydrogen is the lightest gas. Hydrogen gas was used in lighter-than-air balloons for transport but is far too dangerous because of the fire risk (Hindenburg). It burns in air to form only water as waste product and if hydrogen could be made on sufficient scale from other than fossil fuels then there might be a possibility of a hydrogen economy. Hydrogen: historical information Robert Boyle (1627-1691; English chemist and physicist) published a paper ("New experiments touching the relation betwixt flame and air") in 1671 in which he described the reaction between iron filings and dilute acids which results in the evolution of gaseous hydrogen ("inflammable solution of Mars" [iron]). However it was only much later that it was recognized as an element by Henry Cavendish (1731-1810; an English chemist and physicist who also independently discovered nitrogen) in 1766 when he collected it over mercury and described it as "inflammable air from metals". Cavendish described accurately hydrogen's properties but thought erroneously that the gas originated from the metal rather than from the acid. Hydrogen was named by Lavoisier. Deuterium gas (2H2, often written D2), made up from deuterium, a heavy isotope of hydrogen, was discovered in 1931 by Harold Urey, a professor of chemistry at Chicago and California (both USA). Sometime prior to the autumn of 1803, the Englishman John Dalton was able to explain the results of some of his studies by assuming that matter is composed of atoms and that all samples of any given compound consist of the same combination of these atoms. Dalton also noted that in series of compounds, the ratios of the masses of the second element that combine with a given weight of the first element can be reduced to small whole numbers (the law of multiple proportions). This was further evidence for atoms. Dalton's theory of atoms was published by Thomas Thomson in the 3rd edition of his System of Chemistry in 1807 and in a paper about strontium oxalates published in the Philosophical Transactions. Dalton published these ideas himself in the following year in the New System of Chemical Philosophy. The symbol used by Dalton for hydrogen is shown below. [See History of Chemistry, Sir Edward Thorpe, volume 1, Watts & Co, London, 1914.] In 1839 a British scientist Sir William Robert Grove carried out experiments on electrolysis. He used electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. He then argued one should be able to reverse the electrolysis and so generate electricity from the reaction of oxygen with hydrogen. He enclosed platinum strips in separate sealed bottles, one containing hydrogen and one oxygen. When the containers were immersed in dilute sulphuric acid a current indeed flowed between the two electrodes and water was formed in the gas bottles. He linked several of these devices in series to increase the voltage produced in a gas battery. Later the term fuel cell was used by the chemists Ludwig Mond and Charles Langer. Much later fuel cells were by NASA in the 1960s for the Apollo space missions. Fuel cells have been used for more than 100 missions in NASA spacecraft. Fuel cells are also used in submarines. The lifting agent for the ill fated Hindenberg ballooon was hydrogen rather than the safer helium. The image below is the scene probably in a way you have not seen it before. This is a "ray-traced" image reproduced with the permission of Johannes Ewers, the artist, who won first place with this image in the March/April 1999 Internet Raytracing Competition. For details of ray-tracing you can't beat the POV-Ray site. Hydrogen: physical properties Hydrogen: orbital properties Isolation: in the laboratory, small amounts of hydrogen gas may be made by the reaction of calcium hydride with water. CaH2 + 2H2O → Ca(OH)2 + 2H2 This is quite efficient in the sense that 50% of the hydrogen produced comes from water. Another very convenient laboratory scale experiment follows Boyle's early synthesis, the reaction of iron filings with dilute sulphuric acid. Fe + H2SO4 → FeSO4 + H2 There are many industrial methods for the production of hydrogen and that used will depend upon local factors such as the quantity required and the raw materials to hand. Two processes in use involve heating coke with steam in the water gas shift reaction or hydrocarbons such as methane with steam. CH4 + H2O (1100°C) → CO + 3H2 C(coke) + H2O (1000°C) → CO + H2 In both these cases, further hydrogen may be made by passing the CO and steam over hot (400°C) iron oxide or cobalt oxide. CO + H2O → CO2 + H2 WebElements now has a WebElements shop at which you can buy periodic table posters, mugs, T-shirts, games, molecular models, and more.

<urn:uuid:ef8b79b6-5ca9-4fd1-8cc8-53a10da861b7>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.webelements.com/hydrogen/index.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

- Health Solutions - Diet & Nutrition - Skin Care - Healthy Living - Resource Center You are hereHome › Worried About Your Memory? Stimulate Your Brain! Worried About Your Memory? Stimulate Your Brain! Worried About Your Memory? Stimulate Your Brain! Where did I leave my keys? What is her name again? The word is on the tip of my tongue . . . just give me a second. Forgetfulness happens. Everyone has moments in which memory fails them, but people often feel their memory is deteriorating more quickly as they age. Mistakes they might have laughed off when they were younger now cause them concern. Mental processing can decline over time due to certain normal biological changes in the brain. It might take longer to learn new information and to remember it later. However, significant memory loss is not an inevitable consequence of aging. In fact, it is often the belief in this myth that keeps people from even trying to remember things. So what is “normal” forgetfulness, and when is it time to worry about your memory? Normal age-related memory changes can be frustrating, but they are occasional, and they don’t severely affect your life. Here are some examples of normal memory glitches, from the National Institute on Aging: - Forgetting where you left things, such as glasses or cell phone - Substituting one loved one’s name for another’s - Forgetting the details of something you just read - Forgetting why you walked into a room - Becoming more distractible In contrast, dementia (such as that caused by Alzheimer’s disease) includes significant memory loss along with other symptoms, like increased confusion or disorientation. It interferes with your ability to function independently. Examples include: - Difficulty performing tasks you’ve done for years, such as preparing a simple meal, paying bills or taking care of your hygiene - Inability to follow directions while walking or driving, or becoming lost and confused in familiar settings - Frequently forgetting or misusing words, or having words come out garbled - Repeating sentences over and over while telling the same story - Having difficulty making choices that you used to make easily - Displaying poor judgment or socially inappropriate behavior One important difference between normal memory change and dementia is how aware you are of the problem. If you can identify and describe instances in which your memory failed you, it is often normal forgetfulness. If you can’t, it may be a warning sign of dementia. It’s also important to remember that one sign or symptom alone does not indicate a significant problem, but if friends or family are concerned, it may be time to consult your physician. What can you do to prevent even normal age-related memory loss and boost your brainpower? Build these simple activities into every day to keep your brain (and your body) healthy: - Exercise. Staying active both physically and mentally is important for brain health. Physical activity helps the brain by keeping blood flowing and increasing chemicals that protect the brain. It counters some of the reduction in brain connections that occur as a part of aging, according to the Mayo Clinic. A study in the October 2010 issue of the journal Neurology indicated that walking six to nine miles per week during middle age can prevent brain shrinkage and memory loss later in life. Other types of exercise are great, too—particularly free-form dancing, where quick decisions keep you, and your brain, on your toes, according to a June 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine. - Make healthy choices. A study in the August 2008 issue of Neurology found that eating good foods, including fruits and vegetables, nuts and meats rich in omega-3 fats at least three times per week could help prevent memory loss and stroke. - Teach an old dog new tricks. Try new activities like sudoku, online brain teasers or crossword puzzles. Learn new recipes or a foreign language, and try a new driving route. - Read, read, read. Read anything, but particularly things that challenge your brain. Quiz yourself later on what you read. - Enjoy your hobbies. Play games, participate in computer activities and do crafts such as pottery or quilting. People who engage in these types of activities are 30 to 50 percent less at risk of developing memory loss compared to people who do not, according to a study presented by Yonas Geda, MD, a Mayo Clinic neuropsychiatrist, at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting in Seattle in 2009. - Turn off the TV. The same study found that people who watched more than seven hours a day of television in later years were 50 percent more likely to develop memory loss than people who watched less than seven hours a day. - Stay social. Additionally, the study found that people who engage in social activities in middle age are 40 percent less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than those who did not participate in those activities. - Tackle a project. Design and plan projects for your home, take responsibility for a volunteer project or choose an in-depth subject to learn more about. - Try a supplement. Some supplements—citicoline, folate, sage and Bacopa monnieri in particular—may help improve or sustain memory. Citicoline is used to treat people with memory disorders according to a September 2006 paper in Clinical Interventions in Aging. An Australian clinical trial of the effects of folate on depression found that while it did not affect mood, it did help prevent memory loss in people over age 60. Additionally, a July 2010 study in the Journal of Alternative Complimentary Medicine found that extract of Bacopa monnieri significantly improved memory acquisition and retention in 81 healthy older Australians who completed the trial. In a study published in the August 2011 issue of the Journal of Psychopharmacology, oral consumption of sage extract led to improved performance of secondary memory and attention tasks, reduced mental fatigue and increased alertness, most notably one hour after consumption. The rule of thumb when it comes to your memory and overall brain health, is use it or lose it. The younger you are when you focus on engaging your brain, and the more often you seek mental stimulation, the lower the risk of developing memory impairment later in life. So instead of worrying about your memory, go out dancing with friends, or pick up a book. Your brain will thank you. Aimee is a licensed psychologist in practice in Denver. She provides psychotherapy to adults facing a variety of issues from depression and anxiety to addiction and relationship problems. She does diagnostic assessments and cognitive testing as part of her practice, and she completes crisis evaluations in the emergency department of an area hospital. For more information, please visit here. In addition to her psychology work, Aimee writes young adult novels. Visit her author website at: http://www.aghenley.com/ July 19th, 2012

<urn:uuid:ddd5cc90-ab79-4a05-a8f6-280b79eac5c1>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.wellnesstimes.com/articles/worried-about-your-memory-stimulate-your-brain

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Long recognized as a masterpiece of modern American poetry, William Carlos Williams' Paterson is one man's testament and vision, "a humanist manifesto enacted in five books, a grammar to help us to live" (Denis Donoghue). Paterson is both a place - the New Jersey city near which Williams lived - and a man: the symbolic figure in whom the person (the poet's own life) and the public (the history of the region) are combined. Originally four books (published individually between 1946 and 1951), the structure of Paterson (in Dr. Williams' words) "follows the course of the Passaic River, whose life seemed more and more to resemble my own: the river above the Falls, the catastrophe of the Falls itself, the river below the Falls and the entrance at the end into the great sea." Book Five, published in 1958, when the poet was seventy-five, affirms the triumphant life of the imagination, in spite of age and death. This edition has been completely re-edited by noted Williams scholar Christopher MacGowan of the College of William and Mary and, in addition to presenting the most authoritative text possible, contains invaluable notes identifying Williams' sources and references.

<urn:uuid:4d0daa40-747d-40c4-93e0-d7d1d13fe983>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.worldcat.org/title/paterson/oclc/026129485?lang=ja

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

With children the most frequent victims of dog bites and dog bites accounting for 5 percent of emergency room victims, a national veterinary organization is offering tips for protecting yourself and your family.More >> We'll start with the basics: food and water, shelter, exercise, training, and veterinary care. And then we'll cover the other necessities.More >> By The Humane Society of the United States Take another look at the headline above. It could just have easily said, "Be good to your dog." Or, "Be good to your neighbors." After all, that's what being a responsible dog owner really means! Keep Your Dog Healthy Let's start with the basics: food and water, shelter, exercise, training, and veterinary care. The food and water part is a cinch; all you have to remember is that, like you, dogs need a good diet to stay healthy. Just ask your veterinarian for advice on feeding your pet a regular, nutritionally balanced diet. Giving your pet proper shelter is easy, too. Dogs aren't called housepets for nothing; inside the house is where they belong. A fenced yard with a doghouse is always nice to have, especially for large and active dogs, but dogs should never be left outside alone for long periods of time. Dogs crave and require companionship, and they should stay inside with the family whenever possible. As far as exercise goes, most dog owners find that simply spending time with their companion, playing with him, and walking him at least twice a day will keep him in top shape. This will be as rewarding for you as it is for the dog! If your new companion hasn't yet been trained, enrolling him in obedience classes is a good idea. Training your dog teaches both discipline and kindness, and will help prevent behavioral problems that can crop up down the road. Finally, you'll want to help your pet stay healthy through regular check-ups by your veterinarian. Good health care means that pets stay up-to-date on shots and have any illnesses or injuries promptly treated. If you don't yet have a veterinarian for your dog, you can check with your local humane society or ask a pet-owning friend for a referral. A One-time Surgery, A Lifetime Benefit "Spaying" and "neutering" are words you're probably familiar with. What you may be surprised to hear is that having your female dog spayed or your male dog neutered is the single most important step you can take to be a responsible pet owner. To spay your female dog is to have her ovaries and uterus surgically removed. To neuter your male dog is to have his testicles removed. The result of both operations is that your companion will no longer be able to bring more homeless animals into the world. That's pretty important when you consider that more than four million dogs and cats must be humanely destroyed each year because there aren't enough homes for them all. Spaying and neutering are also better for your pet. Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your dog is spayed before her first estrous cycle. Neutering reduces the incidence of prostate cancer and prostate disorders. Neutered pets are also less likely to bite, run away, or get into fights. To top it all off, dogs who are spayed or neutered not only live longer, healthier lives, but also make better, more affectionate companions. Spaying or neutering is a one-time surgery with a one-time cost. But both procedures offer a lifetime of benefits. When it comes right down to it, if you can't afford to have your dog spayed or neutered, then you can't afford to have a dog. Obey the Law, Protect Your Pet No matter how careful most dog owners are, there's always the chance their companion may become lost. And if that happens, a dog who's not protected by a license, collar, and identification tag may be plain out of luck. Don't make the mistake too many pet owners make. License your dog and put an ID tag on him before a problem occurs. First of all, an up-to-date license and rabies tag are required by law in most cities and counties. Your local shelter or humane society will have more information about local laws, where you can obtain tags, and where you can have your pet vaccinated for rabies. Secondly, a collar and tag are a lost dog's ticket home. The tags should include the license number, your address, and daytime and evening telephone numbers. A valid license and ID tag are important, but no excuse for letting your dog be a menace to your neighbors. A dog who roams the neighborhood; chases cars, bicycles, and joggers; soils the neighbor's yard; knocks over trash cans; or barks incessantly is a dog with an irresponsible owner. An essential rule to follow is this: off property, on leash. When not confined to your property, either inside the house or in a secure, fenced yard, your dog must be under control. Remember that you are responsible for any damage, accidents, and bites caused by your companion. And you should always pick up after your dog, regardless of where he decides to do his business. A Lifetime Commitment You'll undoubtedly fall in love with your new companion right away, but don't forget that he'll be with you for the rest of his life. Dogs who are tied out in the backyard for long periods of time, crated inside all day while their owners are at work, or exercised only at their owner's convenience are dogs who are being neglected and who are more likely to develop serious behavior problems. A pet is yours to love and care for from the day he arrives until the day he dies. It's up to you to provide him with a "lifetime guarantee." So be good to your dog, and be good to your neighbors. If you follow the rules of responsible pet ownership, you'll be rewarded with the many joys of having a dog by your side. Persons with disabilities who need assistance with issues relating to the content of this station's public inspection file should contact Administrative Assistant Theresa Wopat at 507-895-9969. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, at 888-835-5322 (TTY) or at email@example.com.

<urn:uuid:47154c21-ef1a-45f7-9496-44c265d86d4b>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.wxow.com/story/478054/be-a-responsible-dog-owner

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Ronald Reagan once said, “A nation without borders is not a nation.” “A massive campaign must be launched to de-develop the United States. De-development means bringing our economic system into line with the realities of ecology and the world resource situation.” – Paul Ehrlich, Professor of Population Studies “Regionalism must precede globalism. We foresee a seamless system of governance from local communities, individual states, regional unions and up through to the United Nations itself.” – UN Commission on Global Governance The United States of America is a sovereign constitutional, republic, answerable to no higher authority other than our God. Our founding fathers crafted our constitution to ensure that our nation would survive if our elected officials were worthy and righteous men. Our nation is not subservient to any other nation or governing body in the world. Agenda 21 attacks our nations sovereignty and unless stopped, the US will cede their sovereignty to the United Nations. “In the early 1970s, U.N. Secretary General U Thant tapped Maurice Strong to organize and direct the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. The conference came to be known as the first Earth Summit. In the following year, Strong became the first director of the U.N. Environment Program. These two U.N. positions marked the beginning of Strong’s methodical march toward global governance. Strong’s most significant role at the U.N. to-date has been his position as Secretary General of the 1992 U.N. Conference on the Environment and Development, the Rio Earth Summit. In the opening session of the Rio Earth Summit, Strong commented: “The concept of national sovereignty has been an immutable, indeed sacred, principle of international relations. It is a principle which will yield only slowly and reluctantly to the new imperatives of global environmental cooperation. It is simply not feasible for sovereignty to be exercised unilaterally by individual nation states, however powerful. The global community must be assured of environmental security.” Interestingly, Strong had initially been blocked from participating in the conference by the U.S. Department of State. When Strong learned of this, however, he persuaded then-President George Bush to overrule the State Department. Maurice Strong is also involved in the U.N. Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Through his work in UNESCO, Strong promotes Gaia, the Earth God, among the world’s youth. Strong is also the director of The Temple of Understanding in New York. He uses The Temple to encourage Americans concerned about the environment to replace Christianity with the worship of “mother earth.” Strong also directs the U.N.’s Business Council on Sustainable Development. Under his leadership, the council tries to affect peoples’ lives through U.N. policies that attempt to reduce the availability of meat products; limit the use of home and workplace air conditioners; discourage private ownership of motor vehicles; encroach on private property rights; and work to reduce the number of single family homes”. [http://www.nationalcenter.org/DossierStrong.html] And quotes Strong as saying “The concept of national sovereignty has been an immutable, indeed sacred, principle of international relations. It is a principle which will yield only slowly and reluctantly to the new imperatives of global environmental cooperation. It is simply not feasible for sovereignty to be exercised unilaterally by individual nation states, however powerful. The global community must be assured of environmental security.” -Maurice Strong at the 1992 Earth Summit. “[The Earth Summit will play an important role in] reforming and strengthening the United Nations as the centerpiece of the emerging system of democratic global governance.” -Maurice Strong quoted in the September 1, 1997 edition of National Review magazine.

<urn:uuid:15498acc-308a-4c70-ae02-ad1790d44b35>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://americanfreedomwatchradio.com/?page_id=182

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

The Montessori Classroom is highly structured. The choices that students are encouraged to make are very clear. These specific rules teach the student how to move through, and manage the environment (classroom). Respect for self, respect for others and respect for the environment are the basis for the rules. At Palm Harbor Montessori Academy, we have high expectations for our students. Each student must have a sense of independence and responsibility to be able to manage in the Montessori environment successfully. The teachers at Palm Harbor Montessori observe the students constantly. Along with observation comes working one on one with each child and this enables the teachers to informally assess each student’s progress. The teachers prepare the environment and then guide the student to the materials that are best suited for them that day. The materials are all very well structured and sequenced in every environment. The structure in the environment contributes to the student’s freedom of choice and there is a constant balance between the student’s choice and the teacher’s direction. The teacher decides when to intercede or direct a student’s activity. The teachers base their decision on each student’s development. Guidelines are given for the use of Montessori Materials. These guidelines encourage the student to make quality choices. The student may use certain materials after they have had a “lesson” with the teacher. The students are encouraged to practice these activities and are free to “choose their work”. The activity (work) is taken to a mat or a table, thus defining the student’s workplace. The student’s workplace is never disrupted or used by other students. The student then shows his or her work to the teacher. The materials act as diagnostic tools for the teacher to understand what lessons the student is ready to receive. This method also nurtures independent thinking and learning. Students at Palm Harbor Montessori Academy are independent learners and are expected to remember two basic things when it comes to choosing their work: - A lesson from the teacher gives the student freedom to choose that particular work. - The student shows the teacher his or her work after completion or before putting it away. The teacher decides when to assist the child and the child is encouraged to ask for help whenever needed. When students make choices, they become involved in their work at a deeper level than when someone else tells them what to do. By following the rules and guidelines, and respecting others, all the students are given the freedom to make choices. Thus, the self-discipline that is acquired naturally follows. Granted there are times when the teacher makes the decisions and choices for individuals and the class. This guidance from the teachers is constant in order to keep the environment balanced and a place for all to learn at their own level. Observing a classroom, one will find older students helping to guide the younger students, which is another enriching experience for all. The students at Palm Harbor Montessori Academy respect one another and look to others for guidance making the community an incredibly peaceful and kind environment. All the wonderful techniques taught in the Montessori Classrooms lead to cooperation, respect and success. We encourage you to visit our campus and observe a classroom in order to see for yourself the wonderful education your child can receive at Palm Harbor Montessori Academy.

<urn:uuid:ee1738c5-9af6-48f2-a718-0304752728db>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://floridamontessori.com/programs/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

NASA's exoplanet-hunting Kepler spacecraft has identified a slew of new subjects, adding 26 planets in 11 systems to its inventory. "Prior to the Kepler mission, we knew of perhaps 500 exoplanets across the whole sky," said Kepler program scientist Doug Hudgins in a statement announcing the discovery. "Now, in just two years … Proper measurements, in my Register?! "...a diameter of about 141,700 kilometers, or 88,000 miles" What's that in double decker buses? 141,700,000 / 15 (max) = 9,446,667 What, busses your way are 15km long! 15 *metres* - perhaps they're bendy buses? What, buses your way have a 3rd "s"! :P you may want to look at that again, he converted Km to m first At 1/50th of the diameter of our full moon ... the Hubble Deep Field surveys show us 10,000 galaxies (http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2004/07/). Extrapolate that to the whole sky and ponder - if some of those ancient systems evolved into only a few stable galaxies like ours, then we can easily assume that our universe is teeming with 10^23+ planetary systems that would be supporting some form of life. And to think, there are still so many humans on our planet that think we are alone and unique here on Earth. I can get my head around the breadth and depth of our universe but can't figure out why so many on this planet aren't willing to give up their dogmas and get on with their one and only life. ... on the tropical planet with those busty green amazons. What do you mean by "praying mantis mating behavior"? I WANT MY SNU-SNU!!! Bigger than Jupiter I assume that you mean more massive than Jupiter. Jupiter is just about as big as a gas giant can get; more massive planets would actually be smaller due to the effects of gravitational contraction. I'm afraid that you are incorrect. Planets over 25 times Jupiter's mass have been found. I believe that there is even one that is 37 times Jupiter's mass, at DH Tau B. What's the word I'm looking for? It describes simultaneously the excitement of all that 'stuff' out there to be investigated and understood and the lack of ability to go out there and do just that (and likely not forthcoming in this lifetime). More utter amazement Just 6 days! not a planet id want to be standing on with a hangover! "Hudgins didn't elaborate on exactly what he meant by that well-examined patch of sky being a bit larger than your fist, but we can only assume that he's referring to a fist being held at arm's length – and if that's the case, the sky being "positively loaded" with exoplanets may even be a bit of an understatement." Your fist at arm's length is about 10 degrees wide. Let's say for argument's sake it's 10 degrees high, as well - so your fist covers 100 square degrees (so it is pretty damn close to Kepler's FOV, actually). There are 41,253 square degrees of sky - so Kepler studies approximately 1/410 of the sky. In that region, it studies 145,000 stars. Let's say 2300 planets is about 2000 stars, accounting for a few multi-planet systems - so of those 145,000 stars, 1 in 73 have had a potential planet come between us and the star 3 times in 3 years (I believe it's 3 transits to be a candidate, anyway - that might be "confirmed", though). Just think of all the planets whose orbits do not come between us and their star (anything more than a few degrees either way); that are far enough out to orbit less than once every year (every planet outside Earth in our solar system); and are too small for Kepler to see (<Earth-ish size). "Understatement" may be an understatement. I am really amazed that these planetary systems are stable, I suppose interstellar space will be full of roundish crap ejected from solar systems Auf Nimmerwiedersehn! Perfect for a hidden interstellar pirate base! Yarrhhh! If Kepler is trailing Earth by 7 days per year, won't we lap it in 52 years time? That picture is rubbish Have they never heard of antialiasing? Very nice, but... When is David Braben going to issue an accurate solar systems fixpack for Elite? there's a bit more... There are currently 755 confirmed planets that have been observed by one method or another, and an additional 1235 candidates from Kepler alone. And those are just the boring candidates that NASA has decided to release. There are as yet more candidates that NASA is holding on to pending additional verification, that are likely to be far more interesting than Jupiter and "Super Jupiter" class planets. I suspect that's where the 2300 figure comes from. The gentleman above who said that Jupiter is the largest a planet can get is wrong, I'm afraid. they can get much bigger and still not be "failed stars" or whatever the common myth about Jupiter is. There are planets that are 25 times Jupiter's size out there that we've observed. Further, there are far more multi-planet systems out there than the article indicates. I think the author was talking about just Kepler. I suggest visiting http://exoplanet.hanno-rein.de/ for a nice visual database of all confirmed planets out there. :) "Size" isn't everything Are you talking mass or radius here? In terms of mass, above 13 M(Jupiter) you have a brown dwarf. Radius also doesn't increase with mass, much, at that size - you just squash the gas down more (Saturn is half the mass of Jupiter, but only 1/7th smaller in radius). Brown dwarfs at the lower end aren't significantly higher in radius than Jupiter. If you had a planet 25 times the mass of Jupiter, it's definately a Brown Dwarf. If you have one 25 times the radius, you're larger than the sun. We can only measure mass accurately - that's how we find most of them Nope, we are talking mass. DH Tau b is a planet, and is 37 times Jupiter's mass. See the link below The entire list is at the link below and can be sorted by mass, which you'll note is measured in how many times of Jupiter's mass. Jupiter is the standard unit of measurement for exoplanets, since the vast majority that we have found are in Jupiter's range or greater. It's easier to detect them when they are that big, and they are definitely not brown dwarf stars, which start at 75 times Jupiter's mass. "... boffinary punnery." Awesome turn-of-phrase. :-) Don't tell the Government or the banks.... Just imagine all those people on all those planets that the Government could tax, and the banks could rip off...... .....It's a wonder they can sleep at night! JPEG for a drawing? Really? ^ See title That is all. - IT bloke publishes comprehensive maps of CALL CENTRE menu HELL - Nine-year-old Opportunity Mars rover sets NASA distance record - Prankster 'Superhero' takes on robot traffic warden AND WINS - Analysis Who is the mystery sixth member of LulzSec? - Comment Congress: It's not the Glass that's scary - It's the GOOGLE

<urn:uuid:698ec8a1-3c66-4ff8-8b96-678d161aae70>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/1/2012/01/27/kepler_discoveries/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

On April 2 1987, IBM launched its plan to revolutionize the PC industry: a next-generation operating system called OS/2. Co-developed by IBM and Microsoft, it was designed to replace DOS and change the way we used computers. Sadly, it didn't. But it still crops up in some of the weirdest places. You see, it was ahead of its time. It was able to multi-task, for instance, and it's GUI let you right-click on things to tweak settings. It was blazing a trail, which you can read about in more detail in a wonderful feature over at Time. In fact, it was blazing such a trail that—even though Windows became the dominant OS in the market and caused OS/2 to fail commercially—plenty of industrial users embraced it. And still do. New York City uses it to power systems for swiping fare cards. Safeway runs it on its supermarket checkouts. And there are still plenty of ATMs dotted around the country that run OS/2. Old, failed and forgotten it may be. But it just won't go away. [Time] Image by Malvineous under Creative Commons license

<urn:uuid:c89736bd-2c85-4a4c-8e5b-b9b24727ef53>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://gizmodo.com/5898623/ibms-failed-os2-is-25-years-oldbut-it-still-powers-atms-and-checkouts

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

NASA scientists captured some footage of Plasma Indirection, a plasma shift on the surface of the Sun that looks like huge tornadoes churning. Pretty amazing stuff. As if it could not make up its mind . . . darker, cooler plasma slid and shifted back and forth above the Sun’s surface seen here for 30 hours (Feb. 7-8, 2012) in extreme ultraviolet light. An active region rotating into view provides a bright backdrop to the gyrating streams of plasma. The particles are being pulled this way and that by competing magnetic forces. They are tracking along strands of magnetic field lines. This kind of detailed solar observation with high-resolution frames and a four-minute cadence was not possible until SDO, which launched two years ago on Feb. 11, 2010. So it’s our 2nd Anniversary!

<urn:uuid:859b72c9-5c36-4f90-b40b-9e16cde07631>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://headblitz.com/tornadoes-on-the-sun-are-the-size-of-earth/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Usually we hear about E. coli bacteria when there's an outbreak of food poisoning. But now a group of engineers have turned these disease-causing bugs into a "production platform" for antibiotics. Genetic engineers have been trying for a while to tweak the genes of E. coli so that they'll produce the powerful antibiotic erythromycin A, which is used to cure infections. Producing erythromycin A has historically been a costly and difficult process. But if E. coli can reliably produce the medicine, researchers say it would be a major breakthrough - not just for companies who want to produce erythromycin A more cheaply, but also for other engineers hoping to use E. coli to synthesize other medicines as well. Science Daily reports: The bacterium Saccharopolyspora erythraea, which is found in the soil, naturally produces several variants of erythromycin. Erythromycin A is the most common and most biologically active. Because of the challenges associated with engineering Saccharopolyspora erythraea, researchers have hoped to achieve the complete production of erythromycin A using E. coli. More than 20 enzymes must work in concert to create the erythromycin A molecule. This genetic and biochemical complexity makes synthesis notoriously hard. Previous research had reported manufacture of erythromycin A intermediates in E. coli but not the final product.

<urn:uuid:86c52f4f-1e8a-408f-b083-315a8cfbd7ae>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://io9.com/5699430/scientists-use-e-coli-bacteria-to-manufacture-antibiotics?tag=genetic-engineering

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Wed February 6, 2013 Stone Age Stew? Soup Making May Be Older Than We'd Thought Originally published on Mon February 11, 2013 2:36 pm Soup comes in many variations — chicken noodle, creamy tomato, potato and leek, to name a few. But through much of human history, soup was much simpler, requiring nothing more than boiling a haunch of meat or other chunk of food in water to create a warm, nourishing broth. So who concocted that first bowl of soup? Most sources state that soup making did not become commonplace until somewhere between 5,000 and 9,000 years ago. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America says, for example, "boiling was not a commonly used cooking technique until the invention of waterproof and heatproof containers about five thousand years ago." That's probably wrong — by at least 15,000 years. It now looks like waterproof and heatproof containers were invented much earlier than previously thought. Harvard University archaeologist Ofer Bar-Yosef and colleagues reported last year in Science on their finding of 20,000-year-old pottery from a cave in China. "When you look at the pots, you can see that they were in a fire," Bar-Yosef says. Their discovery is possibly the world's oldest-known cookware, but exactly what its users were brewing up isn't certain. Perhaps it was alcohol, or maybe it was soup. Whatever it was, the discovery shows that waterproof, heatproof containers are far older than a mere 5,000 years. That kind of container, though, isn't even necessary for boiling. An ancient soup maker could have simply dug a pit, lined it with animal skin or gut, filled his "pot" with water and dropped in some hot rocks. The power of the expanding steam cracks the rocks, a distinct characteristic that first shows up in the archaeological record around 25,000 years ago in Western Europe, says archaeologist John Speth, an emeritus professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. But Speth says boiling, and soup, could be even older. He started thinking about ancient boiling after watching an episode of the television show "Survivorman," in which host Les Stroud boils water in a plastic container. "You can boil without using heated stones," Speth realized. All you need is a waterproof container suspended over a fire — the water inside keeps the material from burning. Long-ago cooks could have fashioned such a container from tree bark or the hide of an animal, Speth says. Finding evidence of such boiling, though, would be incredibly difficult because those types of materials usually don't get preserved in the archaeological record. Speth has argued that Neanderthals, ancient human relatives that lived from around 200,000 to 28,000 years ago, would have needed boiling technology to render fat from animal bones to supplement their diet of lean meat, so that they could have avoided death by protein poisoning. The kidneys and liver are limited in how much protein they can process in a day — when more than that amount is consumed, ammonia or urea levels in the blood can increase, leading to headaches, fatigue and even death. So humans must get more than half their calories from fat and carbohydrates. If Neanderthals were boiling bones to obtain the fat, they could have drunk the resulting broth, Speth says. Neanderthals were probably cooking in some way, scientists have concluded. A 2011 study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found evidence of cooked starch grains embedded in 46,000-year-old fossil Neanderthal teeth from Iraq. "This doesn't prove that they were making soups or stews," Speth says — some have suggested the meal would have resembled oatmeal — "but I would say it's quite likely." Putting a date on the world's first bowl of soup is probably impossible. Anthropologists haven't been able to determine for certain when man was first able to control fire, or when cooking itself was invented (though it was likely more than 300,000 years ago, before Homo sapiens first emerged, Harvard primatologist Richard Wrangham says in his book Catching Fire). And the story is probably different for people in different parts of the world. It appears that pottery was invented in eastern Asia thousands of years before it emerged in western Asia, Bar-Yosef notes. "Maybe boiling wasn't so important because you had bread" in the West to balance out all that protein, he says. Other parts of the world never had any tradition of boiling food. "A lot of hunter-gatherers didn't use containers at all," Speth says. In places like Tanzania and the Kalahari, there are tribes that didn't boil water until after Europeans arrived. Speth says, though, it's very likely that humans were concocting soup at least 25,000 years ago in some places. Whether our ancestors were boiling up broth before that — well, we'll just have to wait and see what the archaeologists dig up.

<urn:uuid:2646c498-0a19-4dfa-bd9d-c3eb51b0a9d3>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://knau.org/post/stone-age-stew-soup-making-may-be-older-wed-thought

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

At a Glance Why Get Tested? To help diagnose infectious mononucleosis (mono); to distinguish between an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and another illness with similar symptoms; to help evaluate susceptibility to EBV When to Get Tested? A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm Test Preparation Needed? The Test Sample What is being tested? Epstein-Barr virus causes an infection that is very common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 95% of people in the United States will have been infected by EBV by the time they are 40 years old. The virus is easily passed from person to person. It is present in the saliva of infected individuals and can be spread through close contact such as kissing and through sharing utensils or cups. After initial exposure to EBV, there is a period of several weeks before associated symptoms may appear called the incubation period. During the acute primary infection, the virus multiplies in number. This is followed by a decrease in viral numbers and resolution of symptoms, but the virus never completely goes away. Latent EBV remains in the person's body for the rest of his life and may reactivate but usually causes few problems unless the person's immune system is significantly weakened. Most people are infected by EBV in childhood and experience few or no symptoms. However, when the initial infection occurs in adolescence, it can cause infectious mononucleosis, commonly called mono, a condition associated with fatigue, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, an enlarged spleen, and sometimes an enlarged liver. These symptoms occur in about 35% to 50% of infected teens and young adults and usually resolve within a month or two. People with mono are typically diagnosed by their symptoms and the findings from a complete blood count (CBC) and a mono test (which tests for a heterophile antibody). About 10% to 20% of those with mono will not produce heterophile antibodies and will have a negative mono test; this is especially true with children. Tests for EBV antibodies can be used to determine whether or not the symptoms these people are experiencing are due to a current infection with the EBV virus. Sometimes, it can be important to distinguish EBV from other illnesses. For instance, it may be important to diagnose the cause of symptoms of a viral illness in a pregnant woman. Testing can help to distinguish a primary EBV infection, which has not been shown to affect a developing baby, from a cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus, or toxoplasmosis infection, as these illnesses can cause complications during the pregnancy and may harm the fetus. It can also be important to rule out EBV infection and to look for other causes of the symptoms. Those with strep throat, an infection causes by Group A streptococcus, for instance, need to be identified and treated with antibiotics. A person may have strep throat instead of mono or they may have both conditions at the same time. Several tests for different types and classes of EBV antibodies are available. The antibodies are proteins produced by the body in an immune response to several different Epstein-Barr virus antigens. During a primary EBV infection, the level of each of these EBV antibodies rises and falls at various times as the infection progresses. Measurement of these antibodies in the blood can aid in diagnosis and typically provides the doctor with information about the stage of infection and whether it is a current, recent, or past infection. |Antibody||Timing of when the antibody is typically detected in the blood| |Viral Capsid Antigen (VCA)-IgM antibody||Appears first after exposure to the virus and then tends to disappear after about 4 to 6 weeks| |VCA-IgG antibody||Emerges during acute infection with the highest level at 2 to 4 weeks, then drops slightly, stabilizes, and is present for life| |Early Antigen (EA-D) antibody||Appears during the acute infection phase and then tends to disappear; about 20% of those infected will continue to have detectable quantities for several years after the EBV infection has resolved.| |Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen (EBNA) antibody||Does not usually appear until the acute infection has resolved; it develops about 2 to 4 months after the initial infection and is then is present for life.| How is the sample collected for testing? A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm. NOTE: If undergoing medical tests makes you or someone you care for anxious, embarrassed, or even difficult to manage, you might consider reading one or more of the following articles: Coping with Test Pain, Discomfort, and Anxiety, Tips on Blood Testing, Tips to Help Children through Their Medical Tests, and Tips to Help the Elderly through Their Medical Tests. Another article, Follow That Sample, provides a glimpse at the collection and processing of a blood sample and throat culture. Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample? No test preparation is needed. Ask a Laboratory Scientist This form enables you to ask specific questions about your tests. Your questions will be answered by a laboratory scientist as part of a voluntary service provided by one of our partners, American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. If your questions are not related to your lab tests, please submit them via our Contact Us form. Thank you. * indicates a required field NOTE: This article is based on research that utilizes the sources cited here as well as the collective experience of the Lab Tests Online Editorial Review Board. This article is periodically reviewed by the Editorial Board and may be updated as a result of the review. Any new sources cited will be added to the list and distinguished from the original sources used. Sources Used in Current Review Bennett, N. and Domachowske, J. (Updated 2012 May 30). Pediatric Mononucleosis and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection. Medscape Reference [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/963894-overview through http://emedicine.medscape.com. Accessed November 2012. Vorvick, L. (Updated 2011 August 24). Epstein-Barr virus test. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003513.htm. Accessed November 2012. Delgado, J. et. al. (Updated 2012 August). Epstein-Barr Virus – EBV. ARUP Consult [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.arupconsult.com/Topics/EBV.html?client_ID=LTD through http://www.arupconsult.com. Accessed November 2012. (© 1995-2012). Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Antibody Profile, Serum. Mayo Clinic Mayo Medical Laboratories [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/84421 through http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com. Accessed November 2012. Cunha, B. and Levy, C. (Updated 2011 September 21). Infectious Mononucleosis. Medscape Reference [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/222040-overview through http://emedicine.medscape.com. Accessed November 2012. Mayo Clinic Staff (2010 June 26). Mononucleosis. Mayo Clinic [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mononucleosis/DS00352/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print through http://www.mayoclinic.com. Accessed November 2012. Pagana, K. D. & Pagana, T. J. (© 2011). Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 10th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pp 407-409. Kasper DL, Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL eds, (2005) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 16th Edition, McGraw Hill, pp1046-1048. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. McPherson R, Pincus M, eds. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier: 2007, pp 555-556. Hess R. Mini Review: Routine Epstein-Barr Virus Diagnostics from the Laboratory, Perspective: Still Challenging after 35 Years. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Aug. 2004, Vol. 42, No. 8., Pg. 3381–3387. Sources Used in Previous Reviews Thomas, Clayton L., Editor (1997). Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, PA [18th Edition]. Pagana, Kathleen D. & Pagana, Timothy J. (2001). Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 5th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pp 373-375. Ebell, M. (2004 October 1). Epstein-Barr Virus Infectious Mononucleosis. American Family Physician [On-line journal]. Available online at http://www.aafp.org/afp/20041001/1279.html through http://www.aafp.org. Levy, D. (2004 January 19, Updated). Epstein-Barr virus test. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003513.htm. (© 1995-2005). Epstein-Barr Virus Infection. The Merck Manual- Second Home Edition [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec17/ch198/ch198f.html through http://www.merck.com. (© 2005). Epstein-Barr Virus. ARUP's Guide to Clinical Laboratory Testing [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.aruplab.com/guides/clt/tests/clt_a238.jsp#1147825 through http://www.aruplab.com. Schmid, S., Leader Herpesvirus Group (2005 September 13, Updated). Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis. CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ebv.htm through http://www.cdc.gov. Pagana, Kathleen D. & Pagana, Timothy J. (© 2007). Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 8th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pp 401-403. Wu, A. (2006). Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, Fourth Edition. Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri. Pp 1556-1557. Thomas, Clayton L., Editor (1997). Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, PA [18th Edition]. Pp 663. Smith, D. S. (2007 August 6). Epstein-Barr virus test. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003513.htm. Accessed on 11/23/08. Bennett, N. J. and Domachowske, J (2008 August 12). Mononucleosis and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection. EMedicine [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.emedicine.com/ped/TOPIC705.HTM through http://www.emedicine.com. Accessed on 11/23/08. (© 2006-2008). Epstein-Barr Virus – EBV. ARUP Consult [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.arupconsult.com/Topics/InfectiousDz/Viruses/EBV.html through http://www.arupconsult.com. Accessed on 11/23/08. Mayo Clinic Staff (2008 June 28). Mononucleosis. MayoClinic [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mononucleosis/DS00352 through http://www.mayoclinic.com. Accessed on 11/23/08. (2005 November). Infectious Mononucleosis. The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch189/ch189f.html?qt=EBV&alt=sh through http://www.merck.com. Accessed on 11/23/08. Peridin F, et. al (Published online 2007 March 28). Comparison of commercial and in-house Real-time PCR assays for quantification of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in plasma. BMC Microbiol. 2007; 7: 22. Available online at http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=pmc1852802 through http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov. Accessed January 2009. (Updated Feb 2, 2009) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ebv.htm through http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed February 2009.

<urn:uuid:4cf85242-552a-40b5-af17-54e06fb95e6f>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://labtestsonline.org/index.php/understanding/analytes/ebv/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

September 20, 2007 This week's Journal of the American Medical Association contains a brief article discussing the adoption of palliative care by hospitals. The article provides a concise definition and overview of the history of palliative care. It states in part, Despite advances in medicine and medical technology, there is a growing population of aging patients with complex health problems who are poorly served by even the best intensive care units. To help these patients, who often have multiple chronic conditions or various complications of acute conditions, hospitals are turning to palliative care, which focuses on symptom management, communication, and other means to improve quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care may be delivered in concert with curative or life-prolonging medical care and is not prognosis dependent. These features distinguish it from hospice care, which offers symptom management for patients who are facing a terminal illness and no longer wish to undergo life-prolonging treatments, as well as other kinds of support for these patients and their families. Between 2000 and 2005, the number of hospitals with palliative care programs grew by 96% from 632 to 1240, according to the Center to Advance Palliative Care, which analyzed data from the 2007 American Hospital Association Annual Survey of Hospitals. The field of palliative and hospice care became formally recognized as a subspecialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties in 2006. A record 10 specialty groups—anesthesiology, emergency medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry and neurology, radiology, and surgery—endorse hospice and palliative medicine as a subspecialty of their fields. September 20, 2007 | Permalink TrackBack URL for this entry: Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Palliative Care:

<urn:uuid:5f83d4a7-dcc9-42a2-9b17-ed41025a514d>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/healthlawprof_blog/2007/09/palliative-care.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

From Fourth International, Vol.14 No.2, March-April 1953, pp.43-49. Transcription & mark-up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL. (This is the first of a series of two articles.) In the problem of the “bracero,” the poor, often illiterate Mexican laborer, there lies concentrated today a whole complex of social problems. The influx of braceros into the United States that began during the last war has in the past few years become a flood, a flood that millions of Americans feel is about to engulf them. The problem of the braceros is their exploitation as cheap manual labor on the factory-farms of the Southwest; but inseparable from this exploitation are the problems of America’s migrant farm labor class, its great Mexican-Amierican population, and its workers’ unions in the Southwest, The movement of the braceros across the 1600-mile border between the United States and Mexico has become a mass migration which in many respects makes that border a fiction. Most of these men are illegal entrants, “illegals,” or “wetbacks,” so-called from their practice of wading the shallow Rio Grande river into Texas. More than a million of these men, and tens of thousands of Mexicans legally brought into the United States under contract, cross the border each year. The minimum estimate of illegals now in the United States is one million. The real figure is undoubtedly higher, two million, perhaps three million. The deportation figures of the Imimigration Service indicate – but only indicate, since only a minority of border jumpers are ever caught – the number of illegal entrants in this country. In l940, 400 were deported. By 1945 the figure had risen to over 16,000. In 1950, 500,000 illegals were arrested and deported from all the border states, 225,000 from. California alone. The contract workers, though fewer in number, swell the above figure considerably. In 1950, 70,000 were brought into the United States , and in 1951, over twice that number The yearly migration from: northern Mexico passes through the border states and then spreads fanlike throughout most of the farm states in this country. The braceros concentrate most heavily in three rich farm regions: the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and the San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys of California. Many also work seasonally on farms in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, in the Northwest, and in the southern states of Arkansas and Mississippi. Many of the illegals, and almost all of the contract workers, return to Mexico each year, thus giving a tide-like seasonal pattern to their migration. The ones that stay after the harvest periods go into semi-hiding near the border towns, or disappear in the Mexican districts of such large cities as Los Angeles. The use of Mexican immigrants as cheap manual labor on the great Southwestern farms is not a recent occurrence. It is a thoroughly entrenched system, “a systematic exploitation of an underprivileged class of humanity as cheap labor.” In the two states where braceros are used most intensively, Texas and California, the practice is more than a century old. In Texas, braceros early replaced the native Indians as farm workers and have been the basic labor supply on the large farms ever since. In California, bracero labor is but the latest stage in a long history of exploiting foreign workers on farms. In summarizing the migrant’s plight the only difficulty that arises is whether to compare their conditions to peonage or slavery. In the words of an officer of the Immigration Service, their life is a “horrible peonage ... slaves are treated better than the men on some of the farms we have visited.” Although they are attracted by the promise of high wages, the braceros come in such numbers that they are actually forced to accept wages which permit only a bare subsistence. The wage system for braceros, and for American farm labor in general, is governed almost entirely by what the traffic (the workers) can bear. In most areas the prevailing hourly wage for illegals varies from the rare maximum of sixty cents down to sums of five or ten cents. Wages for legally recruited contract workers are only slightly higher, varying according to pressure from the Mexican government. As low as these figures are, real wages are usually even lower. Deductions for spoilage, for bailing wire, for carrying sacks, all reduce cash pay. Piecework pay, and daily eight-hour wage rates for ten and eleven hours of work are common. There have been many reports of men working for weeks and never getting paid. Most of the illegals, and all of the contract workers, are restricted to one type of work, manual farm labor. And in this work they are generally restricted to the hardest jobs, the stoop jobs: cotton picking, vegetable thinning, etc. Those illegals able to escape from! farm work and find jobs in cities are even there confined to the lowest-paying work at manual labor. Off the job, the braceros find no respite from their harsh conditions. A bracero’s house, most commonly the house of many braceros, is usually the crudest sort of shack or hovel. Often it is no more than a ditchbank cave, and for many their roof is the open sky. Sanitation facilities in their shacktowns are of the crudest sort. Health and social services are non-existent. The diseases bred by such conditions are spread by rapid migration. As a result the braceros suffer a disease-death rate much higher than that of the native populations. These are the conditions the braceros face in this country: extreme overwork, miserably low wages, living conditions often worse than those of farm animals, and the hatred of the native population wherever they work. Before going further into the problem of the braceros it is necessary to analyze the source of this hatred. It is a result of other social problems which the presence of the braceros has so greatly aggravated. In many areas where braceros are widely used their employment has depressed the wages and working conditions of residents far below average US levels. Illegals and contract workers cut into rather than supplement the domestic labor force. They push tens of thousands of Negroes, Mexican-Americans, and unskilled non-Mexicans; already the poorest workers, out of both farm and city jobs. Native workers are forced to become transients themselves and work for lowered wages. As a consequence, thousands upon thousands of Texans migrate northward each year in search of better jobs. The whole process is hardest on the native farm migrants who suffer doubly because of exploitation of the braceros. Not only can they find fewer jobs, and jobs for shorter periods, but they are forced to accept wages no higher than wages paid to the braceros. In the midst of a general national prosperity our migrants have been fighting conditions often worse than those of the depression. For a period in 1950 there was widespread publicity about migrants who not only were poor and homeless but actually starving in California. It is more than a mere coincidence that there are today in the United States between one and three million native migrant farm workers, a number equal to the estimate of each year’s bracero influx. The results of bracero employment have been felt not only by farm workers and unorganized city workers, but by the organized labor movement of the Southwest as well. The braceros today constitute, in fact have always constituted, the most effective anti-union weapon the Southwest’s farm-owners possess. Organized labor in Texas has for decades pointed directly at Mexican immigration as the source of its weakness. In Texas it is common to see illegals working alongside union men even in the building trades, a field completely controlled by unions in most states. For forty years organized labor in Texas has claimed to have fought Mexican immigration, but has so far been unable to prevent it. The Southwest’s labor movement would strike at the heart of its problem if it turned its wrath from the impoverished braceros to the employers who use immigrants against the union movement. Not only the big growers but city employers as well have long used braceros against the unions, both directly as strikebreakers and indirectly as a threat against any type of union activity. Both illegals and contract workers have been used against almost all the National Farm Labor Union strikes in California. The same has been done in Texas, where the employers have even gone to the extreme of using contract workers, with the consent of the federal government, to influence union elections. The growers do not limit themselves to direct anti-union activity. They also use the braceros against other workers on the job. On almost all the farms there exists the practice of job division, the separation ef American and bracero workers into different areas, different jobs, different responsibilities. Mexican workers are paid less for the same work Americans do; Mexicans, even Mexican-American citizens, are shut out of jobs that carry responsibility; they are always given the hardest, the least desirable jobs; and everything possible is done to separate the American and bracero workers, to create competition and discrimination among them, and so divide them organizationally. The practice is by no means new. It is only a continuation of the discrimination that has always been used against minority groups of farm workers in the Southwest. As might be expected the growers often receive aid from the government in their anti-union activity. To cite only a few cases: - During the famous DiGiorgio farm strike in California illegals were shipped into the area and brought through the picket lines to work in the fields, with the knowledge of the authorities but without action on their part. - In Laredo in 1947 employers were aided by the Immigration Service and the US Consul to break a strike with illegals. On top of such open subversion of the law, local sheriffs and their hoodlum deputies have worked hand in glove with the vigilantes to terrorize the workers and their leaders when they make any attempt to unionize or otherwise protest their conditions. Another group of Americans that suffers greatly from these conditions is the large Mexican-American population of the Southwest. Already one of the poorest and most oppressed national groups in this country, they suffer doubly: they lose their jobs to the braceros and are forced to work for lower wages both on and off the farms; and they suffer an increased discrimination from American workers who see in all Mexicans the source of their troubles. The Mexican-American then reacts against this double pressure and turns against the bracero as ferociously as does the American worker. The total effect of this anti-Mexican prejudice, as seen by the Southwest’s own sociologists, has been to retard by over a generation the assimilation of the Mexican-American population into the main current of American culture. The enormous influx of braceros, carrying with them their own language and customs, has made large sections of the Southwest once again a cultural peninsula of Mexico. The “bracero problem,” which is the entire problem of emigrant Mexican workers in the United States, involves two large groups of these workers and two definite problems: the so-called “wetback problem,” which involves the great mass of braceros who come illegally into this country; and the “contract-worker problem,” which has been created by the government’s attempt to legalize the bracero labor system. Most writers use the term, “wetback problem” alone, and thereby give the entire issue a strictly legalistic cast, implying that a solution can be found in stopping illegal border crossings and legalizing the foreign labor supply. This, in fact, is the approach of the US and Mexican governments who, in their frenzied efforts to legalize the problem, have only aggravated it. The superficiality of this analysis will become obvious with a thorough understanding of the problem, the class problem, of the braceros. On direct examination the problem appears to the observer as a flood of braceros into this country, causing or aggravating the problems already existent in the Southwest. Two forces account for this migration, the one pushing the braceros out of Mexico, the other pulling them into the United States. The forces pushing the braceros northward are not new; the present flood is only a part of an emigration that has been occurring for decades. First the Spanish and later the Mexicans moved northward and settled the rich regions of the Southwest, divided the land into great ranches and founded its agricultural and mining economy. Later, with the entrance and eventual dominance of Amlerican settlers from the East the Mexican population became the chief supply of manual labor on the farms and in the mines. In California a great number of foreign groups, Japanese, Chinese, Italians, East Indians, Filipinos, and many others have one after the other been the major source of manual farm labor. The Mexicans are but the con-tinuators of this state’s foreign labor supply, while throughout the rest of the Southwest they have never ceased to be the major source of such labor. One of the reasons for the great expansion of Mexican migration in the recent past can be seen in the population figures for that country. In 1930 the population of Mexico was about 16.5 million, ten years later, 19.6 million, and by 1950 it had grown to 25.5 million; an increase of 9 million, almost 55%, in only 20 years. Without a corresponding development of Mexican economy present conditions became inevitable. In the last decade an enormous increase in the cost of living has intensified economic pressures on great numbers of Mexican workingmen. In May 1948 the cost of living index, calculated on a 1939 base of 100, was 314.2. Since the end of the war, inflation has been coupled with unemployment in many areas. And in 1950, the year the migration reached its peak, a widespread drought occurred. As a result of all these factors great numbers of Mexicans feel an irresistible push northward. And the Southwest by no means resists the bracero; rather it exerts a force which would drag the bracero northward even if he were not pushed so strongly by his own country. True owners of the large Southwestern farms want a cheap labor supply, they demand Mexican workers. To maintain this supply, the large growers have since 1942 conducted large-scale recruiting of braceros, both legally and illegally. Farmer’s agents and independent labor contractors use handbills, word of mouth, and even radio announcements to spread word, actually untrue rumors, of high wages for farm workers in the United States. After attracting the workers into this country, often struggling them in, the agents and contractors often pack them into trucks and ship them as they would merchandise to the farms. With unemployment and living conditions so bad in Mexico, this active recruiting has made jobs in the United States appear so good that braceros have been willing to pay to be smuggled across the border. Though transporting braceros into the country is a conspiracy and an action in violation of immigration laws, prosecution of the smugglers has been slight. This is not the least surprising when one knows who the illegal entrants work for. In one Texas area, for instance, according to a veteran immigration officer, one-half the grand jury had illegals working for them. Alongside illegal recruiting, legal recruiting of contract workers has gone on steadily since 1942. The history of this recruiting, the agreements between the United States and Mexico for bringing in Mexican workers, will be covered in a later section. The reason the growers demand bracero labor is mainly the profits that can be made by paying them very low wages. An example of the profits to be made from using these men is the report of a study made of Texas’ Lower Rio Grande Valley where in 1949 the farmers made over $5,000,000 extra profit on their cotton crop alone by the payment of substandard wages. Furthermore, the growers have no legal responsibility for the illegals; there are no social security taxes to pay, no compulsory insurance, no need to provide housing or other facilities. Also, these workers are illegal aliens, immediately deportable, and have no organization behind them. They can neither protest nor change the conditions the growers impose upon them. Contract workers, while entitled by law to some benefits, are also aliens and immediately deportable if fired from their jobs, and so they can protest no more effectively than the illegals. As an excuse for hiring braceros, the growers allege that native workers won’t do stoop labor, though Americans do such work wherever braceros aren’t hired. Because many stoop jobs require a great deal of skill and training farmers demand a constant supply of such labor. The most desirable workers are therefore men who are compelled to return each year, men who are isolated from the general labor mar,ket. Foreigners, especially contract workers who are imported and deported each year, are in greatest demand for this type of work since their isolation is assured. The labor contractors who hire most of the men and bring them to the farms are commonly paid $1.00 per man per day for supplying this type of worker, and are often given a monopoly on the gambling, liquor and prostitution rackets in the labor camps. The usual excuse given for hiring braceros is a lack of local labor. While this is sometimes true in certain areas at harvest time, there is almost always available native labor in adjoining areas. Most so-called “shortages of domestic labor” are really shortages at the “prevailing wage rate.” The prevailing wage rate is of course the subsistence-level wage for illegals. Though the growers usually claim that greater labor costs would break them, the same crop is almost always produced at a profit elsewhere with legal labor and at higher wage rates. The employment of illegals is actually not prohibited by law, though it is illegal to harbor a fugitive. But federal courts have said that this is not punishable since there is no specific penalty in the 1917 immigration laws. As a result there has never been any prosecution of growers who employ the illegal entrants. The policies of the government toward the illegals have been carried out by the Border Patrol. These policies, and the actions of the Patrol, are inconsistent and vacillating. The Border Patrol has never had a discernably clear policy toward the migrants; their actions can only be understood as a result of two forces: the degree of public protest and the demands of the big farmers. This is well illustrated by an occurrence that has since been dubbed “The El Paso Tea Party.” In 1948 the Patrol was carrying on a campaign against the illegals, arresting and deporting them in large numbers. At this time the growers in the area were clamoring for Mexican workers, claiming they couldn’t get enough Americans to harvest their crops. This was an election year and President Truman was making a campaign tour through Texas. It is reported that a delegation of local farmers and politicians complained to the President about the situation, especially at the indifference of the Patrol toward their harvest labor needs. Immediately thereafter a meeting of Immigration Service officials was held in El Paso. In the next forty-eight hours, 7,500 illegals crossed the border near the city, under the noses and apparently the closed eyes of the Border Patrol, into the eager arms of the waiting farmers. As could be expected, no explanation has ever been given by the Immigration Service. In 1949 the Patrol in California carried out wholesale deportations. After a period these deportations dwindled down to almost nothing. And by no means because all the illegals had disappeared. In 1951, with a surge of publicity over the problem, wholesale arrests and deportations began again throughout the Southwest, finally culminating in the famous “wetback airlift.” With the disappearance of the problem from newspaper headlines deportations again slowed. In general, the efforts of the Patrol to keep border jumpers out of the country have been a failure. The illegal entrants have a 1,600-mile border to cross, most of which is desert wilderness. Though most of the illegals cross in areas of Texas and California closest to the farms, it is still an almost impossible job to keep them out. Most officials and observers hold the view that a 1,600-mile fence plus the entire US Army would be necessary to keep all the illegals out of the country. To judge by its actions, the US government considers the bracero to be something less than a human being. While it has made a few demagogic attacks on the exploitation of farm labor, in action it has perpetuated the bracero labor system. It has insured the growers a legal, government-recruited pool of cheap labor; and it has done absolutely nothing to solve the problems of the migrants. In all its efforts the government has ignored the problems of the bracero, of this country’s own farm laborers, of US farm labor unions, and of the Southwest’s three million Mexican-Americans. Its actions have only enriched the corporation farmer and labor contractor. Active recruiting of foreign workers began during the last war and has been continued to the present, with the exception of a short period in 1947. From 1942 to 1947 – the period of Wartime legislation – the United States had a formal agreement with the Mexican government to recruit their nationals for farm work in this country. Similar agreements were made to bring in workers from Canada, Newfoundland and the British West Indies. In 1945 the number of foreign workers in the United States peaked at about 120,000, of which Mexicans were the greatest percentage. During the wartime period the approximate average number of Mexicans under contract each year was 68,000. In April 1947 Congress ended the program, and ordered the repatriation of all foreign workers by the end of the year. Faced with the prospect of losing their cheap and easily manageable foreign workers and having to hire Americans who had become accustomed to higher wages and better living conditions in wartime industry, the farmers immediately protested the government’s action. By claiming a shortage of domestic labor the farmers got the US Employment Service to certify such shortages at prevailing wage rates. That is, if Americans would not work for the wages the farmers offered, then there existed a labor shortage. With the, approval of the USES the Immigration Service allowed foreign workers to remain in this country for limited periods. This procedure was followed repeatedly, permitting the foreign workers to remain in the United States as long as they satisfactorily served their employers. Ever since then the growers have used the device of “(prevailing wage rates” to secure authorization of labor shortages. Almost without fail the USES has certified such shortages even though domestic labor was often plentiful nearby. The few areas where real shortages did exist were almost always areas from which American workers had been driven by the competition of illegals. Actually there has never been a proven shortage of domestic farm labor in this country, not even during the war. When the wartime agreement expired, heavy pressure from the farm associations pushed the two governments into a new series of formal agreements for the recruitment of Mexican Nationals. With the very first of these postwar pacts the Mexican government entered on a policy as subservient to the American farm associations, and even more hypocritical, than the policy of the US government. On the one hand, the Mexican government has continually protested maltreatment of its nationals and violations of the agreements, even going so far as to denounce the first postwar pact. But it has never acted to prevent the hiring of its citizens. It still authorizes and even helps in American recruiting programs. Just as the US Border Patrol determines its policies empirically, so too does Mexico decide its policies. On the one side it feels the pressure of its citizens, outraged at the treatment of their countrymen in the United States, and on the other side it feels the even greater pressure of American business. The Mexican government responds, though complainingly, to the flood of American capital which has been pouring into that country for the past few years. The demand of the growers for renewed contracting brought about an agreement between the two governments in February 1948. During this period of demand by the farmers, the NFLU reported (they were receiving many letters from American farm workers asking for jobs. It demanded immediate suspension of the pact, claiming that the farmers wanted the agreement so they could maintain low wage rates and break the union by using the Mexicans as strikebreakers. In October 1948, with widespread illegal entry into the United States, with employment of Mexicans outside the scope of the agreement, and with its violation becoming more common than its observation, conditions had become so openly bad that the Mexican government denounced the agreement. Continued demands by the growers led to the signing of another agreement in August 1949. A key provision permitted the hiring of Mexicans already in the United States and the regularizing of their immigration status for the period of their employment. In effect, this provision legalized the traffic in illegal entrants. This was admittedly the main desire of the growers, and according to the State Department it was the best means of solving the problem. Ernesto Galarza, the educational director of the NFLU, accused government officials of subjecting the “availability” provision of the agreement to fifteen different interpretations. He accused the California Farm Placement Service of certifying shortages of American workers when they actually were available but wouldn’t work for bracero wages. He also accused ‘the government of deliberate lying, stating, “I now say publicly for the first time thati government officials have deliberately misled the NFLU on the facts.” The question inevitably arises: why did the agreements accomplish nothing toward solving the problems their backers said they would solve? Ostensibly they were to alleviate labor shortages and prevent hiring of illegals by making possible the legal hiring of foreign workers. Actually, they were designed only to make the existing labor system more acceptable to the Mexican government and other protesting groups. This is clearly admitted in a State Department bulletin which said, “Negotiation of an agreement with Mexico is not the action which determines whether foreign workers shall be brought into this country. The agreement represents an effort only to assure that those workers who are legally admitted into the United States pursuant to the action taken by the USES and the USI&NS are employed under principles and procedures acceptable to both the Mexican and the US governments.” Actually Mexicans always could and still can be legally admitted into the United States without the approval or even the consent of the Mexican government. By 1950, when the last agreement expired, conditions had grown so bad and the demand for foreign labor had grown so great, that another pact was engineered. At the same time the NFLU was complaining that between 60,000 and 80,000 native farm, workers were available for work in the Imperial and San Joaquin Valleys, but even so, due to bracero-depressed wage rates, employers could claim a shortage of “available” labor. In early 1951 the whole problem became even more widely publicized and criticism of the government increased to the point where some new action became necessary. In March the NFLU forced the deportation of 115 illegals who had been legitimatized in an unlawful processing operation at Calexico. Ranchers had been rounding up illegals in the United States, shipping them to the border in trucks, and having them step over and back across the border so they could be certified as new entrants and then lawfully sign contracts. It was estimated that over 4,000 illegals had been certified by this method in one two-week period. Then came the famous series of articles in the New York Times, exposing – or rather publicizing, since it had never been secret – the whole system, of bracero labor in the Southwest: the open hiring of illegals, the vacillating policies of the Border Patrol, the fabulous profits gained from bracero exploitation, the terrible effects upon the social status and living conditions of the Southwest’s Mexican-Americans, the use of braceros against unions, and the condonement and support of the whole system by government officials all the way up to Washington. In April the President’s Commission on Migratory Labor turned in a report which generally substantiated all the criticisms made of the employers and the government by the NFLU. In the same month a blast came from Mexico, where the problems involved in recruiting workers had become a major governmental headache. Thousand of ragged workers from all parts of Mexico had joined in a “pathetic stampede” marked by hunger, sickness, repeated violence and several deaths to gamble on the slim chance of obtaining contracts. Accounts of the hiring procedure remind one of the early American slave markets. The braceros were herded by the police and the army as though they were animals. Hiring was done on an individual basis, the contractors inspecting each man and selecting only the poorest, the most submissive, the least likely to protest their conditions. Until the workers were loaded onto buses and trucks to be taken directly to the farms they had no way of knowing who they would work for, where, or for what wage. By this time pressure had become so great that Congress decided to “do something.” Ignoring the protests of the American labor movement and the Mexican government, Congress “solved” the problem with the Poage-Ellender Bill. The bill provided for the hiring and importation of braceros by the two governments – a provision strongly opposed by the US labor movement – but contained no penalties directed against employers of illegals – the provision most strongly demanded by labor. The Secretary of Labor was to authorize the importation of Mexicans to those areas he certified as being short of domestic labor. There was to be no employment of Mexicans in jobs where domestic workers could “reasonably” be obtained, where employment of Mexicans would adversely affect wages and working conditions of domestic agricultural workers, or wherever labor disputes existed. Fifteen minutes after the bill became law, the United States asked Mexico to negotiate a new agreement. A pact was soon completed, though Mexican officials said it would be effective only for a “limited period to give the United States Congress an opportunity to act on President Truman’s recommendations for legislation to penalize employers of wetbacks.” To date, this pact has been extended twice. 1. New York Times, Mar. 25, 1951, p.1. 2. Nation, May 5, 1951, p.408. 3. Newsweek, July 23, 1951, p. 46. 4. New York Times, Mar. 25, 1951, p.1. 5. Newsweek, Oct. 25, 1948, p.80. 6. New York Times, Mar. 26, 1951, p.25. 7. Ibid., June 3, 1951, p.30. 8. Ibid., Mar. 27, 1951, p.31. 9. Ibid., Mar. 27, 1951, p.31. 10. P.R. Kibbe, An American Standard for all Americans, in Common Ground, Autumn 1949. 11. E. Galarza, Big Farm Strike, in Commonweal, June 4, 1948, pp.178-82. 12. Kifobe, Common Ground. 13. New York Times, Mar. 27, 1951, p.31. 14. Ibid., June 3, 1951, p.30. 15. Kibbe, Common Ground. 16. New York Times, Mar. 25, 1951, p.1. 17. Saunders-Leonard study, as reported by G. Hill in his series on the braceros in New York Times, Mar. 26, 1951, p.25. 18. New York Times, Aug. 112, 1950, p.15. 19. Ibid., Mar. 26, 1951, p.25. 20. New York Times, Mar. 28, 1951, p.31. 21. Ibid., Mar. 28, 1961, p.31. 1. A history of the intergovernmental agreements is given by D. Goott in, Employment of Foreign Workers in US Agriculture, in Department of State Bulletin, July 18, 1949, pp.43-6. 2. P.R. Kibbe, Common Ground. 3. Aleman’s Mexico Rides High, in Business Week, Oct. 28, 1950, pp.117-8. 4. Summer Brings the Mexicans: A Statement by the NFLU, in Commonweal, July 2, 1948, pp.275-8. 5. A summary of this agreement is contained in the article, US and Mexico Sign Agricultural Workers Agreement, in Department of State Bulletin, Aug. 29, 1949, pp.313-14. 6. New York Times, Jan. 15, 1950, p.44. 7. D. Goott, Department of State Bulletin. 8. New York Times, Mar. 3, 1951, p.6. 9. Ibid., Apr. 8, 1951, p.38. 10. Reports of hiring in Mexico are contained in the New York Times, Apr. 23, 1951, p.1; Apr. 24, 1951, p.22; Apr. 26, 1951, p.8. 11. Ibid., July 13, 1951, p.24. 12. Ibid., July 21, 1951, p.17. 13. Christian Science Monitor, May 13, 1952, p.2. Last updated on: 29 March 2009

<urn:uuid:2ecac228-dab9-4054-a992-1d54950e9436>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://marxists.anu.edu.au/history/etol/newspape/fi/vol14/no02/winters.htm

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Question: If the work required to stretch a spring 1 ft beyond its natural length is 9 ft-lb, how much work W is needed to stretch it 10 in. beyond its natural length? So my teacher today gave us some physics equations and said to do this homework. Im a little stuck on this, usually they give us the force required to stretch a spring, not the work. Here is what i tried: Then I did F=KX (hooke's law) to solve for the k constant of the spring 9 = K * 1 ft K = 9 So I now know that F = 9X (equation for force of a spring when you know the k constant of that spring) And then i said the: INTEGRAL of: 9x from 0-10/12 = Total work needed to stretch the spring 10inches. I get 7.25, but this answer is wrong.

<urn:uuid:04a804c3-a025-48b1-ad1e-93aa63f2ec07>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://mathhelpforum.com/calculus/49092-integrals-work.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Watch a typical whole group discussion in the classroom and you'll most likely see a "hub / spokes" flow of information. Teacher to student A and back to teacher. Teacher to student B and back to teacher. So it goes as the "bluebirds" get to show how smart they are. Over time, students learn that their comments are of provisional value until "approved" by the teacher. That's because in this style of discussion the teacher is most likely searching for specific replies - sort of playing "guess what I'm thinking" with the "best" students in the class. Students tend not to listen to each other and only focus on what the teacher says or validates - "will that be up on a test?" When students are put in small group discussion, they rapidly get off subject. With no teacher to validate their comments, they naturally gravitate to other subjects where peer comments are valued - "what are you doing this weekend?" Often teachers then conclude that small group discussion doesn't work. In my workshops I train teachers in discussion techniques that foster student reflection and interaction. The strategies are focused on getting the teacher out of the role of information gatekeeper and encouraging student-centered dialogue. With practice, teachers find that students are eager to engage and participate. We know they want to contribute, because outside the classroom, students are flocking to social networks to share their thinking with one another. It's unfortunate that our students can't be part of the (offline) social network sitting beside them in class. "UT Dallas History Professor Dr. Monica Rankin, wanted to know how she could reach and include more students in the class discussion. She had heard of Twitter... The following is a short video describing her "Twitter Experiment" in the classroom with comments from students about the pros and cons of Twitter in a traditional learning environment." (Filmed by UT grad student kesmit3.) Link to notes on the experiment.

<urn:uuid:b9d9498f-c016-464e-b192-70e63a0ad0ad>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://peterpappas.blogs.com/copy_paste/2009/05/engage-student-discussion-use-the-social-network-in-your-classroom.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Why ABX Testing Usually Produces Null Results with Human Subjects ABX testing has been extremely controversial since it was introduced decades ago. It is my hope to put this testing protocol in its final resting place by combining its sad history coupled the difference between how humans perceive sound and how ABX testing actually is applied. The "X" in the ABX is either A or B, randomly selected, the listener needs to identify whether that "X" is "A" or "B". Unfortunately human beings do not have the ability to compare three sonic events sequentially. One must keep a sonic memory of sample "A" they just listened to so they can compare it to the sample "B" and then listen to "X" and try to decide if it sounds more like "A" or "B". It is the introduction of this third sound that makes it impossible for human beings since we can compare two different sounds as long as we don't wait too long however our sonic memory cannot juggle three no matter how many times one is allowed to go back and forth. Thus ABX tests usually get null results, and cause listening fatigue. The better way to do this is to play "A" in a relaxed setting for an entire piece of music, at least five minutes and then play the same piece of music with "B" and then ask not if they sound different, but instead which one did you like? This is how most people shop for stereo equipment. Thus, it is not the methodology of ABX tests I object to, but instead their very existence. Since the introduction of ABX double blind testing protocols many decades ago I have known they were complete and utter frauds and that is one reason I started my print newsletter in the 1980's and later my blog "The Audio Iconoclast" http://audioiconoclast.blogspot.com/ From its purpose statement "The Audio Iconoclast will challenge many deeply held beliefs in both the audio and musical communities. In music and its reproduction explaining what one hears when it is not directly measurable is not easy, the common practice is to dismiss it. This is wrong! In our world of music enjoyment there are subjectivists "music listeners" and objectivists "audio scientists" who try to measure phenomenon. Music listeners believe what they hear with their ears. Audio scientists do not believe what they hear unless they can quantify and measure it. If they cannot measure it, it does not exist and they convince themselves they are not hearing what they hear! My quest is to show the wisdom of enjoying the sound of music and accepting what one hears, even if it cannot be scientifically proven." For example SACD would have replaced CD by now if not for ABX tests and pseudo-scientific studies in AES papers. Anyone possessing a pair of ears on the sides of their head can clearly hear the huge difference between low and high resolution for themselves however too many of them have been brainwashed not to believe their own ears and instead rely on these pseudo-scientists who over the years with ABX double-blind testing have proven: 1) All amplifiers sound the same. 2) All CD players sound the same. 3) A coat hanger sounds the same as an expensive interconnect. 4) MP3 sounds the same as CD. 5) CD sounds the same as SACD. 6) High resolution PCM sounds the same as DSD. Remember the infamous 1987 blind listening test conducted by Stereo Review that concluded that a pair of Mark Levinson monoblocks, an output-transformerless tubed amplifier, and a $220 Pioneer receiver were all sonically identical? Or perhaps you remember the ABX test that was likely the most damaging to these pseudo-scientists, comparing a known audibly defective amplifier to a perfectly working one? All listeners were able not only to hear the defect in the amplifier but able to describe it's distorted sound under normal listening conditions. However using ABX testing protocols none were able to identify the difference between the defective and the working amplifier with any statistical significance, thus proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that ABX testing does not work. In addition I am sure none of the participants would be willing to take home the defective amplifier, I am quite sure they would all want the perfect working one! ABX double-blind testing should be banned by all intelligent people as the absolute scam it is. If one cannot prove the differences people experience every day of their lives when listening to music they love then any such tests are total and complete failures. But more dangerous than that they are hurting the sales of superior audio equipment, superior recordings and the musical satisfaction of gullible music lovers who believe these tests instead of their own ears because of the scientific garb they are dressed in. It is time for the real motives of the anti-high resolution crowd be revealed and their rhetoric buried forever so the masses can actually listen to high resolution with unbiased ears! In summery ABX double-blind testing does not prove that everything sounds the same as real sonic differences are easily heard in casual listening. No, instead what ABX double-blind testing proves is that human subjects do not have the ability to compare three sonic events sequentially with any statistically significance, revealing a deficiency in short-term sonic memories of our species. I believe even the most golden-eared audiophiles would not be able to identify differences with any statistical accuracy between an MP3 music file and a professional master recording using ABX double-blind testing protocols. This does not mean we should all only listen to MP3s on the cheapest stereos we can find, quite the contrary it means that we should enjoy the highest resolution music possible on audio equipment that we have determined to sound the best using our ears in standard casual listening evaluations. Blind Listening Tests are Flawed: An Editorial by Robert Harley

<urn:uuid:51ebc7c7-e5e2-4c11-a532-0809641dc0bd>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue56/abx.htm

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

The benefits of a post-secondary degree are plentiful. For example, an employee with a four year college degree earns 60 percent more than a worker with only a high school diploma. Paying for college, however, has become a daunting task and strain for many American students and families. The cost of higher education across the country is rapidly increasing, at almost double the rate of inflation, outpacing increases in financial aid and many families ability to pay. The combination of these factors result in too many students being unable to earn or complete their degrees due to financial constraints. By one estimate, the federal government spent over $367 billion in 2005 aloneon subsidizing Americans' retirement savings and tax breaks to build upother assets like buying a home. Unfortunately, those subsidies gooverwhelmingly to those Americans who already have high-incomes; almostnone of it goes to the poorest Americans who need the most helpbuilding the financial assets that can lead to long-term economicopportunities and security.

<urn:uuid:de1d1846-2553-496a-a929-b3719615d67e>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://progressivestates.org/tags/issue/194?page=1

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

There are no guidelines for reducing your risk of allergic rhinitis because it is not fully understood why some people develop allergic reactions to certain substances while others do not. But researchers are studying to see if mothers can reduce allergies in their children by taking certain measures during pregnancy. For example, not having pets may help reduce wheezing in babies prone to allergies. For adults, closely following the Mediterranean diet may offer some protection from allergic rhinitis. More research needs to be done before any recommendations for reducing the risk of allergic rhinitis can be made. - Reviewer: Purvee S. Shah, MD - Review Date: 09/2012 - - Update Date: 00/91/2012 -

<urn:uuid:a34ff499-6ad4-428e-883c-fbae1d4bf234>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://regionalmedicalsanjose.com/your-health/?/20285/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Let me back up. DAO naming is hierarchical in nature, sort of like the DOS path. And like DOS, you can refer to an object using a fully qualified name or a semi-qualified name. In DOS, a fully qualified name would be like this: If you are already in a folder, you can refer to the file by its semi-qualified name: TEST.MDB In the same way, you can refer to an Access object by its fully qualified name: or if you assume the default DBEngine (which we almost always do), the default Workspace, and default Database, you can refer to the table by its semi-qualified name: If you look at the fully qualified name like this: you can see the DAO hierarchy levels more easily and how the dot separates them. (Much like the "\" in DOS.) The dot also serves to separate an object from its properties and methods, which can also be thought of as another level in the hierarchy. So I can refer to "TableDefs!Table1.RecordCount". RecordCount being a property of Table1. The bang (!) separates objects from the collections which hold them, thus it separates "Table1" from the collection "TableDefs" and the object "c:\msoffice\access97\test.mdb" from its collection "Databases". Since most objects are defined by you, and since levels of DAO hierarchy are defined by Access, we get the rule of thumb named earlier. DAO Naming Rules: - The dot serves to separate one level of the DAO hierarchy from another in a fully qualified object name. - The dot also serves to separate an object from its methods and properties. (This, by the way, is the principle use for most people). - The bang serves to separate an object from the collection in which it is contained. But this isn't really the end of the story. When using class modules in Access (like Forms and Reports), the Bang and Dot behavior is slightly different. To find out more, read my post: Bang Vs. Dot in Forms .

<urn:uuid:6da4dd28-3c2a-4d59-b5a3-99cc3858d779>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://rogersaccessblog.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Our Creative Centers I create different centers that are open for exploration throughout the classroom. These centers change weekly/daily along with the theme. The children work cooperatively to reach developmental milestones and school readiness through exploring, experimenting, and repetition. Creative Arts....This is huge in my center. Each child learns color and how to make colors, texture, design, and motor control. They learn through doing and exploring. The easel is always accessible and I rotate different small activities like the melting tray, chalk boards, salt trays, bingo daubers etc. We also have our project of the day to go along with the theme. Language....Language is throughout the room. It's where literacy and early reading skills start. It's on the walls using words, in the reading corner with books, at the writing table, and between the children during their conversation and, yes, even arguments. These experiences enhance communication, listening skills and self-control. Math, Manipulatives, and Science....This is where your child learns about numbers, problem solving, order, serializing, and patterning. They also are using their fine motor skills which come in handy with writing. I usually have some live animal in the science area for the children to observe. We also have a variety of magnets, magnifying glasses, flashlights, plants, and weights. Sensory Wet and Dry....This area enhances the math and science by allowing the children experiences with mixture, touch, consistency, measurement, volume, I change this area at least once a month. Some of the different materials that you will find here are, water, rice, flour, oatmeal, beans, and dirt. Block Building....This teaches your child about shape, dimension, size, construction, balance, and construction. When the children are working together they are using their language skills. I also rotate things like block people, cars, animals, rocks, etc. Music and Movement....Lets your child experience creativity, patterns, melody, as well as builds large motor skills. Dramatic Play...This is all about the world of pretend, self identification, family, and community. This is a place for children to act out what is happening in their world. A safe place to pretend to be a mommy, daddy, baby, monster, meanie, princess, etc. Writing Table.....The children love to "write" letters to their friends and mail them in the mailbox over in the dramatic play area. They make books and draw pictures using colored pencils, crayons, pens, and chalk. They have access to stamps and pads, punches, watercolors, and stickers. Early writing skills are happening here! Listening Center.....The children enjoy listening to books on tape/CD. The center is equipped with enough headphones for all to enjoy. They can use this area during free choice or we might use this as a group. Some of the stories stay at this area for repetition and each week we get new stories to go along with the theme. I am working on having parents record stories at home for children to listen to here.

<urn:uuid:65323642-8545-4faf-9539-eb53fec9b9f1>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.anniesalphabet.com/activity_centers

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Guest Author - Carol Taller The Barbie Doll made her debut on March 9, 1959. She was invented by Ruth Handler, and named after her daughter Barbara. Barbie was 11 ˝ inches tall and had a moving head, arms and legs. Her shape was quite impressive, since her real life adult counterpart would measure an improbable 36-18-38. When she was first created, blonde Barbies outnumbered brunette Barbies two to one. Mattel turned down Handler when she first proposed the concept of Barbie to them. The executives did not believe that a three dimensional adult female doll would appeal to the children’s market. She then went to Europe and returned with a Lilli doll and remodeled it. She hired a designer to make realistic clothes for her and she re-approached Mattel. Barbie’s first year on the market sold 351,000 dolls at $3 each. It took Mattel a few years to catch up with the unexpected volume of orders. With Barbie’s proven success, Mattel added several new friends to the Barbie line. Ken, named after Handler’s son, Midge, Skipper, and Christie. In 1995 Barbie was joined with a little sister, Kelly, and in 1997 a friend in a wheel chair named Share a Smile Becky was added. The Barbie Doll “mold” did not change much throughout history. It remained 11 ˝ inches with varying moving part. Bendable legs and closing eyes were added, but the vast changes were mostly made to her outfits and her cultural identity. Barbie’s skin tones changed as well as hair color and face shapes. In 1980 Mattel’s Barbie line desegregated rapidly. Black Barbie and Hispanic Barbie were introduced, and then an international line was introduced with Italian Barbie, Parisian Barbie, and Royal UK Barbie. Playing with Barbie became about her accessories. Barbie needed changes of clothing, shoes, and handbags for her outfits. She had a house and a car. Designer clothing set off the trend of collectible Barbies and adults collected the doll for resale value. Bob Mackie designed some outfits, and in 1992 Barbie got a new “Mackie Face” that was used on many collectible Barbie dolls. Today, girls can use computer software that is available to design and personalize their Barbies. There is also a broad array of products such as home furnishings, clothing, and books for girls to create and play with. Over one billion Barbie Dolls have sold since it's introduction in 1959, making the Barbie doll the most successful product line in toy history.

<urn:uuid:b6a1cc5b-16e0-4cb6-811f-4b92b47d3548>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art22250.asp

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Interest is defined as the cost for purchasing borrowed money. Interest can refer to: - The price paid by borrowers to lenders. - The amount earned by investors in deposited funds. Hence, it can contribute to both income and expense. There are three types of interest rates. - Simple interest rates depend solely on the principal amount. - Compound interest rates compute interest based on the principal amount plus the accrued interest. Compound interest rates can lead to ballooning loans if payments are not made regularly. If the interest will add to your income—for example, in investments and savings accounts–then you should go with compounding interest. This way you money will grow faster. - Amortized interest is computed based on the remaining balance. This means that if payment on amortized loans are made regularly this results in smaller interest. However, it also means that non-payment can lead to increased interest if penalties are added to the principal due to late payment. If interest will add to your expense (i.e. loans) then make sure to avoid those that levy compound interest rates (i.e. credit cards) and go for amortized loans instead.

<urn:uuid:82757073-ff55-4bc7-a8f6-76f55f14f5db>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.businesspundit.com/encyclopedia/accounting-2/interest/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

We Can End Domestic Abuse If your friend or loved one is experiencing domestic violence or is a survivor, there are many ways you can help to support them. Do respect what she wants to do. Every step is up to her. Do share resources with your friend or loved one. Professionals who work at shelters and on hotlines can help. You can’t do it all alone! Do offer your unconditional understanding and support. Start by helping them feel good about themselves. Emphasize their strengths. Do be clear that you are there to listen, and not to judge. There is an important balance between expressing concern and telling someone what to do. Encourage them to express their feelings and make their own decisions. Do tell her it's not her/his fault. Stress that she doesn’t deserve the abuse and that abuse is NEVER okay. Remind them often that you’re there for support whenever necessary. Do identify the unhealthy behaviors. Keep track of things you have noticed about the relationship and the abuser. Identify the changes you have seen in your loved one's behavior. Do acknowledge the scariness of domestic violence. It is scary and difficult to talk about interpersonal violence. Be prepared with good information. Do encourage your loved one to build a support system. A good support system includes the safe and healthy people in her life. Don't spread gossip. Gossip can put a victim in danger if it gets back to the abuser, so think before you speak. Your friend or loved one has taken a big step in coming to you—it is critical that they can trust you with confidential information. Don't blame your friend or loved one for the abuse. The victim should never feel as though the abuse is her fault. Don't make them do something. Don't force her to do something she is uncomfortable doing. They can make their own decisions. Don't try to end the relationship for them. Don't criticize your loved one or her partner. Even if you disagree with her choices. This may isolate them even more by making them feel that no one approves, or that they have to hide their relationship.

<urn:uuid:a084608e-2549-48ea-9167-0b08e963d2b3>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.clackamas.us/domesticviolence/supporting.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

The NucleoSpin Food Kit allows you to quickly isolate genomic DNA from many types of processed food or animal feed of plant or animal origin. Food samples are highly heterogeneous and contain many different compounds such as fats and polysaccharides. These characteristics make DNA extraction more difficult. The NucleoSpin Food protocol guarantees good recovery rates for small genomic DNA fragments from food. We have optimized the lysis buffer and purification process to extract DNA from a variety of food products. The purified DNA is ready to use for all types of subsequent detection methods, especially as a template for PCR. Isolation of genomic DNA from food products assists in detecting and identifying contamination, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or individual plant or animal species. The NucleoSpin Food Kit allows you to process 50–200 mg of homogenized material using a microcentrifuge to speed the loading, washing, and elution steps. Due to the low DNA content of processed food, we recommend using 200 mg of starting material, which typically yields 0.1–10 µg DNA. The silica membrane spin technology has been optimized for high DNA recoveries and low binding of impurities, so the kit generates pure, ready-to-use DNA from any type of food.

<urn:uuid:6e68cbfe-1385-4c46-8ae6-a726277d591e>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.clontech.com/US/Products/Nucleic_Acid_Purification/Genomic_DNA/Food/Single_Prep?sitex=10020:22372:US&PROD=Yn9RHgYnaJbBUoJQvLGpHrvu:S&PROD_pses=ZG44F458F1AE833C2F111B8576A0A23080E6DC1B339C6A2019ADEE31683E793822E5B242A384568EDC7A063D62C40C659AD92CE112A586157A

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Fine jaw crusher working principle Fine jaw crusher eccentric shaft is divided into two parts, the same eccentric shaft, eccentric in the opposite direction, each part of a moving jaw hanging head, motor through the belt-wheel drive the eccentric shaft by the groove, when the eccentric shaft rotates, the movable jaw the first track by eccentric reciprocating motion, while moving jaw broken material to fixed plate movement, the other side of the movable jaw away from the fixed plate nesting, alternating movement to complete the process. Fine jaw crusher Introduction Fine jaw crusher crushing chamber is relatively small jaw crusher, broken out of the product particles is generally uniform. Characteristics of Fine jaw crusher 1. Crushing chamber depth and no dead zone, increased feed capacity and output; 2. The crushing ratio, even granularity; 3.Gasketed nesting population adjustment device, reliable and convenient, adjustable range, increasing the flexibility of the equipment; 4. Lubrication system safe, reliable, easy to replace parts, maintenance workload is small; 5 simple, reliable, low operating costs. 6. energy-saving equipment: stand-alone energy-saving 15% to 30%, more than double the energy system; Use of Fine jaw crusher Fine jaw crusher has been widely used in mining, metallurgy, chemicals, building materials, road, rail, water and other industries. Fine jaw crusher for the broken, the compressive strength limit of less than 2000 kg / cm 2 of various minerals and rocks. structure of the fine jaw crusherFine jaw crusher main frame, moving the jaw, eccentric shaft, jaw plates, brackets and other component parts, electric motor through V-belt turning the eccentric shaft, so that moving the jaw has been adjusted according to the track for exercise, and to the crushing cavity material broken.A single rack system steel pouring a whole, the anterior wall coat rack useful for wedge bolt fixed jaw plate, around the rack in the crushing chamber side wall is equipped with a shield to prevent the rack sidewall wear. Installation and maintenance of Fine jaw crusher Machine maintenance is an extremely important regular work, it should be extremely closely with the operations and maintenance, etc., should be full-time staff on duty checks. I. machine maintenance: 1, all load bearing shoulder of the machine, so good lubrication of the bearing life of a great relationship, it directly affects the life of the machine and the operation rate, which requires injection of the oil must be clean, seal must be good, the machine main oiling Office (1) Turn the bearing (2) roller bearings (3) All gear (4) activities bearing, sliding plane. 2, the newly installed tires prone to loosening must always be checked. 3 note that the various parts of the machine is working properly. 4, pay attention to check the wear parts and replacement of the worn parts. 5 put the event the device chassis plane, dust and other things so as not to be out of the machine when the material could not have broken the bottom shelf in the activities of the bearing cant move, so as to cause serious accidents. 6, the bearing temperature rise, the reasons should be immediately stopped and checked to be eliminated. 7, turn the gear when in operation should be immediately stopped if the impact of the sound check, and eliminate II. Installation test: 1, the device should be installed on a level concrete foundation with anchor bolts. 2, the installation should pay attention to the level of the host body and the vertical. 3, various parts of the installation check for loose bolts are tightened and doors of the host, where do the tightening. 4, according to the device's power cord and control switch configuration. 5, the inspection is completed, the empty load test, you can test the normal production. - VERITICATION OF EMC COMPLIANCE - ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certification Shanghai Famous Trademark

<urn:uuid:72deb5c4-2868-414c-98fd-66533533abe7>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.conecrushermanufacturer.com/product/hot-selling-jaw-crusher.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Kids at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., love their new 'green' campus. What has light, fresh air, and is a great place to learn?Skip to next paragraph Subscribe Today to the Monitor An ecofriendly middle school. At Sidwell Friends Middle School in Washington, D.C., one of the newest teachers on campus this year is a building. From top to bottom it's energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and an inviting place to learn everything from science to singing. It all started when the school needed more classroom space. Instead of tearing down the existing building, a construction crew brought in a bulldozer to clear out the interior, and an L-shaped addition went up beside it. The new, U-shaped building is filled with earth-friendly features, but the spacious rooms with huge windows are the first things you notice. "The extra natural light in the classrooms really keeps you awake and enjoying the day," says Isabel Dorval, a ninth-grader at Sidwell. Walkways made of what? The architects chose natural, recycled, and renewable materials wherever possible. Most of these could be used with minimal impact on the environment. Doors were made with a veneer of bamboo (a fast-growing grass), bulletin boards with cork (which can be harvested without cutting down trees), and cabinets from wheatboard (which is made of wheat straw – the part of the plant that's left over after the grain is harvested). Old materials were also reused in new ways. Bleachers from another school were used to make the window trim. Wood for walkways came from a pier in Baltimore. The "skin" on the outside of the building was made with wood from wine casks. The sun is turning the boards a beautiful silvery gray. On the roof, tall, glass-sided chimneys vent warm air, creating a current that pulls cool, fresh air through the building's north-facing windows. Sixth-graders tend rooftop beds of herbs that they cut and bring to the cafeteria. Native plants help insulate the building and filter rain-water that flows through downspouts to the landscaped area below. Instead of planting a grass lawn, the school created a terraced wetland area and pond by the main entrance. The area has become a hands-on science lab where students take water samples, identify microorganisms, and study wildlife. Another important purpose of the wetlands is to treat the water from sinks and toilets. Waste goes into an underground tank, where tiny organisms begin to break it down. Then it filters through plants, rock, and sand in the wetland and back through the building to be used in sinks and toilets and to cool machinery. Fresh water in drinking fountains comes from the city supply. The school uses about 90 percent less water than a traditionally built school of the same size. "My favorite place is probably the benches outside by the wetlands," says Isabel. "It feels like it's a little habitat out there because you're enclosed on three sides by the building. There's a mural that illustrates the sedimentation process. That brings awareness of what's happening right in front of you. That's very neat." Lessons from the building Mechanical controls, vents, and pipes in plain view make it easier to understand how everything works. Along the wide, open hallways filled with natural light, wind chimes in vents signal when fresh air is being taken into the building. In science class, everyone reads the monitors to note how temperature and levels of carbon dioxide change throughout the day. The building is a great place for environmental detective work, too. "I asked the students to look around and tell me where paper was used to make something in the classroom," says Jennifer Mitchell, who teaches fifth-grade science. "One student looked up and said it was in the ceiling tiles, and he was right. The ceiling tiles are made from recycled newspaper." Let the sunshine in The building's greatest energy saving is in its use of light. The large windows have light shelves above that reflect natural light farther into rooms without letting in heat from the sun. On the south side of the building, where the sun is strongest, horizontal screens shade classrooms from glare. On the east and west sides, vertical screens shade windows when the sun is low. Some days, the overhead fluorescent lights never need to be turned on. That saves not only the energy it takes to keep lights on; it also saves the energy it takes to cool down the building from all the heat that lights can generate. The result is that such an efficient building has helped the school cut its energy use by 60 percent. All about the environment From the day the doors to the new building opened, changes have echoed through Sidwell Friends School. The cafeteria has been serving more organic and locally grown food. There's an environmental club called ECO, and students have begun to teach their parents about more energy-efficient ways of doing things at home. "We have such an opportunity here," says Ms. Mitchell. "As you learn about the building, it makes you think how much sense it makes to do things this way." Isabel likes science very much and says the new building has made science even more interesting for her. "It went from little in-class experiments to really learning about the school itself as an experiment," she says. "I think I can speak for our whole grade, saying that suddenly you just understood your environment and how you affect it."

<urn:uuid:47bb1a35-670c-437e-ade1-659e793bfd3d>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/The-Home-Forum/2008/0311/p18s03-hfks.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

This guest post comes from Gale Tern, author, alternative health proponent, and blogger at Arthritis Pain Central. According to mainstream medical literature, lupus is one of many disorders of the immune system known as auto-immune disease. The immune system is supposed to protect the body from invaders like harmful bacteria and viruses. However, in the case of auto-immune diseases, the immune system actually attacks parts of the body it is supposed to protect. The theory is that when your body turns on itself and begins to damage cells and body tissue, this leads to inflammation. And so the inflammation you see associated with lupus is really a symptom of the disease. Lupus affects all parts of the body including the heart, kidneys, joints, skin, lungs, brain, tendons, and blood vessels. The most common symptoms of lupus include extreme pain, inflammation, kidney problems, swelling of the joints, fever, weight gain, and skin rashes. The thing about lupus is that it discriminates. It primarily affects women. In fact, approximately ninety percent of all lupus cases affect women in their thirties.

<urn:uuid:1a974933-59db-4b71-9acd-2918569d37e4>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/tag/lupus/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

I mentioned last time that serial ports, while on the wane, are still around in one form or another, especially in the embedded world. Although official support in Java for the serial port is anemic, there is good third-party support and so if you want to use Java, you can use the serial port. Where Java shines, of course, is network programming. Not only that, most languages have good support for networking thanks to the Internet fad (I'm kidding — even I don't think it's a fad). It might be nice if you could treat a serial port like a network socket. Then you could use a wide range of tools to access it. Besides that, if you could run a server that managed the socket, you could place the server and the serial port in one place and then access it from anywhere on the network. Sounds like a good idea? It is such a good idea that there are several implementations of it and an RFC (RFC 2217). If you use Linux, there is a program called sredird that you can either build or get from most distributions. If you read the RFC, the protocol is essentially Telnet with extensions, so it is easy enough to access the port remotely. Barring that, Kermit has support for working as a client if you like. Another option is to use socat, which is a bit like a Swiss Army knife and will work as both client and server. For example, I have a 3D printer that has a virtual serial port connected to a remote computer. On that computer I run (all one line): socat tcp-l:54321,fork,reuseaddr open:/dev/ttyACM0,raw,nonblock,waitlock=/tmp/acm0.locak,echo=0,b115200,crnl This opens a TCP socket on 54321 and connects it to the serial port at /dev/ttyACM0 at 115,200 baud. Assuming the remote machine is at address remote_computer, on my desktop computer I run: sudo socat pty,link=/dev/ttyUSB99,echo=0,raw,crnl tcp:remote_computer:54321 This produces a virtual ttyUSB99 port and most software will treat it like a serial port. Of course, you can easily replace that with your own socket manipulation code, if you prefer. If you are a Windows user, you might be more interested in com0com, which includes com2tcp that performs a similar function. The hub4com even supposedly supports RFC2217, although I haven't tried it. With the preponderance of cheap Linux boards like the Raspberry Pi, standing up a little serial server to put a serial device on the network isn't a big deal. It is one more reason serial ports aren't dead quite yet.

<urn:uuid:8901c9a7-24b3-4b82-aa36-531cfd3d9b2b>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.drdobbs.com/embedded-systems/serial-sockets/240149514?cid=SBX_ddj_related_news_default_jvm&itc=SBX_ddj_related_news_default_jvm

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Tech Tip 10 Complying With Harmonic Standard IEEE 519 This Tech Tip briefly describes harmonic limits recommended by the recently revised standard IEEE 519. If you have questions regarding harmonic problems or for assistance in applying IEEE 519, please contact Power Quality. IEEE 519 was upgraded from a Guideline to Recommended Practice in 1992 and is now available from IEEE. IEEE 519 was developed to establish goals for the design of power systems which include linear and non-linear, or harmonic, loads. It defines acceptable voltage quality and limits distortion current users may demand. The recommended limits are applied at the interface between sources and loads (the Point of Common Coupling or PCC). CURRENT DISTORTION LIMITS IEEE 519 current distortion limits are based upon the ratio of the size of the supply system to the customer load. This ratio, the Short Circuit Ratio, is calculated at the PCC between the consumer and utility. Loads that are small when compared to supply capacity may require higher distortion. Table I contains limits for total harmonic distortion (THD) and individual harmonics. The letter h represents the individual harmonic number. For example, h equals 5 for current at 300 Hertz (5 x 60 Hertz). Note as plant load increases on a given supply system, the ratio will decrease and the limits may tighten. Table I: IEEE 519 Current Distortion Limits To illustrate, consider the following data: Short circuit capacity: 108 MVA (5000A @ 12.47 kV) Customer Load: 1.50 MV Short Circuit Ratio: 108/1.50 = 72 For ratios between 50 and 100, the total harmonic distortion (THD) limit is 12%. VOLTAGE DISTORTION LIMITS IEEE 519 establishes maximum voltage distortion at the PCC with each consumer. Supply voltage quality should stay within limits provided the current limits are satisfied. Table II shows the voltage distortion limits. Table II: IEEE 519 Voltage Distortion Limits COMMUTATION VOLTAGE NOTCHING LIMITS Voltage notching is common on many industrial power systems, especially those with large dc drives. When rectifying ac to dc, current is transferred from one phase to another. Since current does not transfer instantly, there is an overlap period during which two devices are conducting. During the overlap, a transient ac short circuit occurs through the two conducting devices causing a voltage notch. Six short circuits, or voltage notches, occur per 60 Hertz cycle or 360 notches per second. IEEE 519 notch limits are divided into two parts: notch depth and notch area. These are illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 1: Notch Depth and Notch Area Table III contains recommended limits, where Special Applications include hospitals and airports, and a Dedicated System is exclusively dedicated to the converter load. Table III: IEEE 519 Commutation Notching Limits The information and diagrams presented herein are for general educational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as instructions for customer self-wiring. Customers should at all times seek the assistance of qualified electricians or utility personnel for all wiring projects.

<urn:uuid:1b148e6a-1f7a-44ae-af78-777a82b65889>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.duke-energy.com/south-carolina-large-business/business-continuity/power-quality/tech-tip-10.asp

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Stockholm, Sweden, 31 August: A year-long study into the effects of increased physical activity at school has shown that children’s fitness levels and body composition do improve with daily participation in sport – and particularly so for children from deprived backgrounds. Obesity among children and young people continues to rise across Europe and brings with it the very real risk of increased blood pressure, higher blood-fat values and impaired glucose tolerance. Nearly 20 percent of European schoolchildren are regarded as overweight, and it is estimated that almost half of them will progress through to adulthood as obese. There is strong evidence that socio-economic factors and educational status have a significant bearing on cardiovascular risk. Deprived families often lead unhealthy lifestyles, characterised by smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity, which in turn leads to an increase in cardiovascular risk. Set against this context, a team from the Heart Center at the University of Leipzig wanted to find out if greater participation in sport at school would have a positive effect on children from different socio-educational backgrounds. Doctor Katharina Machalica of the University of Leipzig explains, “We wanted to see if increasing physical activity from two sessions to five sessions a week would have an impact on children’s cardiopulmonary fitness, body mass index, cardiovascular risk and co-ordination skills.” The study compared children from two schools in Brandis, Germany. The first school was regarded as having a higher socio-educational status (HSES), with students typically going on to university. The second school was regarded as having a lower socio-educational status (LSES), with students typically opting out of education after they obtain their secondary school certificate. In total, 256 students took part in the study 163 HSES students (58 percent female) and 93 LSES students (55 percent female). At both schools, classes were divided into “interventional” and “control” groups. The control groups attended the usual two lessons per week of sport, while the interventional groups increased this to five lessons per week at one lesson per day. Various measurements were taken at the beginning of the study and again one year later. These included weight, height, body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass and body-fat mass. Tests were also performed on co-ordinative abilities and cardiopulmonary fitness. Data on the educational status of each child’s parents was also collected. At the start of the study, LSES students in general had a higher BMI, less fat-free mass and less-developed co-ordinative skills compared to HSES students. Their running capacity was also less compared to the HSES students. At the end of the year-long study, the intervention groups had decreased their BMI by a greater amount than the control groups – with LSES students in particular showing a bigger increase in fat-free mass compared to their HSES counterparts. Furthermore, LSES students significantly improved their co-ordination skills, and cardiopulmonary fitness also increased by a relatively higher rate. Consequently, this study appears to show that school-based intervention can have significant health benefits for children especially those with a lower socio-educational background, who are typically at greater risk of developing cardiovascular problems. Contributors: K. Machalica, U. Mueller, M. Sonnabend, V. Adams, C. Walther, G. Schuler.

<urn:uuid:f42bdc57-e247-478d-8e8c-cd27ddb197ea>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.escardio.org/about/press/press-releases/esc10-stockholm/Pages/children-activity-health.aspx

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Two titans fighting a bloody battle – that often turns fatal for both of them. This is how big predatory dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus are often depicted while hunting down their supposed prey: even larger herbivorous dinosaurs. The fossils, though, do not account for that kind of hunting behavior but indicate that theropods, the large predatory dinosaurs, were frying much smaller fish. Dr. Oliver Rauhut, paleontologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich, and his collegue Dr. David Hone surmise that giant carnivores like Tyrannosaurus preyed mainly on juvenile dinosaurs. "Unlike their adult and well-armed relatives these young animals hardly posed any risk to the predators," says Rauhut. "And their tender bones would have added important minerals to a theropod's diet. Now we hope for more fossils to be found that add new evidence to our hypothesis." (Lethaia online, 3 August 2009) He's the king of tyrants: Tyrannosaurus rex is by far the most famous dinosaur. Not even recent finds of slightly bigger – and maybe even more terrifying – species like Giganotosaurus could dent the aura of "T-Rex". But what would happen if the king turned out a baby killer instead of fearless hunter of much bigger prey? "Animals such as Tyrannosaurus are often seen as the perfect 'killing machines' with extremely powerful bites, which were able to bring down even the largest possible prey," says Rauhut of the Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie and LMU Munich. "But the very few fossils that reflect the hunt of predatory dinosaurs on large herbivores tell a tale of failure – the prey either got away, or both prey and predator were killed." On the other hand, the also extremely sparse cases of direct evidence for the diet of predatory dinosaurs – stomach contents and coprolites – show that juveniles or much smaller prey species were ingested and the latter were swallowed whole. Rauhut and Hone, who is now at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, China, therefore propose as a hypothesis that large predatory dinosaurs only as an exception attacked other large dinosaurs, but mainly fed on juveniles. "Even modern predators prefer old and sick animals or unexperienced young individuals," states Hone. "These are an easy prey to bring down and the risk of injury for the predator is much lower. This strategy was probably the same in dinosaurs." Another look at recent predators reveals an additional benefit of young prey: Crocodiles, the closest living relatives of dinosaurs, have extremely strong acids in their stomachs. They can completely dissolve the poorly ossified bones of young animals which adds important nutrients to the reptiles' diet. The fossil finds of juvenile dinosaurs that have been swallowed whole by theropods support the idea that dinosaurs might have profited from this as well. Missing fossils, though, lend even more plausibility: "Finds of dinosaur nesting sites indicate that they contained large numbers of eggs which should have resulted in a high number of offspring," says Rauhut. "But little of this is reflected in the fossil record: Juvenile dinosaurs are surprisingly rare – maybe because many of them have been eaten by predators. Hopefully there will soon be more evidence to help us really understand the theropods' hunting behavior." "Feeding behaviour and bone utilization by theropod dinosaurs" David W. E. Hone and Oliver W. M. Rauhut Lethaia online, 3 August 2009 AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

<urn:uuid:a4e91916-2850-4b2f-aa4b-173a35f4b44e>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-08/lm-ct080609.php

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

While the Internet offers amazing opportunities, all users including children should understand basic Internet Safety, how to protect themselves and report instances such as Cyberbullying. Below are several links to sites that help promote Internet Safety and other digital issues. Internet Safety - Texas Education Agency FBI -Internet Safety Common Sense - Digital Literacy and Citizenship Think U Know - This site offers internet safety video broken down by ages. Wired Safety - This site offers special information designed to teach younger Internet users how to surf safely and how to have fun doing it. NetSmartz.org - Comic-book-style characters address social networking and cyberbullying through animation, videos, and webcomics. Teen Angels - Teen Angels is a website for teens on Internet Safety and is a division of Wired Safety. iKeepSafe.org - The iKeepSafe.org website uses an animated icon / mascot named Faux Paw the Techno Cat to teach children the importance of protecting personal information and avoiding inappropriate places on the Internet. AT&T Internet Safety Game For Kids - Take a trip with Captain Broadband to help stay safe online. Disney Online Safety Belton ISD's Internet Safety

<urn:uuid:13a80dab-ec04-4e56-a1f1-c44537b40000>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.g-pisd.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=1041622&pageId=1547689

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Click on any of the titles in the option box below to view the picture: Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is located in Chillicothe, Ohio on State Route 104, two miles north of US 35. The park is open daily March - November. During December - February it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. It is also closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's day. The park is open from 8:30AM - 5:00PM. There are extended hours in the summer, I'm not sure how late it's open. I guess it closes at dark. The mounds at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park were bulit by, you guessed it, the Hopewell Indians. Until the late 1840's scientists and historians did not know who built these mounds. The Native Americans living in the area, mainly the Shawnee, did not know who built the mounds so it was assumed that a lost race built them. However, through scientific studies it was determined that the Hopewell built them 2,200 - 1,500 years ago! The Hopewell settled along riverbanks throughout the midwest. They were hunters and gatherers. They were named after Captain Mordecai Hopewell. He owned a farm were a major earthworks (group of mounds) were excavated in 1891. The Hopewell did not live by the mounds. They were built to bury their dead. The dead were buried with ceremonial objects, such as statues and beads made out of bone, shell, copper, and stone. There used to be more mounds at this site and at other sites throughout the midwest, however, a lot of the mounds were destroyed by farming and building. Where do you want to go? Select your destination:

<urn:uuid:c1b81b99-3e4b-43d3-b3d7-e6500a34b04a>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.graveaddiction.com/hopewell.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

This sticking allowed two strands of nucleic acid to stick together to form a ladder-like structure, a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid. A double-stranded nucleic acid showing two backbones joined by paired bases In the diagram we show the two backbones as ball and stick molecules and the paired bases as solid shells. The backbones are coiled around the outside in a double-helix. Deoxyribonucleic acid is normally called DNA. The “deoxyribo” part of its name refers to the type of sugar which this nucleic acid contains: ribose which has lost one oxygen atom. The sticking together of bases is very important in life. To understand why, first we will simplify the diagram of double-stranded nucleic acid. Diagrammatic representation of a double-stranded nucleic acid We show a double-stranded nucleic acid as if it were straight, not coiled into a helix. We also simplify the four different types of bases and indicate how they stick together. and get your free badge!

<urn:uuid:ce852ace-dbce-4725-a39e-249645222042>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.historyoftheuniverse.com/index.php?p=dna.htm

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

By RUSSELL GOLD US natural-gas production will accelerate over the next three decades, new research indicates, providing the strongest evidence yet that the energy boom remaking America will last for a generation. The most exhaustive study to date of a key natural-gas field in Texas, combined with related research under way elsewhere, shows that US shale-rock formations will provide a growing source of moderately priced natural gas through 2040, and decline only slowly after that. A report on the Texas field, to be released Thursday, was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The research provides substantial evidence that there are large quantities of gas available that can be drilled profitably at a market price of $4 per million British thermal units, a relatively small increase from the current price of about $3.43. The study, funded by the nonpartisan Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and performed by the University of Texas, examined 15,000 wells drilled in the Barnett Shale formation in northern Texas, mostly over the past decade. It is among the first to examine the geology and economics of shale drilling, a relatively recent development made possible by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in which a mixture of water, sand and chemicals is pumped at high pressure into rocks to release gas. Looking at data from actual wells rather than relying on estimates and extrapolations, the study broadly confirms conclusions by the energy industry and the US government, which in December forecast increasing gas production. "We are looking at multi, multi decades of growth," said Scott Tinker, director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the university and a leader of the study. The shale-gas boom has led to a reorientation of the US energy economy. This has led to a steep decline in coal consumption for electric generation and prompted companies to announce or consider multibillion-dollar investments to export gas and build chemical, steel and fertilizer plants that will consume enormous quantities of gas. If these investments go forward, but gas production were to slip, higher prices for the fuel -- which now accounts for 30% of electricity production and heats half of US homes -- are likely. Art Berman, a petroleum geologist and consultant who has been a leading critic of what he says are overly optimistic projections of shale production, said the research "is probably the most comprehensive study of the Barnett shale that will ever be done." But he said it bolsters his view that only a quarter of Barnett wells generate an economic return. The question for the industry, he said, is, "why didn't they identify the sweet spots initially, before spending $40 billion on land and wells?" The study does show that many of the wells drilled in the Barnett have been poor performers. And while the gas-bearing rock covers 8,000 square miles in and around Fort Worth, Texas, the study suggests it can be economically developed in an area only half that size. Some of the energy companies that spent enormous sums to lease thousands of acres in far-flung parts of the Barnett may be sitting on acreage of little value. Mr. Tinker agrees that the study shows the Barnett is highly variable, with some areas producing enough gas to make the wells profitable and other areas generating duds. Even so, the study concludes that 44 trillion cubic feet of natural gas will be recovered from the Barnett--more than three times what has been produced so far and about two year's worth of US consumption at current rates. The university also is examining shale formations in Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Arkansas, work that has led investigators to conclude that US natural gas production won't plateau until 2040. Reports on these are expected to be released next year. One reason there has been a dispute over shale production is that much of the research, even inside universities, has been funded by groups with either pro- or anti- energy-development agendas, with many of the latter having strong views about the environmental impact of fracking on the air and groundwater. The University of Texas study was funded by the Sloan Foundation of New York, which focuses on science and technology research. The co-lead investigator, Mr. Tinker, is paid to serve on the technical advisory boards of BP and two smaller energy companies. He also receives speaking fees a few times a year for appearances before industry groups and private companies. The Bureau of Economic Geology receives research funding from government, industry and the university. The other lead investigator, Svetlana Ikonnikova, didn't disclose any potential conflicts to the university. The Sloan Foundation said it looked into whether the researchers were unduly influenced and was satisfied that "potential conflicts of interest or sources of bias have not influenced the research." Scott Anderson, who researches shale development for the Environmental Defense Fund, which is working on lowering the environmental impact of gas drilling, reviewed some of the preliminary results. He praised the report as "robust" and "sophisticated." To get at all this gas will require tens of thousands of new wells, spread throughout rural and some urban parts of the country. Even in the Barnett formation, which has been drilled intensively for a decade, there still may be room for 13,000 more wells, said Mr. Tinker. The giant Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and neighboring states likely contains enough gas to support the drilling of tens of thousands more wells. This likely will heighten growing concerns about fracking, and calls for increased government oversight of the practice. "There are health risks that we don't have our arms around and that's a problem, " said Paul Gallay, president of Riverkeeper, a New York state environmental group critical of fracking. "We're out ahead of our science and we need to be concerned about that." Dow Jones Newswires

<urn:uuid:974b3752-e9a0-4dc5-b96c-ec08b39efd3e>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/Article/3162178/Environment-and-Safety-Carbon-Management/STUDY-Gas-boom-projected-to-grow-for-decades-in-US.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

- Join over 1.2 million students every month - Accelerate your learning by 29% - Unlimited access for just £4.99 per month Extracts from Piggy's Diary. The first 200 words of this essay... Extracts from Piggy's Diary The naval officer told the 'small savages' that he had to look around the island but he would not be finished until just before sundown. Therefore, at sundown all the children were to meet at the Castle Rock. One of the larger savages wandered off on his own. He felt a mixture of feelings on the one hand he had been saved both from death and the island. However, he was going to be taken into larger war that has the same attitudes about civilization and power as the war on the island. Ralph found that he was wandering past the remains of burnt trees to the shelters. Sitting down against a tree he put his hand on a rock. Trying not to think about the events on the island he threw it absentmindedly into the sea. He was about to get up when he felt something else. As he drew it out he found it was an old exercise book. Opening it up on the first page he read, "Thomas Martin's Diary." Intrigued and not remembering a 'Thomas Martin' he opened it and began to read: 26th June 1957 Found what you're looking for? - Start learning 29% faster today - Over 150,000 essays available - Just £4.99 a month Not the one? We have 100's more William Golding (view all) - Fear of the Unknown- Lord of the Flies - Lord of the flies: How does Golding Present the Loss of Inn... - Lord of the flies. How does Golding make Simon such a signi... - Compare and Contrast the Writer's treatment of the Themes of... - Growing Up- Lord of the Flies - I will explore how the themes of civilisation and barbarity ... - Lord of the Flies -Symbolism and the Character of Jack. - Macbeth by Shakespeare and Lord of the Flies by William Gold... - How Does Golding Use The Island As A Character In Lord Of Th... - How does Golding convey the differences between Jack, Simon ... ""Gemma Haysman. Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Maths. GCSE Student. ""Chris Mckellar. Media Studies, IT, English. A Level Student.

<urn:uuid:eca2e93a-4dd6-44f6-8e9e-2a56341e967b>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/english/extracts-from-piggy-s-diary.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Shyness in social situations is extremely common, particularly for younger children. Studies show that most people experience some forms of shyness and fall somewhere on a scale between shyness and boldness. It is only when shyness prompts a withdrawal from social interaction that it becomes excessive and therefore worrisome. The good news is that this sort of problem shows up early. Children who are inclined to be excessively shy may well develop social anxieties that hinder their development on many levels. But the earlier that parents can identify an issue and begin working with the child, the more likely it is that they will be able to ameliorate the effects of excessive shyness. Your child may never be particularly bold, but they will be able to interact normally with other people in social settings. Studies on the matter have shown that shyness is likely related to genetic predisposition. You may be shy yourself or perhaps one of your parents or siblings is. Alternatively, no one in the family may be shy at all-shyness may be in your genes, but experts agree that it is also a trait that must be environmentally triggered. These triggers might include: If your child has a problem with excessive shyness, it may make itself apparent as early as two to three years of age. There are definite signs of this type of personality bent in a child's early years. These might include a discomfort with new people and situations or your child might show signs of a more serious issue, such as: If you think that your child may have an issue with excessive shyness there are things you can do to help them develop some social confidence. Begin as soon as you notice the issue. You should start by trying to build your child's confidence up so listen to them and engage with how they feel in social situations. Share your own experiences with shyness in an effort to show them that they are not alone in their discomfort. You should also try to be supportive verbally. Rather than scold your child for shy behavior, make sure that you find reasons to praise them. Finally, help your child get used to tackling social situations by creating safer social settings for them to try out. For example, invite a single child of the appropriate age over for your child to play with. Shy children will feel more comfortable on their home turf and prefer one on one interaction to groups.

<urn:uuid:caa4e6d7-1ded-4835-895b-9122e7553633>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.momswhothink.com/behavior/how-to-overcome-shyness/print.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

20411 W. 12 Mile Rd. Survivorship Guide for Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant Complementary and Alternative Medicine Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) refers to healing practices that fall outside of the conventional model of medicine that is practiced in most U.S. hospitals. CAM includes practices such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, yoga, and meditation that have been used for thousands of years, as well as newer practices such as homeopathy, guided imagery, and nutritional supplements. There are so many different types of complementary and alternative medicines that it is hard to generalize about their effectiveness. Many types of CAM have never been studied scientifically, and there is no data on their effectiveness, or, in some cases, there is evidence that certain alternative medicines can be harmful. However, there is a growing body of research showing that many forms of CAM are effective at treating certain conditions. Integrative medicine combines conventional treatment with CAM. A growing number of doctors and hospitals are adding CAM practices, such as meditation, acupuncture, guided imagery, and biofeedback into their practice. The settings where treatment includes both conventional and CAM are often referred to as Integrative Care Centers. If you are interested in learning more about CAM, talk to your doctor, or visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) website, www.nccam.nih.gov. Some types of CAM are not intended as a form of medicine but are primarily used to affect mood, bring about relaxation, and/or change body alignment and energy. Since our minds and bodies are connected, changes in our state of mind can affect our physical well-being and vice versa. An easy way to understand the mind-body connection is to think of the powerful physiological effect that a simple mental image can have on our body. Just as imagining or remembering a scary situation can raise blood pressure, imagining a peaceful, relaxed setting can activate a strong relaxation response that brings blood to the fingertips and reduces heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety. Many survivors use CAM modalities to improve their sense of well-being, reduce anxiety, or improve physical fitness. |About nmbtLINK | Common Questions | Resources and Support | News and Events Make a Contribution | Web Links | nbmtLINK Online Library | nbmtLINK Webcasts

<urn:uuid:a74e60ff-d1fe-40c9-9f0a-9a57cdbf8bde>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.nbmtlink.org/resources_support/spg/spg_medicine.htm

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

George Herman "Babe" Ruth was born on Feb. 6, 1895. While baseball fans are well-versed in the both Babe's statistical and hot dog-eating accomplishments, here are some lesser-known facts about one of the original five inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ruth was one of eight children . Only he and his sister, Mamie Ruth Moberly, survived infancy. By the age of 15, Ruth's talents as both a pitcher and hitter had become known to Baltimore Orioles manager Jack Dunn. The minor league team's manager scouted talent for the Boston Red Sox. By 19, Ruth wanted to play professionally, but needed a legal guardian to sign a contract for him. Dunn became Ruth's guardian, and teammates began to refer to Ruth as "Dunn's new babe;" the nickname stuck. Ruth and his illustrious teammate, Lou Gehrig, did not speak to each other for years, with clubhouse talk tracing the dispute to Ruth's wife having once criticized Gehrig's mother. When the two stars did speak, it was often in fluent German. Both were sons of German immigrants. Ruth ended his career bitter with the New York Yankees because he felt they should have named him manager. No other team gave him the opportunity either. The only on-field position he ever held following his playing days was as a first-base coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938.

<urn:uuid:fd258cf1-5e24-443c-a88f-b0f6d3d68887>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.nj.com/sports/mustsee/index.ssf/2013/02/babe_ruth.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

new zealand curriculum The New Zealand Curriculum is built around the acquisition of essential academic and practical skills. It identifies 7 academic or essential These are balanced by 8 practical or essential skills: - Language and languages - Social sciences - The arts - Health & physical - Communication skills - Numeracy skills - Information skills - Problem-solving skills - Self-management and - Social and co-operative - Physical skills - Work and study skills Each term, most schools prepare student Progress Reports and hold parent-teacher evenings. Subjects Taught At New Zealand Schools The following is a general list of subjects taught in New Zealand schools. Not all schools offer all the subjects listed and others may offer additional disciplines. Some subjects ||Agriculture & Horticulture | ||Business Studies | ||Classical Studies | ||Media Studies | ||Physical Education | ||Social Studies | ||Graphics & Design | ||Clothing & Design The school year begins in late January or early February, after a summer holiday of about 6 weeks, and ends in December. It is divided into 4 terms with breaks of two to three weeks between them. Secondary school students have slightly longer holidays then primary school students. Check with your local New Zealand school for actual term dates, however the terms usually run as follows: Term 1 - End of January to early April Term 2 - Late April to end of June Term 3 - Mid July to late September Term 4 - Mid October to mid December (or early December for New Zealand’s qualifications system is changing from traditional examination based awards to standards based qualifications. In 2002, level 1 of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) replaced School Certificate. The NCEA will replace Sixth Form Certificate in 2003 and University Bursaries in 2004. National Certificate of Educational Achievement NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) is New Zealand's main national qualification for secondary school students and part of the National Qualifications Framework. The Qualifications Framework covers industry and education qualifications from year 11 (formerly Form 5) of secondary schooling and entry level to vocations, through to post-graduate level. All qualifications currently on the Framework are made up of national standards. A standard describes what a learner should aim to achieve in a skill or knowledge area. Standards are set by written criteria along with a national moderation system. Learners who meet all requirements get credit for that standard; those who don't may be reassessed when they are ready. Each standard is at a level from 1 to 8. Level 1 is similar to School Certificate level; level 2 to Sixth Form Certificate; levels 3 and 4 are similar to University Bursaries. Each standard also has a credit rating. Schools can also use many standards from beyond the school curriculum. Any number or combination of standards may be assessed within a course, so schools can develop courses to suit their students. Students accumulate Framework credits towards National Certificates and National Diplomas. As well as being able to work towards a range of National Certificates, eg, National Certificate in Computing, from 2002 school students will work towards a general qualification, the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). Students can start on Framework qualifications at school and carry on in the workplace or tertiary studies. NCEA provides the pathway to tertiary education and workplace training and gives everyone a full picture of what students know and can do. - Challenges students of all abilities, in all learning areas - Reports more details about a student's achievement - Is officially recognised in New Zealand and internationally - Is recognised by employers, universities and polytechnics and used as the benchmark for selection - Provides opportunities to begin studying for tertiary and industry qualifications * Enables students to gain credits from traditional school curriculum areas AND alternative school curriculum programmes - Has exams as well as internal assessment - Has a national system for checking internal assessments - Shows credits and grades for separate skills and knowledge in some standards The National Qualifications Framework contains two types of national standards: achievement standards and unit standards. Credits from all achievement standards and all unit standards count towards NCEA. Choosing A School Most New Zealand students attend state-funded schools and every student has the right to enrol at the state school nearest to their home. If the school is at risk of overcrowding, it can set a home zone that is geographically defined. Students living in this zone have the right to go to that school. Those living outside the zone can be enrolled only under special circumstances. These include situations where students have brothers or sisters attending the school or require access to special programmes such as special education or Maori language. If the school is still at risk of over-crowding, selection is made through a supervised ballot. ERO reports are available at no charge from New Zealand schools and ERO offices. Families also have the right to visit schools and meet with the principal and staff before deciding to enrol their children as State schools are fully funded by the Government. At primary and intermediate level they are co-educational with classes that include both boys and girls. Both co-educational and single-sex schooling is available at secondary level. State schools do not charge fees, however parents are expected to make donations towards the support of special programmes or services. These are also charges for stationery and uniforms. Meals are not provided but snacks can generally be purchased from the school Tuck Shop, but many parents prefer to provide a packed lunch. The term integrated schools generally refers to schools with a religious focus - usually Roman Catholic in denomination that used to operate as private institutions. In recent years, these schools have been integrated into the state system, hence the name, integrated schools, and receive government funding. Although they follow the state curriculum requirements, all have retained their special religious or philosophical character. A small number of institutions, such as Montessori or Rudolf Steiner schools, are secular in character. Private or independent schools receive only limited government funding and are almost entirely dependent on income derived from student fees. There are no standard fees as each school determines its own fee scale. Fees also vary according to levels, with fees in Years 12 and 13 usually significantly higher than those charged in Years 9 and 10. Fees at primary schools also vary according to level, although these are generally much lower than secondary school fees. Private schools are governed by their own independent boards but must meet government standards in order to be registered and they are also subject to the same ERO audits as state schools. Boarding schools exist mainly at secondary school level. Currently 78 state and integrated schools and 24 private schools have boarding arrangements. The Correspondence School teaches a full range of school Home-based schooling must meet the same standards as registered schools, and approval to exempt the student from regular schooling must be obtained from the Ministry of A small annual grant is available for teaching materials. Home schooling accounts for less than 1% of school enrolments. Most schools require students to wear a uniform at all times unless the school has an optional uniform policy. School uniforms are sold by most major department stores and some schools also operate their own Uniform Shops and sell both new and second-hand items. Teachers are not allowed to physically punish students in their care. Legal disciplinary methods include removal of privileges, extra homework or detention. Parents or guardians are advised in advance if a child is given detention, as this will require the child to stay at school for a specified time after the end of the standard school day. For serious offences, students may be suspended from school for a period of time and if they are over 16 years of age, they can be expelled permanently. Expulsion generally occurs when a students conduct either sets a dangerous example to other students or threatens their safety. There are formal procedures for suspending or expelling a student. Most secondary and primary schools expect students to do homework. Each school has its own rules on the amount and type of Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that a child can get to school. Each year about 100,000 children use school buses. Although school bus services are contracted by the Ministry of Education, students are expected to meet the costs of If a child has to travel a long distance to school, and there is no public transport or school bus service, financial assistance can be provided. Financial assistance and/or bus and taxi services are provided for special education students. If you plan to change schools, the principal of your childs current school should be informed as soon as Transfer involving a change in the level of schooling, such as from primary to intermediate or intermediate to secondary, require additional documentation. Details of application procedures are provided by the school the student plans to transfer to. Most intermediate and secondary schools have open

<urn:uuid:aa6c71c9-c0e4-41ca-ab3d-5d51afacd830>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.nz-immigration.co.nz/education/curriculum.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Today, we are going to look at several different kinds of stress and how these can affect you. I'll also give you a version of the Portable Minute that can help you recover from stress quickly—insuring that you are not carrying the effects of that stress around with you for the rest of the day (or the rest of your life). The word "stress" is sometimes used in a positive way. This is the so-called "good stress"—when you are choosing to do something challenging, like learning a new language or pushing yourself harder at the gym. This stress can be stimulating, energizing and very good for you. This is why I prefer to call it "stretch" rather than "stress." Then there is acute stress, which is when you perceive a sudden threat or insult, and your body prepares you for immediate action. It releases stress hormones, shuts down digestion and increases your heart rate, blood glucose levels and oxygen delivery to the brain. It also quickens your breathing and tightens your muscles, making you ready to spring. This is sometimes called the fight-or-flight response—and it was very useful when we lived in the wild. The problem is that it's not so easy to fight or flee these days. For example, when the bus pulls away from the curb—just as you arrive at the bus stop—you can't hit it with a club. When the insurance company hikes your premium, there's nowhere to run. In situations like these, you don't get to discharge the stress reaction very easily. And when stress is chronic (e.g., when you're worried about losing your job, or you're coping with an ongoing illness or an abusive relationship), the continual release of stress hormones can be a serious health risk. Chronic stress has been implicated in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, compromised immune systems and putting on extra weight, as well as concentration problems, mood swings and depression. In addition to the fight or flight response, there is a third response to stress, sometimes known as the freeze response, or "playing dead." This is no more helpful than fighting or fleeing. The freeze response might happen when we are not fully conscious of how stressful the situation is, when we are inhibited from reacting (perhaps out of fear) or when we just can't handle the stress any more. With the freeze response, we shut down emotionally, becoming numb or frozen. Gradually, over many years, we may become unable to feel much of anything—even pleasure or joy. However, there is something you can do in response to stress that doesn't involve fighting, fleeing or freezing. You can do an After-the-Emergency Minute. This is a Portable Minute that you do as soon as possible after experiencing something stressful. The purpose of the After-the-Emergency Minute is to help make sure you don't get stuck in any stress-related pattern. With an After-the-Emergency Minute, you will feel the effects of the shock on your body start to dissipate—your muscles relax, your shoulders drop, your breathing returns to a normal rate. You should start to feel less jumpy and more connected to a more peaceful and trusting you. The After-the-Emergency Minute may not be the easiest Minute to do, but it's certainly worth trying. And, as with the Emergency Minute, you may need to do several of them in a row, one at a time. On occasion, the After-the-Emergency Minute might make you feel a bit more emotional, because it's giving you some space to experience your authentic reactions to the situation. It's as if you're thawing out, and that's perfectly okay. The most important thing is just to release whatever emotional and physical reaction the stress triggered. By releasing that reaction, you are rejoining with the flow of life. For the next 24 hours, I'd like you to try an After-the-Emergency Minute after anything stressful happens to you—whether it's a major stress or just a minor one, like dropping a glass, stubbing your toe or being on the receiving end of someone else's bad mood. If that's not possible, at least take a moment to note that something stressful did happen and that you might have benefited from taking a Minute. Simply being aware that you have experienced some stress is a big step toward letting go of it. It would be nice, someday, if all emergency personnel—nurses, doctors, rescue workers, paramedics, police, firefighters—carried an After-the-Emergency Minute with them, as part of their emergency equipment. Because they don't, you may have to be ready to administer one when needed. So I suggest you practice a Portable Minute from time to time, when it isn't needed. Just so you're ready. Get started with the Portable Minute now Martin Boroson is a playful, practical new voice in the next wave of meditation teachers. Author of One-Moment Meditation: Stillness for People on the Go, he lectures on the benefits of a meditative mind for decision-making and leadership. Marty studied philosophy at Yale, earned an MBA from the Yale School of Management and is a formal student of Zen. Visit his website for One-Moment Meditation® help and resources, tweet him at @takeamoment or find him on Facebook. Find out more about the 30-Day One-Moment Meditation course Don't miss a moment! Go to the archive page Did you try the After-the-Emergency Minute?Did you take time to recognize your stress today? Let us know how it's going—leave your comments and questions below! Printed from Oprah.com on Saturday, May 18, 2013 © 2012 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

<urn:uuid:8eb3c0a3-797b-4a9b-9b66-f51e5adeed71>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/One-Moment-Meditation-Day-10-The-After-the-Emergency-Minute_1/print/1

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

- Number 364 | - June 4, 2012 CEBAF upgrade test a success Jefferson Lab's CEBAF accelerator, is shown during installation. DOE's Jefferson Lab is in the midst of a $310 million upgrade project to provide physicists worldwide with an unprecedented ability to study the basic building blocks of matter. Now, key components of the upgrade to the lab’s particle accelerator have aced a rigorous test conducted under real operating conditions, confirming that the newly designed, state-of-the art components meet specification. The lab's CEBAF accelerator delivers beams of electrons for probing the protons, neutrons, quarks and gluons in the nucleus of the atom. The upgrade will enhance the research capabilities of the accelerator by doubling the energy of its electron beam from 6 billion electron-Volts (GeV) to 12 GeV, along with other upgrades and additions. To increase the energy of the CEBAF accelerator, 10 new sections, called cryomodules, will be added. Last fall, the first two of the new cryomodules were installed, along with the new microwave-power sources needed to power them. Since October, the two have been operated along with the accelerator's more than 40 original cryomodules, delivering electron beam for the lab’s experimental program. One of the new cryomodule-plus-microwave systems was given a chance to shine on April 26, when accelerator operators ran the first full operational tests, while also delivering high-current beam. For the test, operators ramped up the microwave-power system that powers the cryomodules. The voltage hit 98 Megavolts (98 million volts), the value that each of the 10 new cryomodules will need to provide in order to accelerate an electron beam to 12 GeV. The system reached this base specification and maintained the performance for more than an hour without faulting or developing a problem that would cause the electron beam to automatically trip off. The tests were conducted at the highest beam power anticipated for the planned research program. "This test has demonstrated that the integrated cryomodule plus microwave-power system can successfully deliver the performance that was envisioned in 2001, and which is needed for the planned nuclear physics research program in the 12 GeV era," said Leigh Harwood, associate project manager for the 12 GeV Upgrade project. "The critical new technology for upgrading the accelerator to 12 GeV is now a demonstrated fact." "This is the first time that we were able to demonstrate performance with a real beam. And we were delivering the highest-quality, parity beams to all three halls during this period of time. So, they are not just performing, they are performing to all of the requirements that we know how to put on," said Andrew Hutton, Jefferson Lab associate director of the Accelerator Division. Further tests of the one cryomodule, dubbed SL-25 for its current location in the accelerator, later surpassed the base specification. The cryomodule voltage was increased in 2 Megavolt steps to 104 Megavolts, while the cryomodule continued to deliver high-current beam, demonstrating that capability for more than an hour. A later test, performed May 18, achieved high-current running at 108 Megavolts for a full hour, meaning the cryomodule performed more than 10 percent better than its base specification, meeting the desired performance goal for providing highly reliable, high-energy operation. "The base specification is that it should be able to produce 98 Megavolts, but everything is sized 10 percent bigger than that, such that if there were to be a weak cavity, the others could be pushed, which is in fact what we did during this test," Hutton explained. "This achievement is a credit to the teams that designed, built, installed and commissioned the cryomodules, the microwave systems and controls." Further testing of either of the two installed cryomodules was curtailed due to time constraints. Meanwhile, Jefferson Lab is moving forward with work to upgrade the accelerator. At 8:18 a.m. on May 18, the accelerator was shut off to allow the upgrade to proceed. The upgrade entails the installation of additional cryomodules, microwave systems, arc magnets and other components. Already complete is the construction of a fourth experimental hall, a 250-foot extension to the lab's underground accelerator tunnel, and new utilities; installation of the detector system in that fourth hall has already begun. The 12 GeV Upgrade project is expected to be completed in 2015. [Kandice Carter, 757.269.7263,

<urn:uuid:09b40b03-3a5c-4bc5-98d6-b0054fed3099>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.ornl.gov/info/news/pulse/no364/story4.shtml

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

NINE BANDED ARMADILLO Photo Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dasypus novemcinctus OTHER NAMES: Armadillo, Common Long-Nosed Armadillo DESCRIPTION: The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) cannot easily be confused with any other North American wild mammal. The armadillo’s body is covered with an armored carapace or shell. The carapace is a double layer of horn and bone, segmented into three main divisions: an anterior scapular shield covering the shoulder; a posterior pelvic shield covering the hip region; and a middle section comprised of a series of bands connected by soft, infolded skin between the bands. The head and legs are covered with thick scales, and the tail is encased in a series of bony rings. Coloration of nine-banded armadillos is generally grayish brown, with yellowish-white scales along the side of the carapace. The armadillo has a long, pointed snout, small eyes, and large, cylindrical ears. The armadillo’s pointed snout, short, stout legs, and heavy claws are well suited for digging and burrowing. Armadillos have a limited number of vocalizations: a low, wheezy grunt associated with digging and rooting; a wheezy grunt uttered by recently captured individuals; an audible buzzing noise given when highly alarmed or fleeing, a pig-like squeal given by frightened individuals; and a weak purring given by young attempting to nurse from an unrelated female. Total length ranges from 24 to 31 inches and weights vary from 8 to 15 pounds. There are six subspecies of Dasypus novemcinctus in Central and South America, but only one subspecies, D. n. mexicanus occurs in North America. DISTRIBUTION: Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus’ original distribution was from the lower Rio Grande Valley between Mexico and Texas, southward through Mexico and Central America to northwestern Peru on the west side of the Andes, and all of South America to northern Argentina east of the Andes, including the islands of Grenada, Trinidad, Tobago, and Margarita. The range of the nine-banded armadillo has undergone rapid expansion into the southern United States since the late 1800s. The recent rapid expansion of the armadillo’s range was facilitated by a number of factors: reduction in the number of large carnivores; climatic and biotic changes; and accidental and deliberate relocations of animals to unoccupied areas. Armadillos now occur throughout the southern and southeastern U.S., as far north as Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. These animals are common throughout most of Alabama, but less common in several northeastern counties. HABITAT: The armadillo is very adaptable and does well in most habitat types found in Alabama. They generally avoid or are scarce in very wet or very dry habitats. Habitat suitability likely depends more on the characteristics of the substrate or soils, rather than vegetation type due to the armadillo’s feeding and burrowing behavior. FEEDING HABITS: A major portion of the armadillo’s time spent outside its burrow is devoted to feeding. They typically start foraging as they emerge from their burrow and move at a slow pace following an often erratic course. Prey is apparently detected by smell, although sound also may play a role. Typical foraging behavior involves quickly probing with the nose and occasionally pausing to dig for prey. Armadillos are opportunistic feeders and consume a wide variety of food items. Invertebrates, primarily insects, make up roughly 90 percent of their diet. Small vertebrates and plant material make up the remainder of their diet. Researchers also have seen evidence of armadillos feeding on small reptiles and amphibians, the eggs of ground-nesting birds, and carrion. LIFE HISTORY AND ECOLOGY: Armadillos seem to exhibit a polygynous mating system, with most females paired with a single male and most males paired with more than one female. Den burrows have an enlarged nest chamber and are more complicated than a burrow dug for other purposes. The nest is a bulky mass of dried plant debris crammed into the nest chamber without any obvious structure. Armadillos in areas with poorly drained soils will construct above ground nests of dry plant material. Most breeding among armadillos occurs during the summer (June-August). The normal gestation period is 8 to 9 months, with most young born between February and May. The armadillo exhibits monozygotic polyembryony in which a single fertilized egg normally gives rise to four separate embryos at the blastula stage of development. This results in a litter of four genetically identical haploid clone offspring. Dasypus is the only genus of vertebrates in which this reproductive phenomenon occurs. The offspring are precocial and begin accompanying the female outside of the burrow at about 2 to 3 months of age. By 3 to 4 months, the young are self-sufficient. Most males reach sexual maturity between 6 to 12 months of age, but females do not become sexually mature until they are 1 to 2 years old. REFERENCES: Author: Chris Cook, Wildlife Biologist, June 2005 Armstrong, J. Controlling Armadillo Ddamage in Alabama. ANR-773. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. 2pp. Layne, J. N. 2003. Armadillo. Pages 75-97 in G. A. Feldhamer, B. C. Thompson, and J. A. Chapman, eds. Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation. Second edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD and London, U.K. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker’s Mammals of the World, sixth edition, volume one. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD and London, U.K. 903 pp. Outdoor Alabama Magazine Article, Nine-banded Armadillo Watchable Wildlife Article

<urn:uuid:2f4dd03f-9452-4d19-bff5-a881b710035a>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/what/Mammals/armadillo.cfm

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Barbiturates are drugs that act as depressants for the central nervous system and produce a wide range of effects from mild sedation to anesthesia. People show a strong physical and psychological addiction to barbiturate. Barbiturates are also used for therapeutic purposes. Barbiturates have several effects on human behavior depending on the dosage. Barbiturate Test can be used to detect the level of dosages in many cases it is more than the therapeutic level in abusive cases. In low doses, barbiturates reduce anxiety, respiration, blood pressure, heart rate and rapid eye movement. If taken in higher dosage, barbiturates can stimulate certain types of behavior and suppress inhibitions. Overdose of barbiturates can lead to excessive sedation and causes anesthesia, coma or even death. A major concern with barbiturates is that it may lead to tolerance and dependence. A basic Barbiturate drug screening can reveal the level of addiction in the patient. Tolerance is a condition where a greater amount of the drug is required to get the desired effect. Dependence results when a person finds it difficult to live without the influence of the drug. Anxiety, insomnia, seizures, stomach problems, nausea and hallucinations are the withdrawal symptoms of barbiturates. There is a synergistic effect when barbiturates are combined with alcohol and other central nervous system depressants and it often leads to fatal outcome. Barbiturates are frequently used for suicides. Barbiturate screening urine kits are easy to use and it can be ordered from an online drug testing company. For this reason, barbiturates have been displaced by less toxic benzodiazepines. Tolerance to barbiturates also affects metabolism, the administration of these drugs results in CNS tolerance, thus producing less intoxication. Tolerance does not appear to develop to the same extent in regard to the respiratory depressant and lethal effects of the barbiturates. Thus one should avoid unnecessary consumption of barbiturates. The barbiturate drug identified employees should be immediately subject to rehabilitative treatments for they can add up to non-productivity of the company. An online drug testing company can deliver the tests kits you require to your home. Different Types Of Barbituate Test Withdrawal symptoms of barbiturate – barbiturate drug screening What is the procedure to test for drug abuse with hair? Celebrity drug addiction Morphine drug addiction facts – urine testing

<urn:uuid:5eaf5aa9-87c2-462a-b45a-0bfc78f078eb>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.rapiddrugdetection.com/articles/behavior-in-barbiturate-addiction-%E2%80%93-online-drug-testing-company.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Sometimes kids who take high doses of drugs for cancer, infection, or other illnesses develop hearing or balance problems (or both) as a result of taking the drugs. When a medication damages the inner ear - the part of the ear responsible for receiving/sending sounds and controlling balance - it's called ototoxicity or "ear poisoning." The degree of damage to the ear depends on what type of drug a child is taking, how much, and for how long. And the severity can vary from child to child. Some kids may have no or very minimal hearing loss and "ringing in the ears" (tinnitus), while others may experience major problems with balance and/or profound hearing loss (deafness). Fortunately, when ototoxicity is caught early, doctors can try to prevent problems from becoming worse and get kids the rehabilitation they need to address the damage that's been done. Signs and Symptoms Some kids may notice obvious hearing problems, usually in both ears (called bilateral hearing loss ). They may have trouble hearing certain things, from high-pitched sounds to talking if there's background noise. Or they may have tinnitus, which can cause not just that annoying ringing in the ears but other strange sounds like hissing, buzzing, humming, and roaring. Sometimes, though, there's only limited damage, and kids might not even notice a problem. Or they might just have a hard time hearing high-frequency sounds while everything else sounds perfectly clear. As a parent, it can be hard to tell at any given moment whether your child can't hear you or (like most kids) just isn't listening or paying attention. Most kids with hearing problems: - have limited, poor, or no speech - are frequently inattentive - have problems in school or difficulty learning - need to constantly turn up the volume on the TV or stereo - fail to respond to conversation-level speech or answer appropriately (babies and pre-verbal children fail to "startle" or turn their heads when they hear a loud sound) When balance is affected, kids may fall frequently and have symptoms of disequilibrium - an unsteady "woozy" feeling that makes it hard to stand up, walk, or climb the stairs without falling. They may walk with their legs too far apart or be unable to walk without staggering. And walking in the dark can also be tricky. In the most severe cases, vision also can be affected and kids may see images that bounce, jump erratically, or look blurry whenever they move their heads (called oscillopsia ). As a result of balance and vision problems, kids may get headaches often, or feel lightheaded, dizzy, or disoriented. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea also might occur, as can changes in heart rate and blood pressure. The symptoms of ototoxicity can come on suddenly after a course of medication or show up gradually over time. There's no way to test if a drug has caused ototoxicity, but doctors have a pretty good idea of which medications can increase your child's risk. Before having your child take any new medication, ask your doctor about any potential side effects so that you know what to expect and look for. Some doctors will tell you if a drug has any major ototoxicity risks, and if so, may recommend that your child regularly see an audiologist (hearing specialist) or vestibular therapist (someone trained in treating balance problems), who can watch for potential problems. If a doctor thinks that your child is affected, he or she may check hearing or balance abilities, or refer you to an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) for tests, which may include: - Behavioral hearing tests. These involve careful observation of a child's behavioral response to sounds like calibrated speech and pure tones. Pure tones are the distinct pitches (frequencies) of sounds. Sometimes other calibrated signals are used to obtain frequency information. - Auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. Tiny earphones are placed in the ear canals. Usually, click-type sounds are amplified through the earphones, and electrodes measure the auditory (hearing) nerve's response to those sounds. - Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test. A tiny probe is placed in the ear canal, then many pulse-type sounds are introduced and an "echo" response from cells in the inner ear is recorded. A normal recording is associated with normal inner ear function and reflects normal hearing. This test, along with the ARB, is usually used on infants and young children. - Electronystagmogram (ENG). To assess balance, a computer monitors involuntary eye movements (called nystagmus) while a child is asked to focus on a visual target, or while hot or cold water is injected into the ear canal. The head may also be manipulated into different positions while doctors observe eye movements. - Posturography. This test measures a child's ability to balance while standing on a stable or unstable platform. - Balance questionnaires. If your child is old enough to describe a medical problem, he or she may be asked a series of questions about the level of dizziness experienced throughout the day while performing different activities. While these tests can diagnose hearing or balance issues, most problems due to ototoxicity usually go undetected. That's because kids may have very minimal hearing loss with symptoms that don't seem worth telling parents or doctors about. Or, they may not notice anything at all. And balance problems can be even tougher to detect, since kids have a much harder time than adults recognizing and describing balance problems. Although research continues on drugs to prevent or reverse ototoxicity, currently there's no surefire way to reverse it. The good news, though, is that the ear might just need time to heal. And some kids may have no further hearing or balance problems if they can stop taking the medication that's causing their symptoms. Doctors may be able to help keep problems due to ototoxicity from getting worse by changing the dosage or medication. However, that's not always possible - certain drugs are crucial to fighting specific infections or diseases, which may mean that switching to a different drug or reducing the dose just isn't an option. These kids may benefit from auditory or listening therapy and speech (lip) reading. Those with serious damage to the inner ear also may need an amplification device, hearing aid, or cochlear implant. An amplification device called an FM system can help reduce background noise. FM systems, sometimes called "auditory trainers," may be provided in the classroom to improve hearing in group or noisy environments and also can be fitted for personal or home use. Other assistive listening or alerting devices may help older kids. Hearing aids come in various forms that fit inside or behind the ear and make sounds louder. They are adjusted by an audiologist so that the sound coming in is amplified enough to allow the person with a hearing impairment to hear it clearly. Sometimes, the hearing loss is so severe that the most powerful hearing aids can't amplify the sound enough. In those cases, a cochlear implant may be recommended. Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices that bypass the damaged inner ear and send signals directly to the auditory nerve. A small microphone behind the ear picks up sound waves and sends them to a receiver that has been placed under the scalp. This receiver then transmits impulses directly to the hearing nerve. These signals are perceived as sound and allow the person to hear. If balance problems are an issue for kids, they will undergo balance therapy (also called vestibular rehabilitation) with a physical or vestibular therapist. Therapy may include training exercises that help strengthen balance skills and coordination. Exercises may involve bending down, standing or walking with eyes open and then with eyes closed, or having a therapist reposition your child's head at different angles to move fluid or debris out of certain parts of the ear. Early Detection Is Key The earlier a child is diagnosed with ototoxicity, the sooner treatment can begin. In the very young, it's especially important to catch it early. That's because babies and toddlers need to be able to hear voices and conversations clearly in order to fully develop their speech and language skills. For older kids, hearing problems can affect how they socialize and communicate with others and how they do in school. And balance problems can have a huge effect on kids of any age, especially since it can put them at risk for dangerous falls. If your child is having hearing and/or balance problems and is taking high doses of medications, talk to your doctor. Be sure to mention all of your child's symptoms, whether they seem related or not. For instance, you might not think things like trouble walking or paying attention in school could have anything to do with the ears, but they might. If you're concerned about any medication your child is taking, always contact your doctor - never change the dose or stop giving your child a medication without talking to your doctor first. Reviewed by: Robert C. O'Reilly, MD Date reviewed: January 2009 Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2009 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.

<urn:uuid:197d5911-aa73-4c5f-a211-2c640a4ac7a9>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/kids-health/page.aspx?id=64087

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Some of the most influential leaders of the space community are quietly working to offer the next U.S. president an alternative to President Bush's "vision for space exploration"--one that would delete a lunar base and move instead toward manned missions to asteroids along with a renewed emphasis on Earth environmental spacecraft. Top U.S. planetary scientists, several astronauts and former NASA division directors will meet privately at Stanford University on Feb. 12-13 to define these sweeping changes to the NASA/Bush administration Vision for Space Exploration (VSE). Abandoning the Bush lunar base concept in favor of manned asteroid landings could also lead to much earlier manned flights to Mars orbit, where astronauts could land on the moons Phobos or Deimos. Their goals for a new array of missions also include sending astronauts to Lagrangian points, 1 million mi. from Earth, where the Earth's and Sun's gravity cancel each other out and spacecraft such as replacements for the Hubble Space Telescope could be parked and serviced much like Hubble. The "alternate vision" the group plans to offer would urge far greater private-sector incentives to make ambitious human spaceflight plans a reality. There would also be some different "winners and losers" compared with the Bush vision. If the lunar base is deleted, the Kennedy Space Center could lose additional personnel because there would be fewer Ares V launches and no lunar base infrastructure work that had been assigned to KSC. On the other hand, the Goddard Space Flight Center and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration near Washington, along with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, would gain with the increased space environmental-monitoring goal. Numerous planetary managers told Aviation Week & Space Technology they now fear a manned Moon base and even shorter sorties to the Moon will bog down the space program for decades and inhibit, rather than facilitate, manned Mars operations-- the ultimate goal of both the Bush and alternative visions. The first lunar sortie would be flown by about 2020 under the Bush plan. If alternative-vision planners have their way, the mission could instead be flown to an asteroid in about 2025 (see p. 27). Participants in the upcoming meeting contend there's little public enthusiasm for a return to the Moon, especially among youth, and that the Bush administration has laid out grandiose plans but has done little to provide the funding to realize them on a reasonable timescale. Planners say the Bush plan is beginning to crumble, with only companies that have won major funding still enthusiastic about the existing plan. "It's becoming painfully obvious that the Moon is not a stepping-stone for manned Mars operations but is instead a stumbling block," says Robert Farquhar, a veteran of planning and operating planetary and deep-space missions. The prospect of challenging new manned missions to asteroids is drawing far more excitement among young people than a "return" (as in going backward) to the Moon, says Lou Friedman, who heads The Planetary Society, the country's largest space interest group. The society is co-hosting the invitation- only VSE replanning session with Stanford. A lot of people going to the meeting believe "the Moon is so yesterday," says Friedman. "It just does not feel right. And there's growing belief that, at high cost, it offers minimal engineering benefit for later manned Mars operations." Under the alternative VSE, even smaller, individual lunar sorties would be reduced, or perhaps deleted entirely, says Noel W. Hinners, who had extensive Apollo lunar science and system responsibility at Bell Laboratories before heading all of NASA's science program development. He also led Lockheed Martin Spaceflight System. Hinners believes the group should examine dropping all the lunar sorties to accelerate the human push to Mars in the revised VSE proposal to the new administration. The James Webb Space Telescope, with a 21.3-ft.-dia. mirror, will be launched in 2013 to one of these "L" points. With little fanfare, it was recently approved to carry a lightweight Crew Exploration Vehicle docking system just in case a manned CEV has to make a house call a million miles from Earth for emergency servicing. A growing corps of scientists, engineers and astronauts are emerging to argue for this chance to accelerate manned spaceflight operations outward well beyond the Moon--faster toward Mars than can be done by using the Moon as a stepping-stone only 240,000 mi. away. "The notion that the Moon could serve as a proving ground for Mars missions strains credulity," says Farquhar, who holds the Charles A. Lindbergh Chair for Aerospace at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. He also was mission director for the Applied Physics Laboratory's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous mission that was the first to land a spacecraft on an asteroid (see photo, p. 27). A return to manned Moon operations has become "a bridge too far" in the Bush administration's VSE, says Wes Huntress, another former planetary mission manager. Huntress is director of the Washington- based Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and had a long career at JPL and NASA headquarters, where he led NASA space science development and operations--including the highly successful Discovery planetary mission series. He's also helping to organize the Stanford workshop that will have about several dozen participants, including several top NASA and contractor exploration managers. "There is little left of the 2004 Vision for Space Exploration except the real need to retire the space shuttle," he says. "Even this goal is being pursued with great sacrifice from all other parts of the agency because the administration has simply not put its money where its mouth is." "Inadequate NASA budgets are leading to collapse of the VSE Moon focus and to incredibly slow progress for the Moon," says Hinners. "The nation's space enterprise is under great strain even to build Ares I and Orion CEV," Huntress stresses. "There are alternate destinations for human deep-space missions that do not require building a lot of new hardware to [come and go between Earth and the Moon]. These are missions to near-Earth asteroids or to scout the Sun-Earth Lagrangian points for future space telescope construction and servicing," he notes. The Earth-Sun Lagrangian points (also called libration points) are at the very edge of the Earth's gravitational well, and a mission would represent a first excursion to the limit of Earth's influence in the Solar System--a significant step beyond Apollo, says Huntress. Missions sent to "L" points can stop just there, orbiting only above and below the ecliptic plane without any significant use of station-keeping fuel. Also, L points offer a much cleaner option for advanced astronomy than the dusty lunar surface, where you have to land everything in addition to launching it. "As the nation seems to be turning to environmental threats to our own planet, a mission to a near-Earth asteroid to assess their nature for good or ill would also seem to be a real winner," says Huntress. These stepping-stones would allow for the development of a broader vision of human spaceflight than simply reinventing Apollo. Major lunar-related contracts for the Constellation Crew Exploration Vehicle Orion command ship, a lunar lander design and Ares V launcher have yet to be awarded, giving the next administration some breathing room in post-Bush administration VSE contracting. Some basic asteroid mission design work--part of it volunteer--using the CEV hardware is already underway at the Johnson Space Center (AW&ST Sept. 25, 2006, p. 21). Other, more in-depth and long-standing manned asteroid analysis is underway under International Astronautical Assn. and Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum sponsorship. Scott Hubbard, consulting professor in the Stanford Aeronautics and Astronautics Dept., conceived the reassessment meeting. Hubbard was previously the director of NASA Ames Research Center and, before that, NASA Mars program director. "We have planned this invitation-only workshop to elicit frank and open discussion about the future of the 'vision' as the administration changes," he says. "The Stanford workshop will address a broad range of issues touching on many elements of space exploration. The attendees will discuss the balance between space science and human exploration, the need for continuing and enhancing Earth science observations, the relative utility of humans and robotics, and progress or impediments to human exploration of Mars, asteroids and the Moon," says Hubbard. "In addition, the workshop will discuss the status of access to space and the emerging entrepreneurial space industry. "This is the kind of debate that will go on--beyond whether a lunar base really makes sense. But manned asteroid missions first--ahead of a lunar base--are drawing strong attention," he says. Hubbard and Friedman are co-hosting the event, along with former astronaut Kathy Thornton, associate dean of the University of Virginia's Science, Technology and Society Dept. Thornton flew on four space shuttle missions, including the initial critical repair of the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993. The alternative vision would also include far greater private-sector incentives for participation at all levels, an area public surveys cite as very important. Missions to asteroids and Lagrangian points, for example, are likely to carry along Bigelow-type commercial inflatable modules. A recent informal space program survey by The New York Times found substantial public frustration about NASA's doing what entrepreneurs could do better. Under the alternative concepts, astronauts using an upgraded CEV would initially be sent on long-duration missions, not to the Moon, but to land on asteroids where they would sample terrain perhaps more ancient than the Moon's. These visits would also help develop concepts for diverting such near-Earth objects, should they threaten a potentially devastating impact on Earth. Although it may be hundreds of years before used operationally, an emergency asteroid diversion would be "the ultimate 'green mission'--one that could save a large portion of the Earth from impact destruction," says Friedman. To reinforce that point, he notes that on Jan. 30, a 150-ft.-long asteroid will pass close to Mars. The asteroid visit and Lagrangian mission concepts would use much of the same CEV Ares I and Ares V heavy-lift booster infrastructure, but in ways that would be much faster stepping-stones to Mars than developing a manned lunar base. Asteroid and Lagrangian point missions would each last several weeks or months. Both the libration points and asteroids would be about 1 million mi. from Earth, requiring operations more like much longer trips to Mars at least 40-100 million mi. away. Robotic options for all mission elements also will be reviewed, and one working group will be devoted to better defining manned versus robotic tradeoffs. Another issue is international participation. Aviation Week discussed an unrelated European International Space Station topic with NASA Administrator Mike Griffin last week, who in comments aside also addressed the basic Moon/Mars issues between the U.S. and Europe (see p. 28). "A large portion of the scientific community in the U.S. also prefers Mars over the Moon," he acknowledged. But "interest in the Moon is driven by goals in addition to and beyond the requirements of the science community. It is driven by the imperatives that ensue from a commitment to become a spacefaring society, not primarily by scientific objectives, though such objectives do indeed constitute a part of the overall rationale. "We continue to experience intense international interest concerning our plans for lunar exploration," Griffin told Aviation Week.

<urn:uuid:903dab4d-0122-470e-a60c-eb01af6883ef>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1267

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Chatrooms, social networking sites “behind generation that can’t spell”November 23rd, 2010 - 6:33 pm ICT by ANI London, Nov 23 (ANI): A study has suggested that Internet chatrooms and social networking sites are to be blamed for children spelling words incorrectly. The study says as people type at speed online, there is now a “general attitude” that there is no need to correct mistakes or conform to regular spelling rules. And this means that children who have been brought up with the Internet do not question wrongly spelt words. “The increasing use of variant spellings on the internet has been brought about by people typing at speed in chatrooms and on social networking sites where the general attitude is that there isn’t a need . . . to conform to spelling rules,” the study stated. “We are now witnessing the effect these linguistic variations are having on children born into the computer age with such a high level of access in and out of schools,” the Scotsman quoted report author Lucy Jones, a former student at Manchester University, as saying. “They do not question their existence,” she stated. The paper, which surveyed a group of 18 to 24 year olds as part of the research, found that the majority believe that unconventional spellings are used on the Internet because it is faster and has become the norm. More than one in five (22 percent) said they would not be confident in writing an important e-mail without referring to a dictionary or spell checker. Despite the widespread use of so-called “variant” spelling, almost a third of those questioned said that alternative non-standard spellings are “completely unacceptable”. Two thirds believe that dictionaries should contain variant spellings. “From this most recent survey we can conclude that the unprecedented reach and scale of the internet has given rise to new social practices and it is now an agent in spelling change,” Jack Bovill, chair of the English Spelling Society, added. (ANI) - Traditional art of letter writing 'dying out' among kids - May 21, 2010 - Merriam-Webster's Word of the Summer is Sarah Palin's 'refudiate' - Sep 08, 2010 - Excessive Internet browsing affects mental health - Sep 26, 2010 - Indian kids worst victims of cyberbullying, says study - Jan 18, 2012 - Attempting to save English from horrors of 'text-speak' - Jun 07, 2010 - Twitter, MySpace, Facebook revamping dictionaries - Jan 09, 2010 - Teen drinking linked to higher internet use - May 10, 2011 - 'More Indian teens using networking sites to communicate' - May 23, 2012 - A million kids worldwide addicted to Facebook - Nov 04, 2011 - Social networking teens may turn drinks, drugs addicted - Aug 26, 2011 - Mobile phones can produce hilarious text - Jan 09, 2011 - Britain nurturing kids into becoming 'couch potatoes' - May 04, 2011 - Government all for Internet freedom: NSA - May 16, 2012 - Now, a robot that can read and learn like a human! - Dec 07, 2010 - UK kids with own Internet profile are 'vulnerable' to grooming online - Apr 20, 2011 Tags: bovill, computer age, dictionaries, dictionary, e mail, english spelling, internet chatrooms, linguistic variations, lucy jones, manchester university, report author, scotsman, social networking sites, social practices, spell checker, spelling change, spelling rules, spelling words, spelt, variant spellings

<urn:uuid:5aad71b0-ac16-4352-8bfb-a5bccb40b8c8>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/chatrooms-social-networking-sites-behind-generation-that-cant-spell_100464205.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Dietary supplements can be helpful, but they cannot make up for an unhealthy diet. More > Taking a Break May Help You Remember What You Just Learned An NYU study suggests that taking a break after learning new information helps move the information into long−term memory, where it can be retrieved at will. It helps the information stick around. Lila Davichi, an assistant professor in NYU's Department of Psychology and Center for Neural Science in whose laboratory the study was performed, explains this as: "your brain wants you to tune out other tasks so you can tune in to what you just learned." As nearly everyone has seen after learning something new, the information often seems clear at first but later disappears. This is the difference between short−term and long−term memory. For a short−term memory to become fixed as long−term memory seems to require some type of information transfer from the brain's hippocampus to the neocortex. The researchers wanted to see whether a period of rest while awake could help people retain new information. They performed a study on 16 subjects who were not aware that their memory was going to be tested. The subjects were shown two different series of images: 36 pairs of faces and common objects, and 36 pairs of faces and places, with rest periods of about eight minutes after each series. The activity of specific brain regions were measured during this entire process by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The subjects were then given a memory test, 40−80 minutes after seeing the images, to see how well they remembered which object and face appeared together, as well as which face and which place were shown together. The fMRI scans showed high activity in specific regions in the hippocampus and neocortex while the subjects were seeing the images (learning). This activity remained high while the subjects rested after seeing the images. The subjects who performed best on the memory test were the ones who had the highest activity in both brain regions while resting. This doesn't show that information passed from hippocampus to neocortex, only that both regions were active during the break. It is consistent with what would be seen if such information transfer was occurring. Previous studies have indicated that such transfer occurs during sleep. Unlike many studies, this is one that anybody can test out on themselves to see if it really works. After taking a class or wading through an instruction manual, take a break and see if it helps the information stay with you. The study was published in the January 28, 2010 issue of the journal Neuron. March 1, 2010 No comments have been made

<urn:uuid:35a52cbc-40e6-4d24-9ba8-65be4196d9bb>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/content/mind/art2846.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

A total of 197 million people were without jobs in 2012, with youth being particularly hard hit, and those unemployment figures will increase again this year, according to an International Labor Organization report released Monday. The bulk of the 4 million newly unemployed in 2012 came from developing economies in East Asia, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Global Employment Trends 2013 report. The International Labor Organization, which is a United Nations agency responsible for overseeing international labor standards, made bleak projections of another increase in unemployment worldwide by 5.1 million in 2013 -- which would push the total to 202 million. In 2012, 73.8 million young people were unemployed globally. "Many young people now experience long-term unemployment right from the start of their labor market entry," said Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General, during a presentation of the report's findings. "When this occurs early on in a person's career, it can do significant damage to their long-term employment prospects." Although new jobs may open up, they may require different skills than those that match the unemployed workers, according to the report. "Governments should step up efforts to support skills and retraining activities in order to address such mismatches which particularly affect young people," Ryder said. The report advised that the governments should step up efforts to retrain and support job skills to address the differences in work qualifications, with a focus on young people. Youth unemployment is expected to rise in emerging economies in Eastern Europe, East and South-East Asia and the Middle East, according to the report. In developed economies in Europe, firms are reluctant to hire because of uncertainty, the report said. Youth unemployment tops 50 percent in some European countries.

<urn:uuid:d92aff06-2eed-4248-b651-a34ffcc2b438>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.wpbf.com/news/money/Report-World-jobless-rate-to-rise-again-in-2013/-/8788684/18221246/-/mqbsda/-/index.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

LibrlSt 721: Special Topics in Liberal Studies Jeffery A. Smith, Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication War in the Media Age: Information, Entertainment, and Persuasion The complex and often devastating experiences of war are represented in ways intended to serve the purposes of the communicator. The meaning-making can be analyzed with media studies concepts such as agenda setting, framing, myth, news management, press freedom, propaganda, professionalism, public relations, self-censorship, and sensationalism. Students will use skills in research, discussion, writing and critical thinking to investigate how armed conflicts test cultural values and indicate where power actually resides. Professor Smith is author of War & Press Freedom: The Problem of Prerogative Power (Oxford University Press, 1999). Curtin Hall 939

<urn:uuid:070313a5-a81d-480d-a43d-5e6b007ad7d8>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/mls/syllabi/ls721sp06.cfm

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

It’s not easy being a soil scientist at a meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity. After all, when tigers, whales, and orchids are in danger, who cares about worms? “It would be an important step if anyone here at COP 10 noticed soil biodiversity exists,” said Luca Montanarella, SOIL Action Leader with the European Commission here to promote a brand new European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity that he edited. No one knows exactly how many organisms live underground, but Montanarella said they probably represent at least a quarter, and probably over half, of all the species on Earth. Soil-dwelling species range from moles (one of the few vertabrates that spends its whole life underground) to ants, beetles, spiders and millipedes. The vast majority of species that live in dirt, however, are too small to see with the naked eye. This category includes fantastically bizarre creatures, like the Polyacanthus aculeatus (a spine-covered micro-armadillo), the Paracineta lauterborn (a globular protozoan which would not be out of place in a pack of Pokemon cards) and the Milnesium tardigradum (imagine a crumpled paper bag with feet). Lest you think these underfoot critters have little relevance for your life, recall that healthy soil forms the literal base of our food supply, and soil critters are indispensable for healthy soil. Soil is also a crucial carbon sink, a sponge for rainfall that regulates water supplies, and even a source for medicines. For instance, rapamycine, a key drug used to prevent rejection of organ transplants, is produced using a microbe discovered in soil from Easter Island. It’s impossible to say just how many soil organisms are endangered, Montanarella said, because most haven’t been tracked with the same attention given to more glamorous species. Nevertheless, agrochemicals, soil compaction from heavy farm machinery, and pavement all pose major threats to the creatures that live inside the earth. About 25 or so people came to hear Montanarella talk today at a lunchtime event (which, for undisclosed reasons, had been relegated to a distant and secluded wing of the conference hall). Enthusiasm in the room was high, and several delegates in the audience asked what they could do to raise the political profile of dirt. For now, Montanarella said he’d be happy if policy makers just stopped ignoring.

<urn:uuid:70e8c36e-5cab-452f-a807-17b63fd5c0c9>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://blog.japantimes.co.jp/cop10/tag/soil/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

. "3 Conducting Research on the Health Status of LGBT Populations." The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2011. The following HTML text is provided to enhance online readability. Many aspects of typography translate only awkwardly to HTML. Please use the page image as the authoritative form to ensure accuracy. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding As awareness of the health-related needs of LGBT people grows, it is reasonable to expect that opportunities for collecting patient-level data for these populations will continue to emerge. For example, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Practice Based Research Networks could be one way to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on LGBT health. It is also reasonable to expect that the inclusion of sexual- and gender-minority measures in databases will increase. Consistent with the overall thrust of this chapter, it will be important for standard measures to be developed and implemented according to procedures that have been tested and found effective for ensuring privacy and confidentiality at all levels of health care organizations, including education of patients and their support persons, as well as providers and administrators. The use of patient-level data holds great potential for yielding a better understanding of the health status and health-related needs of LGBT people and how these differ from those of other groups in the U.S. population. Qualitative research methods can bring unique strengths to efforts to understand LGBT health. Examples of qualitative research include one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and cognitive interviews. Qualitative studies cannot be used to assess the characteristics of an entire population, but they do allow for a more detailed account of individuals’ experiences as members of LGBT populations (Binson et al., 2007). These accounts can help a researcher identify hypotheses that could be tested in another study and lay the groundwork for future research. This type of perspective is ordinarily unavailable from sample survey based research. In addition, qualitative research can assist in developing quantitative instruments for studying LGBT populations. Qualitative methods are particularly well suited to explore understudied areas of inquiry, social settings, behaviors, or groups; build knowledge of key issues to refine elements of research designs for subsequent quantitative study; understand thought processes, experiences, or meanings of phenomena; describe and explain complexity and situational context in lived experience; and generate novel understandings and formulate explanations of patterns of human experience. In studies of LGBT health, qualitative research is particularly relevant in exploring and explaining meanings of sexual- and gender-minority status

<urn:uuid:57337367-1c59-4700-936e-e31e125215e5>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13128&page=120

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Coda (Italian for "tail", plural code) is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece (or one movement thereof) to a conclusion. "Technically an expanded cadence. Occurs at the end of a composition and traditionally brings the composition to a convincing conclusion. May consist of a few measures or an entire subdivision in itself.". Coda as a section of a movement Sonata form as a dramatic pyramid . For example, the coda may follow the recapitulation (and thus come after the pyramid), or may be the last part of the recapitulation (and thus would be like the point of the arrow). The presence of a coda as a structural element in a music movement is especially clear in works written in particular musical forms. In a sonata form movement, the recapitulation section will, in general, follow the exposition in its thematic content, while adhering to the home key. The recapitulation often ends with a passage that sounds like a termination, paralleling the music that ended the exposition; thus, any music coming after this termination will be perceived as extra material, i.e., as a coda. In works in variation form, the coda occurs following the last variation and will be very noticeable as the first music not based on the theme. Codas were commonly used in both sonata form and variation movements during the Classical era. One of the ways that Beethoven extended and intensified Classical practice was to expand the coda sections, producing a final section sometimes of equal musical weight to the foregoing exposition, development, and recapitulation sections and completing the musical argument. For one famous example, see Symphony No. 8 (Beethoven). The musical function of codas Charles Burkhart suggests that the reason codas are common, even necessary, is that, in the climax of the main body of a piece, a "particularly effortful passage", often an expanded phrase, is often created by "working an idea through to its structural conclusions" and that, after all this momentum is created, a coda is required to "look back" on the main body, allow listeners to "take it all in", and "create a sense of balance." In music notation In music notation, the coda symbol, which resembles a set of crosshairs, is used as a navigation marker, similar to the dal Segno sign. It is used where the exit from a repeated section is within that section rather than at the end. The instruction "To Coda" indicates that, upon reaching that point during the final repetition, the performer is to jump immediately to the separate section headed with the coda symbol. For example, this can be used to provide a special ending for the final verse of a song. This symbol is encountered mainly in modern music, not works by classical composers such as Haydn or Mozart. Cauda, the Latin root of coda, is used in the study of conductus of the 12th and 13th centuries. The cauda was a long melisma on one of the last syllables of the text, repeated in each strophe. Conducti were traditionally divided into two groups, conductus cum cauda and conductus sine cauda (Latin: "conductus with cauda", "conductus without cauda"), based on the presence of the melisma. Thus, the cauda provided a conclusionary role, also similar to the modern coda. Codetta (Italian for "little tail," the diminutive form) has a similar purpose to the coda, but on a smaller scale, concluding a section of a work instead of the work as a whole. A typical codetta concludes the exposition and recapitulation sections of a work in sonata form, following the second (modulated) theme, or the closing theme (if there is one). Thus, in the exposition, it usually appears in the secondary key, but, in the recapitulation, in the primary key. The codetta ordinarily closes with a perfect cadence in the appropriate key, confirming the tonality. If the exposition is repeated, the codetta is also, but sometimes it has its ending slightly changed, depending on whether it leads back to the exposition or into the development sections. Codas in popular music Many songs in rock and other genres of popular music have sections identifiable as codas. A coda in these genres is sometimes referred to as an outro and in jazz and modern church music as a tag. See also fade out. - ^ Benward & Saker (2009). Music in Theory and Practice: Volume II, p.151. Eighth Edition. ISBN 978-0-07-310188-0. - ^ Benward & Saker (2009), p.355. - ^ For discussion of this coda, and of codas in general, see Rosen, Charles (1988) Sonata Forms, 2nd edition. New York: Norton. - ^ Burkhart, Charles. "The Phrase Rhythm of Chopin's A-flat Major Mazurka, Op. 59, No. 2" in Stein, Deborah (2005). Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis, p.12. New York: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-517010-5. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press.

<urn:uuid:d4896b1c-c3b8-4ae3-aef0-5d23e076b56a>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://classiccat.net/dictionary/coda.php

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

The Obama Administration has just ramped up the nation’s transition to clean energy resources such as wind power with a new Great Lakes wind power initiative that joins federal agencies with Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania in a regional development plan for installing offshore wind turbines in the Great Lakes. In addition to supplying clean, renewable wind power to local grids, the new plan could provide the mid-continent states in this group with an economic boost from selling low cost renewable energy to other regions of the U.S. Wind energy as a regional asset The five states have joined in a Memorandum of Understanding that sets forth an interstate cooperative mechanism similar to the Atlantic Wind Consortium for East Coast states spearheaded by the Obama Administration last year. Other mid-continent states have also begun leveraging their wind resources for sale to the national grid, including North Dakota and Kansas, which has been enthusiastically touting its “Grain Belt Express” wind energy initiative. Wind energy and national security Along with the expected participation of the U.S. departments of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Memorandum of Understanding includes the Department of Defense, the Army, and the Coast Guard. That could be at least partly related to the military’s cautious approach to wind energy, primarily due to concerns over radar interference from wind turbines. However, that doesn’t necessarily meant that DoD will only play the devil’s advocate in terms of siting and permitting new offshore wind farms. In recent years the military has begun to embrace wind power, and more is on the way through the U.S. Army’s Net Zero initiative. Wind energy in the Great Lakes Wind farms have already proven to provide landlocked rural communities with economic benefits in terms of job creation and tax revenues, with virtually none of the risks posed by fossil fuel harvesting. For communities without sufficient land for wind farms, offshore wind power is the solution. The Obama Administration estimates that the Great Lakes could provide about one fifth of the total U.S. wind energy potential, or more than 700 gigawatts (one gigawatt of electricity can run about 300,000 typical homes). Missing the boat on wind power Not all of the eight Great Lakes states are included in the MOU. Indiana is not on the list nor is Ohio, which makes sense given Governor John Kasich’s “that’s just dumb” position on offshore wind development back in 2010, though his stance appears to have tempered in the last couple of years. Also notably absent from the Great Lakes plan is Wisconsin, where last March the state legislature abruptly suspended new wind power rules that were just coming to fruition after a year of hard work by numerous stakeholders. Though the legislature caved in just a couple of weeks ago and let the rules stand, the damage has already been done. The state’s wind industry – and its economy – will not be able to take full advantage of surging interest in wind power, at least not this year. The damage has already been done to the legislature, too, as a number of members are facing a recall election along with the state’s governor, Scott Walker. Follow Tina Casey on Twitter: @TinaMCasey. Tina Casey specializes in military and corporate sustainability, advanced technology, emerging materials, biofuels, and water and wastewater issues. Tina’s articles are reposted frequently on Reuters, Scientific American, and many other sites. You can also follow her on Twitter @TinaMCasey and Google+.

<urn:uuid:8d380d12-7a8e-4d81-a95c-481792189876>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/30/obama-enlists-wind-power-to-breathe-new-life-into-great-lakes-economy/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Time to think big Did the designation of 2010 as the first-ever International Year of Biodiversity mean anything at all? Is it just a publicity stunt, with no engagement on the real, practical issues of conservation, asks Simon Stuart, Chair of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. Eight years ago 183 of the world’s governments committed themselves “to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth”. This was hardly visionary—the focus was not on stopping extinctions or loss of key habitats, but simply on slowing their rate of loss—but it was, at least, the first time the nations of the world had pledged themselves to any form of concerted attempt to face up to the ongoing degradation of nature. Now the results of all the analyses of conservation progress since 2002 are coming in, and there is a unanimous finding: the world has spectacularly failed to meet the 2010 Biodiversity Target, as it is called. Instead species extinctions, habitat loss and the degradation of ecosystems are all accelerating. To give a few examples: declines and extinctions of amphibians due to disease and habitat loss are getting worse; bleaching of coral reefs is growing; and large animals in South-East Asia are moving rapidly towards extinction, especially from over-hunting and degradation of habitats. |This month the world’s governments will convene in Nagoya, Japan, for the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Conference of the Parties. Many of us hope for agreement there on new, much more ambitious biodiversity targets for the future. The first test of whether or not the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity means anything will be whether or not the international community can commit itself to a truly ambitious conservation agenda.| The early signs are promising. Negotiating sessions around the world have produced 20 new draft targets for 2020. Collectively these are nearly as strong as many of us hoped, and certainly much stronger than the 2010 Biodiversity Target. They include: halving the loss and degradation of forests and other natural habitats; eliminating overfishing and destructive fishing practices; sustainably managing all areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry; bringing pollution from excess nutrients and other sources below critical ecosystem loads; controlling pathways introducing and establishing invasive alien species; managing multiple pressures on coral reefs and other vulnerable ecosystems affected by climate change and ocean acidification; effectively protecting at least 15 per cent of land and sea, including the areas of particular importance for biodiversity; and preventing the extinction of known threatened species. We now have to keep up the pressure to prevent these from becoming diluted. We at IUCN are pushing for urgent action to stop biodiversity loss once and for all. The well-being of the entire planet—and of people—depends on our committing to maintain healthy ecosystems and strong wildlife populations. We are therefore proposing, as a mission for 2020, “to have put in place by 2020 all the necessary policies and actions to prevent further biodiversity loss”. Examples include removing government subsidies which damage biodiversity (as many agricultural ones do), establishing new nature reserves in important areas for threatened species, requiring fisheries authorities to follow the advice of their scientists to ensure the sustainability of catches, and dramatically cutting carbon dioxide emissions worldwide to reduce the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification. If the world makes a commitment along these lines, then the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity will have been about more than platitudes. But it will still only be a start: the commitment needs to be implemented. We need to look for signs this year of a real change from governments and society over the priority accorded to biodiversity. |One important sign will be the amount of funding that governments pledge this year for replenishing the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the world’s largest donor for biodiversity conservation in developing countries. Between 1991 and 2006, it provided approximately $2.2 billion in grants to support more than 750 biodiversity projects in 155 countries. If the GEF is replenished at much the same level as over the last decade we shall know that the governments are still in “business as usual” mode. But if it is doubled or tripled in size, then we shall know that they are starting to get serious.| IUCN estimates that even a tripling of funding would still fall far short of what is needed to halt biodiversity loss. Some conservationists have suggested that developed countries need to contribute 0.2 per cent of gross national income in overseas biodiversity assistance to achieve this. That would work out at roughly $120 billion a year—though of course this would need to come through a number of sources, not just the GEF. It is tempting to think that this figure is unrealistically high, but it is small change compared to the expenditures governments have committed to defence and bank bail outs. It is time for the conservation movement to think big. We are addressing problems that are hugely important for the future of this planet and its people, and they will not be solved without a huge increase in funds.

<urn:uuid:2d3e80a0-ca7b-4358-80a9-0f5129e87a3e>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://cms.iucn.org/es/recursos/focus/enfoques_anteriores/cbd_2010/noticias/opinion/?6131/time-to-think-big

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Retinal vascular disorders most commonly refer to a blockage of the arteries or veins in the retina. The blockage can occur in the central or a branch off of the central artery or vein. The degree of vision loss usually corresponds with the severity and location of occlusion. Retinal vascular occlusions can be categorized into: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) usually causes severe, immediate, and painless vision loss. Patients may have a history of temporary vision loss (amaurosis fugax). This is usually caused by a clot of blood or other material in the artery. The major risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, carotid artery disease, and occasionally auto-immune illnesses. Patients are usually diagnosed by ocular examination and angiogram. Sytemic evaluation may include blood pressure,blood tests, carotid artery ultrasound, echocardiogram, and other tests as necessary. Unfortunately, treatment rarely improves vision. Patients need to be seen in follow-up for secondary complications. Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) usually causes sudden, painless loss of central or peripheral vision. Patients may have a history of temporary vision loss (amaurosis fugax). This is usually caused by an embolus (clot of platelets, cholesterol, or other) that lodges in the branches of the retinal arteries. Patients are diagnosed by ocular examination and angiogram. Systemic evaluation may include carotid ultrasound, echocardiogram and possibly blood tests. Visual prognosis is related to the location and severity of the blockage. Treatment is usually not effective in this disorder. Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) can cause sudden or gradual vision loss and patients may have no symptoms or have severe vision loss. Major risk factors include high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other clotting disorders. Patients are usually evaluated with angiogram and OCT (retina scan). Systemic evaluation may include blood pressure and blood tests. Vision loss can occur from poor blood supply to the macula, swelling of the macula, and bleeding and glaucoma resulting from the occlusion. Patients are monitored for these complications and may be treated with laser or injections in the eye. Rarely, surgical intervention may be necessary to control secondary complications such as bleeding or glaucoma. Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) can cause decreased central or peripheral vision. Major risk factors include hypertension and diabetes. Patients are usually evaluated with angiogram and OCT (retina scan). Systemic evaluation includes blood pressure and sometimes other blood tests. Vision loss usually results from swelling of the retina and less commonly from bleeding. Spontaneous vision improvement is possible. If vision does not improve, treatment with laser or intraocular injections may be performed. Patients are monitored for retinal swelling and abnormal vessel growth.

<urn:uuid:ff21d6b5-0d9f-47b9-be17-cfdf4b118be8>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://coloradoretina.com/?page_id=263

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

An improved computer modeling program was used to calculate the saturation indexes of 50 waters from the Beaver basin in west-central Utah with respect to uraninite and coffinite. The mineral-solution study showed that the chemical environment of parts of the Beaver basin is favorable for the occurrence of sandstone-type uranium deposits. The ground waters from several areas are supersaturated with respect to uraninite and coffinite. Two areas, in particular, an area west of the town of Beaver and an area near the settlement of Manderfield, have been identified as most favorable for exploration. The methods described in this study can be utilized to evaluate waters from wells and exploration drill holes as indicators of proximity to possible sandstone-type uranium deposits in other alluvial basins in the western United States. Miller, W. R.; McHugh, J. B.; and U.S. Geological Survey, "Application of Mineral-Solution Equilibria to the Search for Sanstone-Type Uranium Deposits in the Beaver Basin, Utah" (1981). All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository). Paper 559.

<urn:uuid:f86ab58c-a843-493b-afa6-c92bfea06feb>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/govdocs/559/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

— Sheila Watt-Cloutier Chair, Inuit Circumpolar Conference (February 12, 2005) For millennia, the Inuit have lived in the Arctic coastal areas of Alaska, Canada, Russia and Greenland. Like many indigenous peoples, the Inuit are the product of the physical environment in which they live. The culture, economy and identity of the Inuit as an indigenous people depend upon the ice and snow. Climate change now threatens the Inuit's human rights to culture, life, personal security, health, housing, and food. The Arctic is warming much more rapidly than previously known, at nearly twice the rate as the rest of the globe, according to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), a four-year scientific study conducted by an international team of 300 scientists under the direction of a high-level intergovernmental forum including the United States. Increasing greenhouse gases from human activities are projected to make the Arctic warmer still, according to this unprecedented report. These changes will have major global impacts, such as contributing to global sea-level rise and intensifying global warming, according to the ACIA final report. Earthjustice's International Program, along with the Center for International Environmental Law, has worked with the Inuit Circumpolar Conference to submit a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights seeking relief from the impacts of climate change resulting from the United States' failure to take effective action to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. A positive decision on the petition will establish the responsibility of the United States and other major greenhouse gas-emitting nations for the human rights violations resulting from climate change. Such responsibility creates an international obligation to take action to prevent such violations. Learn more about this issue: - Summary of the petition (PDF) - Download the full petition (2 MB PDF file) - The latest science on the issue - Additional resources - Getting the Inuit Message on Global Warming to the World: Confessions of a Press Guy - Climate Change Denial: A Note to Journalists - The Snow Must Go On (Grist Magazine, 7/26/05)

<urn:uuid:d73b868f-77c2-466b-95c2-999a9d72aedc>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://earthjustice.org/print/features/inuit-human-rights-and-climate-change

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

The current cycle of global warming is changing the rhythms of climate that all living things have come to rely upon. What will we do to slow this warming? How will we cope with the changes we've already set into motion? While we struggle to figure it all out, the face of the Earth as we know it—coasts, forests, farms, and snowcapped mountains—hangs in the balance. More About Global Warming See National Geographic's full coverage of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill: pictures, news reports, and first-person accounts. Burning fossil fuels, humans pump CO2 into the atmosphere. Fortunately, plants and ocean waters gather it in. But what if this great recycling system went awry? See the effects global warming has had on Antarctic glaciers and the wildlife that depends on them. Learn more about these underground reservoirs of steam and hot water that can be tapped to generate electricity or to heat and cool buildings directly. @NatGeoGreen on Twitter The Great Energy Challenge An initiative to help you understand our current energy situation. See how you measure up against others, and how changes at home could do tons to protect the planet. Special Ad Section The World's Water NG's new Change the Course campaign launches. When individuals pledge to use less water in their own lives, our partners carry out restoration work in the Colorado River Basin. A special series on how grabbing water from poor people and future generations threatens global food security, environmental sustainability, and local cultures.

<urn:uuid:58a5802e-df03-455e-a035-890db1abafc1>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

The Arctic atmospheric boundary layer (AABL) in the central Arctic was characterized by dropsonde, lidar, ice thickness and airborne in situ measurements during the international Polar Airborne Measurements and Arctic Regional Climate Model Simulation Project (PAMARCMiP) in April 2009. We discuss AABL observations in the lowermost 500 m above (A) open water, (B) sea ice with many open/refrozen leads (C) sea ice with few leads, and (D) closed sea ice with a front modifying the AABL. Above water, the AABL had near-neutral stratification and contained a high water vapor concentration. Above sea ice, a low AABL top, low near-surface temperatures, strong surface-based temperature inversions and an increase of moisture with altitude were observed. AABL properties and particle concentrations were modified by a frontal system, allowing vertical mixing with the free atmosphere. Above areas with many leads, the potential temperature decreased with height in the lowest 50 m and was nearly constant above, up to an altitude of 100–200 m, indicating vertical mixing. The increase of the backscatter coefficient towards the surface was high. Above sea ice with few refrozen leads, the stably stratified boundary layer extended up to 200–300 m altitude. It was characterized by low specific humidity and a smaller increase of the backscatter coefficient towards the surface. AWI Organizations > Climate Sciences > Polar Meteorology AWI Organizations > Climate Sciences > Sea Ice Physics

<urn:uuid:a332b404-2d33-4769-bf90-9aaa9b3a74f0>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://epic.awi.de/31003/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

It is never too late to start logging your sources. Knowing where you gathered particular details on an ancestor is very important in your research. When evaluating incongruous information, reviewing which source the details are from can help you decide what is more accurate. Another reason to keep track of your sources is so others can verify or follow-up on your research. Some ways you can keep track of where you found information on your ancestors are: 1. Maintain a log of sources in a notebook or on your genealogy software. 2. Copy the title page of sources you have viewed. 3. Note materials you have searched, but in which you did not find information. It prevents you from repeatedly returning to the same source.

<urn:uuid:a8feb52f-a1ad-43a1-a1e9-3f37f6071585>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://genealogycenter.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/where-did-i-find/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=8ef4095fcf

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

It seems like tinkerers are always being tapped to build or repair exhibit hardware. This time around it’s [Dino's] turn. He’s been asked to alter a light bulb efficiency demo so that it includes an LED option. The idea here is that you crank a generator to power different types of light bulbs. There’s an ammeter built in, but possibly the best feedback is knowing how hard you have to crank to illuminate the most inefficient choice. As it stands there is a toggle switch to choose between incandescent and CFL bulbs. [Dino's] solution is to use a three-position rotary switch. He removes the toggle switch and replaces it with a socket for the LED bulb. A new location for the rotary switch is chosen and he does a bit of work to get it mounted securely. If you haven’t worked with this type of switch before he takes the time in the video after the break to explain how they work.

<urn:uuid:e0074816-efc6-4d8a-8b30-b9d3e558b9f5>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://hackaday.com/2012/10/04/light-bulb-efficiency-exhibit-updated-with-led-bulb-option/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=ca20eaf6a9

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

The Theory of Relativity is quite possibly the greatest modern scientific discovery of all time and yet I would venture to guess that most of us have no concept of it or at the very least fail to see how everyday life is absorbed in the major concepts of the theory. We all know it: But what does that equation really say? It’s simply saying that the mass of a body is a measure of its energy constant, where ‘E’ stands for Energy, ‘m’ stands for Mass, and ‘c2’ represents the speed of light squared. This equation is often in physics referred to as the mass-energy equivalence concept. We wont get into the math behind it, and lets face it, most of us can’t (myself included). Einstein’s Theory of Relativity consists of two separate theories called special and general relativity. Special relativity is an expansion on Galilean relativity, which expresses how matter moves through time and space. General relativity is an expansion to his own special relativity theory, which essentially adds gravity into the mix. So many people ask, ‘How is this a factor in my everyday life?’ We’ll let’s take a look at some things that you deal with constantly (and some I hope we never have to deal with) that are directly related to these theories. So time travel is pretty sweet and one day maybe we can travel forward, far in time, and experience the future. Impossible? Well, the thing is… we already have at a smaller scale. You’re doing it right now in relation to anyone that is at a lower elevation than you on Earth, though it’s a small enough measure that you and I would never be able to tell without extremely sensitive equipment. Basically what time dilation describes is that the stronger the force of gravity the slower time moves for you in relation to someone who is experiencing weaker gravity. That being said, time for you wont seem to be moving slower relative to you, just as time for the other person experiencing weaker gravity wont seem to move any faster. Now only is this mathematically proven, but we have recorded the effect in real life and it is essential to one piece of equipment we all use daily now. GPS is a staple technology found in almost all phones and every car. We use it to help us get to places we are unfamiliar with, however if GPS satellites didn’t account for time dilation, we would never get where we needed to go. Imagine the Earth with a GPS satellite coasting in motion far in orbit around Earth. The pull of Earth’s gravity (which is quite weak in relation to other objects in space) is weaker for the satellite where as your car on Earth is closer to the Earth’s mass and thus the pull of gravity is stronger. GPS works by essentially firing a radio wave from your phone to a set of satellites that triangulate your position. Easy enough, I suppose. This is where it gets interesting and where atomic clocks located on the satellites must be exact. Your phone sends requested signals to satellites located above you in orbit, and because they are constantly moving some may be further away from you than others. If a satellite were to be directly above you then the distance the radio waves need to travel is shorter than a satellite that is located north east of you. These radio waves travel at the speed of light (which is about 670,616,629 mph. Not bad.) However, even at this speed, the satellite directly above you has less distance to travel than the one north east of you. Once the distances of at least four of the twenty-four GPS satellites in orbit are estimated by your phone in can then pinpoint your location in three dimensions. Now time dilation has to be accounted for because the satellites are experiencing time faster than you due to your stronger gravity, so atomic clocks are programmed to account for this small difference and therefore your location will be accurate to around 10 meters or so based on your ability to broadcast and receive signals. This is why GPS tends to have a harder time in wooded areas. If your phone cannot get an accurate idea of how far the satellite is away from you because the atomic clock on board doesn’t account for time dilation (or because your signal is being obstructed), your phone would be completely inaccurate in its guess of your position on a map. Our ability to account for time dilation is precisely why your GPS gets you (most of the time) where you need to go. Looking Back in Time: The speed of light is constant. The reason this is so has to do with the fact that mathematically the more mass an object has the more energy it needs to reach faster and faster speeds (remember the mass-energy equivalence?). So an object with mass would need an infinite amount of energy to reach the speed of light. That being said, the smallest mass-less light, energy, or information particles are also limited to this speed. Because light is limited to this speed as well, we know a few things. Walk outside and look quickly at the sun (don’t stare!). The image burned onto your eyes is what the sun looked like 8 minutes ago. This is because the light that is traveling from the Sun to the Earth is traveling at the speed of light, which even at that great speed takes about eight minutes to reach us. Now do the same thing later in the evening with the moon (feel free to stare all you want). The image you are seeing in the sky is about 1.26 seconds behind. It only takes 1.26 seconds for light to travel the distance between the Earth and Moon. So imagine that the sun exploded. Even after it happened, it wouldn’t be until 8 minutes later that we saw the effects in our sky. The moon would be much quicker but still delayed that 1.26 seconds. The speed of light expressed in Einstein’s theory allows us to measure great distances in space and so a general rule of thumb is that the further you look into space the older the image you see in the sky really is. So another example is the Helix Nebula (commonly referred to as the “eye of God”), whose image in our skies is about 700 years old. This again means that it takes light 700 Earth years to cover the distance from the nebula to Earth. To see it from Earth is to look back in time 700 years. The furthest galaxies (in our observable Universe) that we can see with our current technology show that they are a distance of about 13.3 billion light years, meaning that the earliest light first generated by that galaxy has been traveling almost the entire life span of the Universe as we know it to be at an age of about 13.7 billion years old. We are literally traveling back in time just by looking in the sky, because not even light photons can travel faster than the speed of light. Given that light travels at a maximum speed of about 670,616,629 mph, there is a greater beast that even light cannot escape. One of the interesting things about Einstein’s theory was that the math involved ended up predicting an anomaly that was quite perplexing in what it said and meant. Even Einstein thought that despite the prediction his math made, that it more than likely would not actually exist in the cosmos. The math simply predicted that extremely compact mass would deform space-time to form what they labeled as a black hole. The best way to imagine a black hole is to pretend that you’re floating in a rowboat in an endless body of water. We’ve all seen waterfalls and we all know that the human body has limitations, because we can only row so fast. This limitation would be the speed of light in relation to a black hole. So we paddle towards what looks like a giant whirlpool waterfall where all the water is rushing towards and falling down into. We can paddle fairly well as long as we stay far away from the event horizon. This is the point at which the force of gravity is pulling stronger than the speed at which we can row. Since nothing can travel beyond the speed of light, we cannot simply row our way out of our impending doom. Gravity is stronger and will continue to become even stronger as we fall further and further in. What this shows is that since light has a maximum speed, even light itself cannot escape the stronger pull of gravity beyond the event horizon. Any light that crosses the event horizon of a black hole cannot escape, hence the name, black hole. The pull of gravity is so strong in fact that it distorts light around the black hole, giving the outside viewer a kind of “lensing” effect around the black hole. Light bends and distorts around the black hole. Till this day we have not physically seen a black hole in the way in which we imagine them, though we are close. Lensing is one way to know a black hole is possibly near by (possibly, because other things in space also cause this), but we have, however, seen objects that are orbiting around a black hole and how they interact and thus can identify them as well. Our own Milky Way was discovered to contain a super-massive black hole at its center by observing star orbits over a period of 15 years. It was observed that a cluster of stars were traveling in elliptical orbits around an unidentified object at speeds that would require the sort of gravity known only to a black hole. It is now believed that black holes are a prominent feature of most, if not all, galaxies. Many consider the Theory of Relativity one of the greatest human discoveries, and because it has been rigorously tested and proven to be accurate time and time again in both mathematical and observable experimentation, it has withstood the test of time. It not only explains our Universe and makes sense of our surroundings, but also helps to push us further in understanding even more of the unknown. It makes our everyday lives easier and explains with other collected evidence how much of our Universe operates. Scientists are still looking for the link (via string theory) as to how the theory of relativity connects back to the microscopic actions of gravity, or how to explain the physics of the very small and the very big. Maybe one day Ill try and tackle some of the more easy to understand concepts of string theory or even m-theory, but they are a whole new can of worms that require patience. One day…

<urn:uuid:edc2b192-c1b9-4948-8df8-0fb735bc11e5>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://loweded.tumblr.com/tagged/theory

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Provided by: nanoweb_2.2.9-0ubuntu1_all nanoweb.conf - Nanoweb main configuration file The file nanoweb.conf is the main configuration file of the Nanoweb HyperText Transfer Protocol server and contains all the general settings that must apply to all files served from your host. It is usually located in the directory /etc/nanoweb/. Some parts of the configuration are seperated out of the main file, but this man page anyhow only discusses a very small subset (the core directives) of all possible settings. For further and uptodate information please refer to the manual on http://localhost/manual/ using your favorite browser. The configuration files are divided in sections whose names are given in square brackets, we’ll only discuss the main (which is the biggest) part in this man page: All other sections define virtual hosts. But see the file vhosts.conf for an example of what this means in practice. In any section you can assing values to the configuration directives in directive = value... Starting from Nanoweb 1.8.1 you can leave out the equal sign. These are the core configuration directives that can be used in the [global] section (most of them can be used in virtual host sections, too). You’ll see some example settings for them in this man page. ServerName = www.example.com Defines the default server name Nanoweb will respond to and with. ServerAlias = *.example.com Is an additional dns name glob the server will accept. DocumentRoot = /var/www Defines the base directory under which all files must be located in, if they should be accessible via http. DirectoryIndex = index.php index.html If one of the files specified with this directive is found in a directory it gets send in favour of a server generated directory ServerMode = standalone This tells Nanoweb to run in standard mode, which is to work as standalone server daemon. The other possible setting here is DefaultContentType = text/plain If a file type can not be automagically determined for a file, Nanoweb will tell it’s of the mime(1) type specified here. Include = /etc/nanoweb/modules.conf This directive loads another Nanoweb configuration file into the current one and leads of course to processing of the directives MimeTypes = /etc/mime.types Loads the given file which should contain all known file name extensions associated with the according mime(1) types. ParseExt = php CGI /usr/bin/php $SCRIPT_FILENAME Associates a file extension with a parser, commonly a scripting language interpreter like perl(1) or php(1) AccessFile = .htaccess Files with the name given here may contain additonal directives that apply to the directory (and subdirectories) they’re located ErrorDocument = 404 error404.php Gives a custom error response file which gets send instead of one of the builtin error messages, whenever one occours ("file not found" in this example). User = www-data Sets the user id the Nanoweb daemon will run as. Normally you don’t want nanoweb to run with root privileges. Likewise for Log = /var/log/nanoweb/access.log The servers log file. IgnoreDotFiles = 1 Do not deliver files whose name begins with a dot (usually referred to as "hidden files"). AllowExtSymlinks = 1 Deliver files which are symlinked to outside of the DocumentRoot. ListenInterface = 0.0.0.0 The network interface Nanoweb shall listen on. When set to 0.0.0.0 the server will listen on all available network cards (lo, eth0 as well as ppp0 on Linux boxes). ListenPort = 80 The TCP port address the server should listen to. 80 is the default for webservers, so you don’t want to change this. The main configuration file, but following parts are seperated out of it in the standard distribution: This part of the main configuration loads the extension modules and defines additional directives for them. This part of the Nanoweb configuration defines the virtual hosts and directives that only apply to them.

<urn:uuid:d1f16b79-950c-4858-a59f-04157311fa6a>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/lucid/man5/nanoweb.conf.5.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Diabetic fruit flies support buzz about dietary sugar dangers Cardiac fibrosis (shown in purple), a hallmark of heart disease, is clearly increased in fruit flies on a high-sugar diet (right), as compared to flies on a normal diet (left). Credit: Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute Regularly consuming sucrose—the type of sugar found in many sweetened beverages—increases a person's risk of heart disease. In a study published January 10 in the journal PLOS Genetics, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and Mount Sinai School of Medicine used fruit flies, a well-established model for human health and disease, to determine exactly how sucrose affects heart function. In addition, the researchers discovered that blocking this cellular mechanism prevents sucrose-related heart problems. "Our study reveals a number of specific sugar-processing enzymes that could be targeted with therapies aimed at reducing sucrose's unhealthy effects on the heart," said Karen Ocorr, Ph.D., research assistant professor at Sanford-Burnham and the study's corresponding author. Diabetic fruit flies with heart problems The research team was the first to model heart disease caused by type 2 diabetes in fruit flies. They achieved this simply by feeding the flies a diet high in sucrose. High-sucrose flies showed many classic signs of human type 2 diabetes, including high blood sugar and insulin signaling defects. The team also saw signs of diabetes-induced heart malfunction in these flies—deteriorating heart function, cardiac arrhythmia and fibrosis. Next the researchers wanted to know exactly what sucrose is doing inside the flies' cells that makes it harmful to hearts. To answer this question, they looked for molecular networks that are triggered or altered by sucrose. The team eventually pinpointed one particular biochemical system, called the hexosamine pathway. This series of biochemical reactions normally plays only a minor role in the way cells process sugar to produce energy. But some research also suggests that the hexosamine pathway is linked to diabetes in humans. "It's remarkable that we're able to use the fruit fly as a discovery tool for elucidating basic molecular mechanisms, not only of many types of heart disease, but also dietary influences that help us understand what happens in human hearts," added Rolf Bodmer, Ph.D., professor at Sanford-Burnham and a senior author of the study. Dampening sugar's negative effect on the heart The researchers further probed the hexosamine pathway in their new diabetes model. They found that artificially increasing sucrose-processing via the hexosamine pathway harms the heart. In contrast, when they specifically blocked this pathway, they prevented some of the high-sucrose induced heart defects, such as cardiac arrhythmias. "Diet-induced heart damage is one of our society's most serious health issues. Our flies now give us a tool to explore the role of high dietary sugar, and the means to identify treatments in the context of the whole body," said Ross Cagan, Ph.D., professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a senior author of this study. Journal reference: PLoS Genetics Provided by Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute - Fruit fly research may lead to better understanding of human heart disease Dec 02, 2008 | not rated yet | 0 - Fly study uncovers molecular link between obesity and heart disease Nov 02, 2010 | not rated yet | 0 - A different path to fat-related heart disease Jan 18, 2011 | not rated yet | 0 - Mapping heart disease: Researchers uncover genes that may dramatically affect heart health Apr 01, 2010 | not rated yet | 0 - Carrot cake study on sugar in type 2 diabetes Jan 08, 2008 | not rated yet | 0 - Motion perception revisited: High Phi effect challenges established motion perception assumptions Apr 23, 2013 | 3 / 5 (2) | 2 - Anything you can do I can do better: Neuromolecular foundations of the superiority illusion (Update) Apr 02, 2013 | 4.5 / 5 (11) | 5 - The visual system as economist: Neural resource allocation in visual adaptation Mar 30, 2013 | 5 / 5 (2) | 9 - Separate lives: Neuronal and organismal lifespans decoupled Mar 27, 2013 | 4.9 / 5 (8) | 0 - Sizing things up: The evolutionary neurobiology of scale invariance Feb 28, 2013 | 4.8 / 5 (10) | 14 Classical and Quantum Mechanics via Lie algebras Apr 15, 2011 I'd like to open a discussion thread for version 2 of the draft of my book ''Classical and Quantum Mechanics via Lie algebras'', available online at http://lanl.arxiv.org/abs/0810.1019 , and for the... - More from Physics Forums - Independent Research More news stories University of Minnesota Medical School researchers from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, in partnership with the University's Brain Tumor Program, have developed a new mouse model of malignant peripheral ... Genetics 19 hours ago | 5 / 5 (1) | 0 | Northwestern University scientists have shown a gene involved in neurodegenerative disease also plays a critical role in the proper function of the circadian clock. Genetics May 16, 2013 | 3 / 5 (1) | 1 | Informed consent is the backbone of patient care. Genetic testing has long required patient consent and patients have had a "right not to know" the results. However, as 21st century medicine now begins to use the tools of ... Genetics May 16, 2013 | 5 / 5 (1) | 3 | Ethicists provide framework supporting new recommendations on reporting incidental findings in gene sequencing In a paper published in Science Express, a group of experts led by bioethicists in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine provide a framework for the new American College of Medical Geneti ... Genetics May 16, 2013 | not rated yet | 0 The use of genome-wide analysis (GWA), where the entirety of an individual's DNA is examined to look for the genomic mutations or variants which can cause health problems is a massively useful technology for diagnosing disease. ... Genetics May 16, 2013 | not rated yet | 0 You're standing near an airport luggage carousel and your bag emerges on the conveyor belt, prompting you to spring into action. How does your brain make the shift from passively waiting to taking action when ... 24 minutes ago | not rated yet | 0 | Widely available in pharmacies and health stores, phosphatidylserine is a natural food supplement produced from beef, oysters, and soy. Proven to improve cognition and slow memory loss, it's a popular treatment for older ... 48 minutes ago | 5 / 5 (1) | 0 | Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke in early childhood are more likely to grow up to physically aggressive and antisocial, regardless of whether they were exposed during pregnancy or their parents have a history ... 8 minutes ago | not rated yet | 0 Youth who had a schoolmate die by suicide are significantly more likely to consider or attempt suicide, according to a study in published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). This effect can last 2 years or mo ... 59 minutes ago | not rated yet | 0 Most elite athletes consider doping substances "are effective" in improving performance, while recognising that they constitute cheating, can endanger health and entail the obvious risk of sanction. At the same time, the ... 58 minutes ago | not rated yet | 0 (Medical Xpress)—Native peoples in regions where cameras are uncommon sometimes react with caution when their picture is taken. The fear that something must have been stolen from them to create the photo ... 1 hour ago | 3.5 / 5 (2) | 0 |

<urn:uuid:663ea68f-e506-43c3-96ed-5e150104ae48>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-diabetic-fruit-flies-dietary-sugar.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Five months ago or so, Honeywell organized a series of lectures by the Nobel laureate Sheldon Glashow at the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) in Prague. The lecture you can watch now asked the question whether science evolves by chance or by design. It's a sort of a fun, light, philosophically and historically loaded talk. Maybe the number of the historical episodes will be boring for you: he could be a professional historian of science right away. Typical Czech engineering students are listening to Glashow. ;-) But if you like the first part, continue with Part 2 and Part 3. If you make it to the third part, there will be some examples of his point from modern physics. Around 18:00, he also talks about Gell-Mann and quarks' and string theorists' delight when they deduced that string theory predicted gravity. Glashow doesn't count it as a prediction because he had known about gravity before string theory was born. Of course, from the viewpoint of the history of science, it wasn't a (new) prediction: the chronology guarantees that. However, from the viewpoint of science and the strength and validity of its hypotheses, the fact that string theory implies general relativity is exactly as important and consequential as a prediction! The chronology is just a part of the history, social science, it was accidental, and a scientist simply can't pay attention to such things. On the other hand, I agree that both accidental discoveries as well as "planned research" have been important and will be important. Some other not-too-demanding physics news: Australia opened the world's fastest radio telescope. Robert Christy, a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project and the first one who became hostile against Edward Teller after he identified Oppenheimer as a communist, died. An 11-year-old maľchik (=Russian boy) discovered the mammoth of the century (the best preserved one in 100 years).

<urn:uuid:a311115f-012d-4f7f-a951-b597bfb31851>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://motls.blogspot.com/2012/10/sheldon-glashow-does-science-evolve.html?m=1

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Becoming Familiar with Google Earth In order for students and educators to use Google Earth effectively, they need to learn the basic functions of the user interface. The Student Google Earth User Guide is designed to help users become familiar with Google Earth's most commonly used functions and offers links to more detailed information. The Google Earth Tip Sheet is a one-page summary of some of the most frequently used Google Earth functions. Google Earth offers a great deal of data in its layers that can be used for educational purposes. For example, it includes a volcanoes layer that can be rendered in the 3D Viewer as a set of icons in the form of volcanoes. Each icon can be clicked to reveal descriptive information and photographs of the represented volcanoes. Also included is a terrain layer that can be activated in order to visualize the landscape in three-dimensional relief for any part of the world. Image overlays of maps can also be draped over the terrain. This is especially effective for displaying the relationship of contours on a topographic map to the landscape. In addition, a great deal of third-party data is available on the web that can be displayed in the 3D Viewer. Perhaps on of the richest and most varied repository of this data is the Google Earth Community Forums . Each forum is a collection of discussion threads devoted to a particular broad subject area. Some examples of forums that are specifically focused on education include the Students, Educators, and Tools forums. The Google Earth Education Community offers a site where educators and students can share information on topics that can be explored in Google Earth. Many of these submissions include KMZ data. Digital Explorer has developed some Google Earth training modules in order to train teachers and organizations to create virtual field trips using Google Earth. Google Earth and its server are periodically upgraded to add new layers and capabilities. In addition to the forums, there are various blogs that can keep you informed about new developments. These include Frank Taylor's Google Earth Blog , the Google Lat Long Blog , and Ogle Earth . Google Earth Lessons offers information on how to user the Google Earth interface and a great deal of ideas, content, and teaching material that can be used in the classroom. Noel Jenkins' Juicy Geography offers ideas, lessons and resources for teaching geography, with an emphasis on material that can be used in Google Earth. In addition to using existing data, students and educator can create their own data to be mapped in the 3D Viewer. This data can be in the form of points (known as placemarks), paths, which are segmented lines, polygons, overlays of maps, photographs, and three-dimensional models. The Student Google Earth User Guide includes information on how to create new data. Books about Google Earth and Google Maps Google Earth for Dummies Author: David A. Crowder Wiley Publishing, Incorporated Published: February 2007 This book covers Google Earth and Google Sketchup. Concerning Google Earth, the topics include searching for places, finding directions, navigating, measuring, adjusting the settings, using the layers, creating and organizing placemarks, creating tours, the Google Earth Community, creating overlays, using GPS data, the basics of KML, and where to find data. Several chapters are devoted to creating 3D models with Sketchup and bringing them into Google Earth. Hacking Google Maps and Google Earth Author: Martin C. Brown Wiley Publishing, Incorporated Published: July 2006 The KML Handbook Author: Josie Wernecke Published: October 2008 The KML Handbook offers an introduction to KML, and a great deal of advanced material about the details of the language, and how to use it to create a great variety of different types of content. Along with descriptive text, code examples and illustrations are used throughout the book to demonstrate how to create placemarks, paths, polygons, overlays, and 3D models. Also included are discussions on how to design attractive and informative information balloons, work with photographs, create icons, offer data through network links, serve data with Python scripts, and use time and animations. The book also includes a complete KML reference. Google Maps Hacks Author: Rich Gibson and Schuyler Erle O'Reilly Media, Incorporated Beginning with simple examples of how to use the standard Google Maps service, and proceeding to discussions of the Google Maps API accompanied by code and illustrations, this book demonstrates many uses for Google Maps. Introductory material includes navigating the map, changing map views, searching for places and getting directions, and sharing maps through urls. The more advanced focus on the API includes working with markers, routes, information balloons, geotagging photographs, server side scripts, mashups with third party data, working with XML data, and databases. One chapter discusses tracking incoming GPS data with Google Earth. This book uses version 1 of the Google Maps API, so it is somewhat out of date, but still offers a great deal of useful information. Future of Google Earth Author: Chandler Evans with Robert Sellers Smith Published: March 2008 Future of Google Earth is a story about the adventure of exploring the world with Google Earth. It places considerably more focus on facts about places than on technical aspects of Google Earth. It includes information on some features that can be seen in Sky mode. In addition, other Google services are briefly discussed, including the search engine, Google Maps, and Gmail. Beginning Google Maps Applications with PHP and AJAX: From Novice to Professional Author: Michael Purvis, Jeffrey Sambells, and Cameron Turner Published: August 2006 Beginning Google Maps Applications with Rails and AJAX: From Novice to Professional Author: Andre Lewis, Michael Purvis, Jeffrey Sambells, and Cameron Turner Published: February 2007 These two books present, with examples that include code and illustrations, the fundamentals of the Google Maps API. Many of the examples involve server side scripting with either PHP or Ruby. Beginning Google Maps Mashups with Mapplets, KML, and GeoRSS: From Novice to Professional Author: Sterling Udell Published: November 2008 This book covers creating mashups with the Google Maps API See more references about Google Earth

<urn:uuid:4e0c1c2d-c4c1-4f26-bad8-359d373db10f>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://nagt.org/sp/library/google_earth/becoming_familiar_google_earth.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Following Oceana’s newly released report on the harmful impacts of illegal fishing, one of the questions that I as Oceana's Northeast representative was asked most often was, “Where is this happening?” The short answer: Illegal fishing happens everywhere, from the most distant waters near Antarctica to just off the U.S. coast. This week brought great news for shark populations that are dwindling both in U.S. waters and worldwide. Today, the Delaware House of Representatives introduced a bill prohibiting the possession, trade, sale and distribution of shark fins within the state. If passed, House Bill 41 would make Delaware the first East Coast state to pass a ban on the shark fin trade, following in the footsteps of Oregon, Washington, California, Hawaii and Illinois. Current federal law prohibits shark finning in U.S. waters, requiring that sharks be brought into port with their fins still attached. However, this law does not prohibit the sale and trade of processed fins that are imported into the country from other regions that could have weak or even nonexistent shark protections in place. This unsustainable catch is driven by the demand for shark fins, often used as an ingredient in shark fin soup, and kills millions of sharks every year. Delaware’s bill would close the loopholes that fuel the trade and demand for fins, and ensure that the state is not a gateway for shark products to enter into other U.S. state markets. Not only was there great news coming out of the U.S., international shark lovers have reason to celebrate as well. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), voted this week to place stricter regulations on the trade of manta rays, three species of hammerheads, oceanic whitetip and porbeagle sharks, acknowledging that these species are in dire need of protection. When countries export these species, they are required to possess special permits that prove these species were harvested sustainably. This decision will greatly curb illegal overfishing and reduce the numbers of endangered sharks killed globally. History was made today in Bangkok, when Parties to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) voted to protect five species of sharks and two species of manta rays. The seven protected species are: oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus), porbeagle (Lamna nasus), scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), great hammerhead (S. mokarran), smooth hammerhead (S. zygaena), oceanic manta ray (Manta birostris) and reef manta ray (M. alfredi). All seven species are considered threatened by international trade – the sharks for their fins, and the manta rays for their gills, which are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. CITES protection is an important complement to fisheries management measures, which, for these species, have failed to safeguard their survival. The vote was to list the animals for protection under Appendix II which does not entail a ban on the trade, but instead means that trade must be regulated. Exporting countries are required to issue export permits, and can only do so if they can ensure that they have been legally caught, and that their trade is not detrimental to the species’ survival. All of the proposals received the two-thirds majority needed to be accepted – but the listing is not yet final. Decisions can be overturned with another vote during the final plenary session of the meeting, which wraps up on Thursday. This is what happened with porbeagle sharks in the 2010 CITES meeting in Qatar – an Appendix II listing approved by the Committee evaporated with another vote in plenary. As a result, at that meeting, none of the proposed shark species were granted protection. Now, three years later, we’re hopeful that the international community finally sees the importance of regulating the trade that puts these animals at risk. Keep your fingers crossed! Happy Friday, everyone. It's been a rough few weeks for the oceans at CITES, but now it's time to pick up the pieces. If CITES taught us anything, it's that the work of the ocean conservation community is more important than ever. This week in ocean news, ....Rick at Malaria, Bed bugs, Sea Lice and Sunsets discussed one of the more shady aspects of CITES: the secret ballots, which were invoked for votes on bluefin tuna, sharks, polar bears, and deep water corals. …The Washington Post reported that Maryland is cracking down on watermen who catch oysters in protected sanctuaries or with banned equipment. Once a principal source of oysters, the Chesapeake now provides less than 5 percent of the annual U.S. harvest. …For the first time, scientists were able to use videos to observe octupuses’ behavioral responses. The result? The octupuses had no consistent reaction to one film -- in other words, they had no “personality.” Curiously, other cephalopods display consistent personalities for most of their lives. …The New York Times wondered if the 700,000 saltwater home aquariums in the United States and the associated trade in reef invertebrates are threatening real reef ecosystems. This is the ninth in a series of dispatches from the CITES meeting in Doha, Qatar. As Oceana marine scientist Elizabeth Griffin put it: “This meeting was a flop.” CITES has been a complete failure for the oceans. The one success -- the listing of the porbeagle shark under Appendix II -- was overturned yesterday in the plenary session. “It appears that money can buy you anything, just ask Japan,” said Dave Allison, senior campaign director. “Under the crushing weight of the vast sums of money gained by unmanaged trade and exploitation of endangered marine species by Japan, China, other major trading countries and the fishing industry, the very foundation of CITES is threatened with collapse.” Maybe next time -- if these species are still around to be protected. The failure of CITES means that Oceana’s work – and your support and activism – is more important than ever. You can start by supporting our campaign work to protect these creatures. Here's Oceana's Gaia Angelini on the conclusion of CITES: This is the eighth in a series of dispatches from the CITES conference in Doha, Qatar. More difficult news out of Doha today. While seven of the eight proposed shark species (including several species of hammerheads, oceanic whitetip and spiny dogfish) were not included in Appendix II, the one bright spot was for the porbeagle shark, which is threatened by widespread consumption in Europe. The porbeagle’s Appendix II listing is a huge improvement because it requires the use of export permits to ensure that the species are caught by a legal and sustainably managed fishery. And there is a slight chance that the other shark decisions could be reversed during the plenary session in the final two days. Here are Oceana scientists Elizabeth Griffin and Rebecca Greenberg reflecting on the shark decisions: This is the seventh in a series of posts from CITES. Check out the rest of the dispatches from Doha here. Eight shark species have been proposed for listing to Appendix II of CITES, including the oceanic whitetip, scalloped hammerhead, dusky, sandbar, smooth hammerhead, great hammerhead, porbeagle and spiny dogfish. Listing these species, which are threatened by shark finning, is necessary to ensure international trade does not drive these shark species to extinction. Here's Oceana's Ann Schroeer from our Brussels office with an optimistic outlook on the upcoming shark proposals at CITES. This is the latest in a series of posts from CITES. See the rest of the dispatches here. Over the weekend, CITES failed to include 31 species of red and pink coral in Appendix II, trade protections that were promised during the last CITES Conference more than two and a half years ago. These corals are harvested to meet the growing demand for jewelry and souvenirs. The unregulated and virtually unmanaged collection and trade of these species is driving them to extinction. Many of the corals are long-lived, reaching more than 100 years of age, and grow slowly, usually less than one millimeter in thickness per year. These colonies are fragile and extremely vulnerable to exploitation and destruction, and their biological characteristics severely limit their ability to recover. Oceana campaign director Dave Allison had this to say about the corals decision (first video), as well as the failure of CITES to protect marine species in general (second video.) Happy Friday, ocean fans. It's almost spring, and a surfing alpaca exists in the world. Things are looking up. Before we get to the week's best marine tidbits, an important announcement: Oceana board member Ted Danson will be answering questions live on CNN.com on April 1, so send your ocean queries in, stat! Also, don't forget that today is the last day to take the Ocean IQ quiz for a chance to win prizes, including a trip with SEE Turtles. This week in ocean news, …Yes, CITES failed to deliver on bluefin tuna yesterday, but as Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Julie Packard pointed out, at least the conversation is changing. Bluefin is now in the same rhetorical realm as endangered land creatures such as tigers and elephants. …Deep Sea News wrote a requiem for a robot -- the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE) that was lost at sea last week during a research expedition to the Chilean Subduction Zone. On a recent dive, ABE had detected evidence of hydrothermal vents. At the time of its loss, ABE had just begun a second dive to home into a vent site and photograph it. This is the fifth in a series of dispatches from CITES. You can read the other dispatches here. Although there were repeated calls from delegates from the E.U., U.S. and Monaco to allow time for parties to meet and arrive at a compromise position, a Libya delegate forced a preemptory vote on the E.U. proposal, which resulted in a 43 to 72 vote, with 14 abstaining. Campaign director Dave Allison called the defeat "a clear win by short-term economic interest over the long-term health of the ocean and the rebuilding of Atlantic bluefin tuna populations." The decision could spell the beginning of the end for the tigers of the sea. Here's Oceana's Maria Jose Cornax on the decision:

<urn:uuid:d2464720-2e87-4061-9f5b-3ccfe0c3f6db>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://oceana.org/es/category/blog-free-tags/cites

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the right to vote; freedom from involuntary servitude; and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group or class. Statutes have been enacted to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, religion, age, previous condition of servitude, physical limitation, national origin, and in some instances sexual preference. Civil rights attorneys handle cases involving the rights of individuals to be free from unequal treatment (or discrimination) based on legally-protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, national origin, age, sexual orientation, and religion. Civil rights cases can arise in a number of settings -- including employment, housing, lending, and education.

<urn:uuid:d95d11af-e777-4165-abf5-1a668e93f363>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://openjurist.org/law/civil-rights-law/new-york/burlington-flats

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Discipline & Guidance Parents want their children to grow into responsible, caring, capable adults. The foundation for these traits must be laid early if our children are to be prepared for adult life. Because no one is born knowing how to act responsibly, children must be taught these behaviors. Building a foundation early can minimize small problems possibly turning into larger ones. Being responsible includes learning to: - Be honest and accept responsibility for actions. - Develop self-control and act with decency and kindness. - Respect others and themselves. Practice good manners, take care of their health, and avoid risky behaviors. - Show compassion. - Demonstrate trustworthiness by following-through. - Exhibit courage when standing up for beliefs and loyalty to friends and loved ones. - Doing what is right- even when no one is looking. How can parents encourage responsible behavior? - Remember that we are always teaching our children something by our words and actions-or lack thereof. They hear what we say and watch closely what we do! In order to teach our children to be responsible we must be the kind of person we hope they will become. - Expose our children to great literature. Children can be touched deeply by a moving story and characters that make an impression. - Talk openly and honestly with children about choices and consequences. Let them observe your decision-making processes and teach them about weighing the pros and cons of a choice. If you make a mistake don't hesitate to apologize! - If your child makes an inappropriate choice, discuss the reason behind the decision and how things could have perhaps been handled better. Give less attention to the mistake and more attention to the healthier alternative. - Provide opportunities for your child to be of service to others. Let him help you bake cookies for an ailing friend or perhaps cut the lawn of an elderly neighbor. - Expect your child to contribute to household chores. Let him know how valued his contributions are. Follow through with appropriate consequences if chores are neglected, but also remember to praise him for a job well done! - Teach children to use good manners- they are an important part of respecting and caring for the feelings of others. Expect them to use words such as "please," "thank you," and "excuse me." - Train children to respect authority. Show respect towards persons who hold important positions such as police officers, teachers, public officials, a member of the clergy, and grandparents. Remember, the way we speak and behave towards authority is the way our child will also.

<urn:uuid:fe5ea355-804d-4313-a234-8931ba75eed2>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://pal.ua.edu/discipline/sa_responsibility.php

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

- Making a game - A slightly detailed game design. - Coding the game Making a game This lecture we are going to run through making a game. Or what some people would call a prototype of a game. It will be kind of like that old table top game starving starving rhinoceros(or something like that). Where lots of balls roll around, and you have to get your rhinoceros to eat them up. The person who eats the most balls wins. It is a simple game, but one with a smaller enough scope that we can finish it fairly quickly. Which are my favourite types of games to finish. It could also be expanded later with more features if we want to. A slightly detailed game design. First thing we do is think about what features will be in the first version of our game. To finish the game quickly we want to make the design as simple as possible. Why do we want to finish the game quickly? Evaluating the game quicker. If the game play isn't fun, then we want to know about it as soon as possible to fix it. Or we may even decide that the game is not possible to fix, and stop making it all together, and try out some other ideas. So we want to limit the features to the minimal ones which are required to make the game work. Limited game play features There will be two rhinos which eat up the balls. We may want to add more rhinos later, but two will be the minimum number. The rhinos will be facing in one direction. Maybe in a later version we will allow the rhinos to move. But for now each of them will be in the middle of the game play area, and facing opposite from each other. Two player game to start with. As coding a fun AI can be a lot of work, we will save that for another version. Two player games are much easier to do than single player games most of the time. By two player we mean two players playing on the same computer, not network play. So one player will use the mouse, and another the keyboard. Or maybe both will use the keyboard. Balls will bounce off the walls. So we will need to figure out how to see if a ball hits the wall, and how to make it bounce back. Balls will also need to move around. To start with we will not take into account acceleration. All balls will move at the same speed. Show the score for each of the rhinos. In the top left corner, and top right corner the score will be shown. The top left will be for the rhino on the left, the top right will be for the rhino on the right. Opening and closing the rhinos mouth. When the balls come towards the players rhino, and the mouth is closed the balls will bounce off. If the mouth is open the balls will go inside the mouth. But the rhino will have to close the mouth to swallow the balls. Game play uncertainty. At this stage we have a small design of our game. But a few things are uncertain. The main one is, will this be fun? The part which I am uncertain about is how the mouth closing, and opening to eat the balls is going to be fun. Maybe we will need to make the balls hit the back of its mouth, and bounce back? How hard should it be to eat the balls? Another uncertainy I have is about how the balls will bounce around. I can possibly imagine that the balls could bounce around in such a way that they never go near the players rhinos mouths. Perhaps we will have to add a game play element that makes the balls go towards the players mouth. These are just two uncertainties I have. You may have different ones, or see how these problems could easily be solved by changing the design. However both of these uncertainties will become clear as we start to develop the game, and when we finish what we have set out to do. Once the game is done, we may find that neither are problems, and that the game is fun! Yah! However we may find that they need fixing. Another more likely possibility is that there will be other problems. So we make a minimal design, begin implementing that, and then improve the design as we go. When we consider graphical design for a game, it is often best to start with place holder graphics. This allows us to quickly test out the game play ideas. It is also a good idea to draw basically what your game will look like. Stick figures, and boxes are usually enough. Here are some other factors you may want to take into account when making your graphics. - The graphical routines you have at your disposal. Do we have a 2d engine, a 3d engine? - The skills you have. 2d graphics, drawing, 3d modeling, animation. - What the game play requires. - Time you have. 2d graphics are generally quicker to do than 3d graphics. - Your audience. What type of computer do they have? For our game I don't want to do really advanced graphics to start with. I want to get it done quickly, so I'll choose to use 2d graphics. I also don't want to use any external images to start with, so I will use the pygame.draw graphics routines. These allow you to draw lines, circles, rectangles, and flat polygons. Not using any external files will mean that I will be able to make the game work with one python script. Once the game is complete, if I wish to continue with it, I could improve the graphics. Drawing the game design As you can see I spent maybe two minutes on this drawing. You can draw it on paper, or on the computer. Just a rough draft is neccessary for the game design. You may want to spend more time on it drawing up different rhinos at different sizes, and different frames of their animation. As we are not going to do much graphics to start with, just concentrate on getting the shapes and sizes of things correct. No sounds to start with. Later I may want all manner of sounds. But as the game design so far does not concerntrate on sounds as game play, I will not use any sounds. If I were to do sounds, some could be: - ball rolling. Get a marble and roll it along a desk. - ball hitting the wall. Roll a marble into something. - Rhino noises. Hrmmm, these would be harder to make. Be creative! User input design. Some people say the user interface to your game is the most important part. There are a few reasons they say this. One is that if the player can't figure out the controls, they will not play. Also it is what the player will be doing. For our game it will only require one input. That is all the player can do is to say open mouth, or close mouth. That's it! Simple eh? Maybe too simple. But it will do for now. There are lots of things we could add later, but opening, and closing the mouth of the rhino is the main interaction the player will have. So we want this main interaction to also be the easiest to find out how to do. Clicking the mouse button, and pressing any key will be the way to control our game. Player one will control the first rhino(one on left) with the mouse click. Player two will control its rhino with pressing a key on the keyboard. The user input to the game may also change as we make the game. So as you make a game, occasionally evaluate how your controls will work. Especially after adding lots more user interaction. Other input devices We will not put into our game support for any more types of input. But many of them could be added later quite easily. However then we would need to detect or allow the player to chose which input they are using. We could make our game see if the player is pressing on a joystick and make the joystick controll player two. Or perhaps make it control player one. In that way we could avoid making the player manually choose which input they want to use. It will just use which ever input they bash on timing and user input. We may want to limit how fast a person can do things. In our game we will probably want to limit how quickly the player can open and close the mouth of the rhino. The game could be quite different if we make it so that you can only open and close the mouth every two seconds. Compared to if you could open and close the mouth as quickly as you could click. Other things player can do. Two other things most games have are: - exiting/quiting the game. - pausing the game. User input for quiting There are some conventions in games for quiting. One is the 'q' key. Another is the ESC key. Often the esc or q keys take the player to the main menu. As we will not have a main menu those keys will just quit the game. Another convention is to use ALT+F4. But that is not Quiting with the mouse is another thing we may want to add. Maybe a big quit button somewhere on the screen. In the first version we won't implement it, as it is too much work to test out the game play. Later though it may be important. One problem with that is that the player may accidentally press it. If we make our game go in windowed mode, the player can quit with the mouse by using the quit button on the window. User input for pausing. It is generally a good idea to build pausing into the game as early as possible. As it can be a pain to add in later. The convention for pausing a game is usually the 'p' key. Also some games pause the game when you press ESC, whilst they show a menu. First we need to decide what our audience is. From that we decide which programming language, methods, and libraries to use. In this case the audience is those people reading a python for programming set of lectures/articles. So our language, and library choice is python, and pygame. As we want the game to be easy to run for you, I've decided to make the game in one file. So all our graphics will be done with code, and there will be no sound files with the game. Because we want to finish the game quickly we choose to do a 2d game. Our game design will probably not require any super speed code. The only performance problems I could see us having is with lots of balls moving around the screen. If we use the pygame.sprite classes this shouldn't be a problem. Also the sprite classes will help us organise the different visual elements of our game. Different visual elements in the game: - Score. In the corners of the screen. Will change the number when the rhino scores. - Rhinos. Two of them in the middle of the screen. These will be animated. - Balls. There will be many of them. They are allways moving, except when eaten. A slightly hard bit of code identified earlier in game play uncertainty, is the ball bouncing code. Luckily there have been lots of games done about balls bouncing around so the techniques to do so are described in lots of websites. If we have a problem coding it, with a little research we should find the answer. If the game starts to run a little slowly when we have lots of balls, we could just reduce the number of balls moving around. Also for a bit of variation, we may want to give the players the option of changing the amount of balls in play. Allthough we won't give them the option in the first version of the game. Coding the game Now we dive into the coding of the game. I like to do it in small steps. First get the screen up. Then draw the basic elements to the screen. Then maybe add in some keyboard handling, and some mouse handling. Below I describe the process I take making the game. Getting something on screen. I'll make some basic code to get a few things on screen first. So I initialize things, make a main loop, and put in the event handling for quiting. import pygame from pygame.locals import * pygame.init() display_flags = DOUBLEBUF width, height = 640, 480 if pygame.display.mode_ok((width, height), display_flags ): screen = pygame.display.set_mode((width, height), display_flags) run = 1 clock = pygame.time.Clock() while run: events = pygame.event.get() for event in events: if event.type == QUIT or (event.type == KEYDOWN and event.key in [K_ESCAPE, K_q]): # set run to 0 makes the game quit. run = 0 # add the game play in here later. pygame.display.flip() # limit the game to about 40fps, or 40 ticks per second. clock.tick(40) Ok. So now I have a black screen showing in a window, which I can quit from. I limited the frame rate to 40 frames per second so when I do animation, it is smoother. For smooth animation you need as constant a frame rate as possible. Which is one of the reasons why tv, and film run at 24 or 30 frames per second. There is more to it than this. If you want to know more there is a good discussion on the topic at http://ludumdare.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=141&forum=2&22 Drawing the balls. For the balls I am simply going to use the pygame.draw.circle function. To draw a filled in circle. We need two different colored circles, so this little function will draw them to two surfaces for us. import pygame from pygame.locals import * def render_ball_simple(radius, color): """ Returns (surf,rect) containing a picture of a circle of the radius, and color given. """ size = radius * 2 surf = pygame.Surface((size, size)) pygame.draw.circle(surf, color, (radius, radius), radius) return surf, surf.get_rect() def max(x, y): """ returns x, unless x > y. if it is it returns y. """ if x > y: return y else: return x def render_ball_funky(radius, color): """ Returns (surf,rect) containing a picture of a slightly shaded ball of the radius, and color given. """ size = radius * 2 surf = pygame.Surface((size, size)) # we progressively draw smaller circles of different colors. increment = int(radius / 4) for x in range(4): iradius = radius - (x * increment) print iradius isize = iradius * 2 icolor = [0,0,0] # we increment the color. if it is bigger than 255 we make it 255. icolor = max(color + (x * 15), 255) icolor = max(color + (x * 15), 255) icolor = max(color + (x * 15), 255) pygame.draw.circle(surf, icolor, (radius, radius), iradius) return surf, surf.get_rect() def render_ball(radius, color): """ Returns (surf,rect) containing a picture of a ball of the radius, and color given. """ # we use the kind of funk one... return render_ball_funky(radius, color) def main(): pygame.init() display_flags = DOUBLEBUF width, height = 640, 480 if pygame.display.mode_ok((width, height), display_flags ): screen = pygame.display.set_mode((width, height), display_flags) run = 1 clock = pygame.time.Clock() # draw some graphics to surfaces. ball1,ball1_rect = render_ball_funky(10, (50, 200, 200)) ball2,ball2_rect = render_ball_simple(6, (50, 200, 200)) # move the simple one towards the center top of the screen. ball2_rect.x = 200 while run: events = pygame.event.get() for event in events: if event.type == QUIT or (event.type == KEYDOWN and event.key in [K_ESCAPE, K_q]): # set run to 0 makes the game quit. run = 0 # add the game play in here later. screen.blit(ball1, ball1_rect) screen.blit(ball2, ball2_rect) pygame.display.flip() # limit the game to about 40fps, or 40 ticks per second. clock.tick(40) # this runs the main function if this script is called to run. # If it is imported as a module, we don't run the main function. if __name__ == "__main__": main() In this code you can see that I have drawn two ball looking things to the screen. Circles really. I got carried away with the draw ball function, and made a render_ball_funky(). It draws four circles progressively lighter to give a really simple shading effect. This is what we call feature creep. I just did it for fun. Feature creep gets in the way of you finishing the game. So avoid it! I have also moved the mainloop and the initialisation code inside a main function. This is just to make it a bit neater. Inside the main loop(the while loop), I do two blits. One for each of the balls. The one in the center top of the screen is the simple circle, the one on the left top is the so called funky ball. If you recall a blit means to draw, or to copy an image. In this case we are blitting directly to the screen. The max function we define makes sure that the color values don't get above 255. It is what some people call a helper function. That is a small function made to make your code a bit nicer looking. You should try and run this code as it gets developed. Add in some print functions, and play around with it, so you can get the flow of how it is working.

<urn:uuid:1923bc52-6361-4ce1-bf5e-d3f933c4d57c>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://rene.f0o.com/mywiki/LectureSix

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

1) Peer-to-peer is a communications model in which each party has the same capabilities and either party can initiate a communication session. Other models with which it might be contrasted include the client/server model and the master/slave model. In some cases, peer-to-peer communications is implemented by giving each communication node both server and client capabilities. In recent usage, peer-to-peer has come to describe applications in which users can use the Internet to exchange files with each other directly or through a mediating server. IBM's Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) is an example of a product that supports the peer-to-peer communication model. 2) On the Internet, peer-to-peer (referred to as P2P) is a type of transient Internet network that allows a group of computer users with the same networking program to connect with each other and directly access files from one another's hard drives. Napster and Gnutella are examples of this kind of peer-to-peer software. Major producers of content, including record companies, have shown their concern about what they consider illegal sharing of copyrighted content by suing some P2P users. Meanwhile, corporations are looking at the advantages of using P2P as a way for employees to share files without the expense involved in maintaining a centralized server and as a way for businesses to exchange information with each other directly. How Does Internet P2P Work? The user must first download and execute a peer-to-peer networking program. (Gnutellanet is currently one of the most popular of these decentralized P2P programs because it allows users to exchange all types of files.) After launching the program, the user enters the IP address of another computer belonging to the network. (Typically, the Web page where the user got the download will list several IP addresses as places to begin). Once the computer finds another network member on-line, it will connect to that user's connection (who has gotten their IP address from another user's connection and so on). Users can choose how many member connections to seek at one time and determine which files they wish to share or password protect.

<urn:uuid:ffb01dad-2b0a-45e0-9225-14d6cb70a81e>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/peer-to-peer

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

The culture of fairy tales has changed with time. Today, they are considered children’s stories by adults. The only way in which fairy tales have survived is through parents reading them to children, but these adults have been disapproving of those parts of fairy tales that make them serious literature. The marchen, or fairy tale, has evolved into simple happily-ever-after romance as parents have pushed stories for children away from violence and irrationality. Stone argues that adults should not censor out the parts of fairy tales that make them literary. The brutality and unreality does not affect young readers negatively. In fact, it is the parents, rather than the children, that are most disturbed by such stories. Marchen used to conjure up images very different from those conjured by fairy tales today. They used to force readers and listeners to consider the balance of good and evil and the necessity of overcoming obstacles before ultimate goal achievement. The romance was rarely an integral part of the story, but rather a symbol of maturity. Often a small act of disobedience was necessary before the protagonist may reach maturity. The marks of reworked Marchen began as early as Perrault’s version of “Cinderella” in 1697, emphasizing romance, strongly contrasting good versus evil, and muting the violent pieces. However, the Grimm brothers told stories that were closer to original Marchen, where romance was not the solution to most tales and where violence was a comment theme. The Grimms expected their stories to be taken seriously, and they were. Disney’s Snow White is a clear example of today’s reworked Marchen. Compared to the original Grimm version, there is little distasteful content. The stepmother does not eat Snow White’s liver and lungs in the film. The romance is emphasized in Disney’s version, as the prince meets Snow White in the first scene, and kisses her in the final one. In addition, good and evil are blatantly contrasted in Disney. The stepmother’s uses black magic and has a menacing cackle, while Snow White has a sweet, innocent demeanor. In addition, the seven dwarves play secondary characters that provide humor and yet another contrast to the villainess. Bacchilega examines the similarities and differences in three different written versions of “Snow White”: Barthelme’s Snow White, Carter’s “The Snow Child,” and Coover’s “The Dead Queen.” It is not unusual to change and embellish upon a traditional story; people have been doing it for centuries. However, fairy tales maintain their key characteristics. In the case of “Snow White,” those include flat characterization, supernatural setting, and isolation of characters in a strange, exaggerated world. “Snow White” dramatizes the association of the good angel-like character with the evil devil-like one. This interaction is monitored and incited by a male voice: the mirror. This man in the mirror defines the identity of both the main characters as well as their relationship. The protagonist is “the fairest of all” and the antagonist is the former bearer of that title, and their interactions are marked by rivalry and jealousy. Most folklorists interpret the story as a female initiation tale, symbolizing the process of sexual, psychological, and social maturation in women in general. Snow White’s story shows the necessity of culture in the transformation of self, but also illustrates the boundaries beyond which she cannot venture. Snow White is stifled by her obligate domesticity. The men’s influence in Snow White’s life is clear. The huntsman, dwarfs, and prince all aid in her socialization. This implies that her initiation will only be complete once the white and red parts of her life – semen and menstrual blood, representing male and female opposites – unite through her black ritual “death.” In this way, the thematic colors of the story (skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, hair as black as ebony) apply to Snow White’s personal growth. The three versions of “Snow White” analyzed here differ in point of view, adherence to the original storyline, and even primary message. Disney’s Snow White is more similar in all three points to the Grimm version of the tale. Girardot explains the tale “Snow White” in the context of the main character’s initiation and transition into adulthood. Fairy tales, she argues, are not simply for amusement and escape, but also for gaining knowledge and broadening the imagination. Folklorists place “Snow White” into a “Banished Wife or Maiden” tale category. Fairy tales cannot be removed from the magical and religious spheres, as some critics have tried to do, because they are not simply meant to teach readers how to adjust to adult reality. The magic plays an integral part in “Snow White,” as well as other fairy tales. As for religion, fairy tales place angels inside heroines and fairies, and devils inside villains. Girardot acknowledges that Disney’s Snow White maintains the darker side of the original tale, especially in the evil stepmother character. It is necessary to analyze multiple versions of a piece of folklore before creating an overarching analysis on the story’s meaning. For “Snow White,” this is a more difficult task, because many of the versions have been influence and changed by the Grimms version. However, the basic framework of the story has remained the same throughout the years. The message that the tale promotes, for example, has remained unchanged. On the surface level, the meaning of the story concerns the triumph of a beautiful and good heroine over the evil, jealous stepmother. However, the story goes deeper than that. It is a tale of maturation, the transition between childhood and adulthood, natural to cultural life, and asexual to sexual life. Girardot analyzes “Snow White” by placing the girl’s story into five steps associated with initiation rituals: Prologue and Problem, Separation, Liminal Period, Reincorporation and Rebirth, and Epilogue. The first step is the introduction of the tale, from Snow White’s birth to her banishment into the woods. The Separation period entails her trek through the forest and eventual discovery of the Dwarfs’ cottage. Snow White’s stay with the dwarves and her “death” encompass the Liminal Period, and her revival and marriage to the prince are her Reincorporation and Rebirth. The last step is Snow White’s revenge on her stepmother during the wedding ceremony. Disney’s version of Snow White involved these steps as well, making it also an initiatory tale of a girl’s transition into womanhood. Koven gives folklorists’ negative perspective on Disney films. Most theorists see film, especially Disney, as threats to the authenticity of the original fairy tales. They worry that audiences will begin to view the Disney version as the first and only. Not only that, but they suspect that the Disney Company is trying to make their stories appear the definitive variant by publishing Disney storybooks. Some think that the alterations from the traditional texts may hamper transmission of the stories by eliminating many of the motifs that make the tales memorable. The sanitation of the stories renders them meaningless. Without real conflict, the tales do not display the tragic parts of life, the battle to between weak and strong, or the good in the human spirit. Koven does acknowledge that some folklorists appreciate film as a method of story dispersion. One folklorist cites Snow White as a prime example of animation as a successful medium for fairytale presentation. He sees Snow White as a way to re-interest adults in traditional folk imagination. Wood examines how Disney uses his film Cinderella to “civilize” his viewers by presenting models of proper behavior while entertaining them. Snow White, like Cinderella, sings while she does her household chores. In analyzing Disney’s conservative ideology, she touches upon how his views affect his other works, such as Snow White. To keep his films entertaining, Disney reworked European marchen. He included well-loved romantic plots and added comic relief through subplots involving animals and secondary characters, such as the dwarves in Snow White. Marriage is based on love, rather than family constraints. “Love’s first kiss” wakes both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty from their slumbers. Disney used realism in his animated films to present a sense of immediacy to his audience. He included a solid plot and clear personalities to the characters so that viewers would feel a deeper connection with the story. The seven dwarves in Snow White each have their own unique name, temperament, and appearance. The recurring gags, often in the form of handicaps, also keep children viewers interested. For example, Dopey is mute and clumsy while Doc has a stutter and is absent-minded. Disney supports wish-fulfillment, as is evident in his films. Dreams in Cinderella are similarly important in Snow White. While Cinderella sings of “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” Snow White opens her story with “I’m wishing / For the one I love / To find me.” Disney reassures viewers that with good effort and self-control, one will get the desired result. According to him, the ultimate wish for girls is to marry the rich and handsome Mr. Right. Stone argues that Walt Disney has created household names of heroines in his films, but in so doing, is encouraging passivity and inaction from female viewers who are influenced by the pretty-but-dumb characters. Disney has changed the role of women from the original stories for the worse in his films. The Grimm brothers have 40 heroines in their tales, and not all are passive and pretty. Their villains are not always women, either. While Grimm heroines are often not rewarded for having spirit, Disney females are even less so. The three Disney films based on other fairy tales (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella) all star an innocent, beautiful girl who is victimized by a jealous, evil villainess. Disney encourages the image of a perfect housewife in his heroines. They all exhibit patience, obedience, passivity, diligence, silence, and beauty. To become a heroine for Disney, one must have all those qualities. To mute the heroine inside oneself, one must simply don dirty rags. While in Disney, Cinderella is only a heroine when properly cleaned and dressed, in traditional fairy tales, the heroines may be unattractive and disheveled. Their appearance does not affect their success. In Snow White, it is her beauty that eventually leads to her success. It is because of her face that the prince falls in love with her and frees her from sleeping death with love’s first kiss. In recent tales, there is great disparity between hero and heroine characteristics. Heroes are judged on their ability to overcome difficulties. They succeed by acting. Heroines, on the other hand, do not develop throughout the story because they start out perfect, without defects. All they need is their beauty and passivity to succeed. This is apparent in both the Grimm and Disney versions of Snow White. Snow White’s beauty is emphasized, as is her kindness toward others and chipper attitude toward housework. She does nothing in either version, except clean house and look pretty, qualities that Stone believes Disney is encouraging in women throughout the world.

<urn:uuid:de82353b-1f10-4de8-b29c-833a1b45d92d>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://tags.library.upenn.edu/egore/marchen

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Teaching Math through Art was designed to be used by artistically inclined students as a supplement to a regular math textbook. Geared for students in grades 3 through 8, Teaching Math through Art seeks to point out the connections between math and real life. Ms. Jeffus has compiled visual and kinesthetic activities on 22 mathematical topics because she believes children learn more by seeing and doing than they do by simply filling out workbook pages. Teaching Math through Art covers measurement (including length, area, and volume), mathematical systems (including real numbers, whole numbers, integers, and fractions), geometry, telling time, money, and number theory (including primes, factors, and multiples). Because the text is designed to supplement a math textbook, parents or students may look through the Table of Contents and go directly to any topic of interest. Ms. Jeffus points out that master artists have used mathematical principals for centuries. Much of the book centers on how math is useful or identifiable in art. For example, Teaching Math through Art has activities to help the student learn fractions by drawing the face in proportion, recognize and understand the Fibonacci Sequence by looking for it in famous paintings, and learn about parallel lines by observing them in artwork and learning to draw them himself from a one-point perspective. But Teaching Math through Art is not limited to using art to teach math; it also uses engineering, cooking, architecture, and other real-life connections to teach or reinforce concepts. Among other ideas, Ms. Jeffus suggests designing your own clock face to practice telling time, baking an angel food cake to understand fractions, learning about translations by looking for patterns on sports balls, and measuring household items with a ruler. Teaching Math through Art is full of great illustrations and photos as well as high-quality reproductions of famous artwork. Although the printing is black and white, the reproductions are surprisingly crisp, clean, and pleasant to behold. Ms. Jeffus has also sprinkled throughout the text website suggestions to help the student further pursue various mathematical concepts. These websites are well chosen and provide even more opportunities for math practice from various approaches. Teaching Math through Art can be easily modified for different ages. Not every single entry in the book appealed to our family, and I had trouble understanding a few of the explanations or instructions. But because the book is set up with as a smorgasbord, it was easy to pick and choose what we needed. In fact, this book lends itself to being a servant to the homeschooling family; it will not try to master you! Unschoolers, art-minded students, and kinesthetic learners would love this book. Art-minded parents would probably also love to play around with art a bit in their math lessons. Traditional textbook homeschoolers may find themselves dismayed by the somewhat cluttered organization of random topics. However, I think Teaching Math through Art will be especially helpful to any student who is "stuck" on a particular topic. Sometimes simply trying a different approach to a mathematical concept will help a child understand it better. Teaching Math through Art has been and will continue to be a wonderful addition to our homeschool. Because the text covers a wide range of mathematical concepts, I'm certain we will turn to this book several times over the next few years for hands-on help with math. Periodically, I like to do hands-on activities with the children to make certain they understand the "why" of math and not just the "how." This book provides hours of activities to help us do just that.

<urn:uuid:6626b380-e5b5-45bb-9901-7d5bcf3a4e73>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/3337.php

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

July 27, 2010 > History: Union City's steamship "The Union" History: Union City's steamship "The Union" By Myrla Raymundo Union City and Alvarado came into existence on a portion of the Rancho Portrero de los Cerritos, in the northwestern portion of Washington Township in what is today Alameda County. Union City, the first of the two to be settled, is located on the banks of Alameda Creek near a point known as the Devil's Elbow. It was in 1851 that Union City first sprang into being, founded by J. M. Horner. J. M. Horner was also the builder of the first warehouse on the bank of the creek. This creek poured its waters into an extensive slough, which stretched far out toward the bay where a very tortuous channel was formed. In 1846, the creek was navigable for light craft as far up as Bell Ranch Bridge. In fact, until 1878, small vessels used this channel from as far as the sugar refinery, but when the channel was filled, the course of the water changed entirely. Horner developed a plan for cutting a canal across the marshes to connect with the bay, making a continuation of Crandall Slough. By this means the water flow would have been directed into the canal, and thus the flooded marshes would have been reclaimed, the creek relieved of surplus water, and Union City, together with Alvarado, would now have been in direct communication by water with San Francisco, as they were in earlier days. In addition, hundreds of acres of marshland could have been reclaimed. Unfortunately, Mr. Horner's canal scheme never went beyond the ideas in his head, and Devil's Elbow, where the water had been dammed and frequently overflowed, eventually filled and is now a bed of sandy sediment. Union City and Alvarado are nearly surrounded by marsh, and in the old days each year brought an overflow from the creek, which caused a few days of flooding. Going out of doors without rubber boots was anything but agreeable. The little town had the advantage of good lands, extensive warehouses, and with the steamer called "The Union," Union City rapidly developed rich agricultural surroundings to the east. It is known that Union City received its name from the first steamer which traveled between it and San Francisco. This vessel, "The Union," had a novel history, having been originally constructed in New Jersey and brought in sections aboard ship around Cape Horn by Charles Minturn. When this steamer first entered service between Union City and San Francisco, it was owned by Horner and was placed on the route to carry produce to market. It had limited accommodations for chance passengers. Mr. Horner had, in 1851, purchased an extensive tract of land, which included the original town site of Union City. From his own and other agricultural interests, a large amount of freight was carried from Union City to San Francisco. One year, history states that the sale of produce from Horner's acreage alone brought forth a revenue of $270,000. Prior to the entry of the steamer "The Union," freight transportation had been confined to sailing vessels, many of which ran between Union City and San Francisco at regular intervals. "The Union" was a historic craft and her first owner, Charles Minturn, was the originator of the ferry between Oakland and San Francisco. Her first master was Capt. Olney, who afterward commanded the "Senator." Following Capt. Olney came Capt. Marston, who later lived at Centerville, where some of his descendants grew to manhood and womanhood. Next, "The Union" was commanded by Capt. Trefry, who for years guided her destiny. He was later a resident of Centerville, and for many years filled the office of constable. Horner's little steamship "The Union" is no longer in existence. However, it will go down in history as the link between Union City and San Francisco. It will also be remembered as the source of the name of Union City today. Or is it? Many people think the name came from the merger of the Decoto and Alvarado districts when the city was founded. When incorporated in 1959, many knew nothing about the ship. So where did the name Union City come from-the steamer's name or the union of two towns? What do you think?

<urn:uuid:4e7dd96c-4c8c-4aa2-b694-b87cc8a74c7a>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2010-07-27&file=Union+Citys+Ship.txt

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Mark's Gospel is the second book of the New Testament and is often called the Gospel of Mark or the book of Mark. Mark was a Jew from Jerusalem. His full name was John Mark. His mother's name was Mary and her house served as a meeting place for the first Christians (Acts 12:12). Mark was a cousin to Barnabas (Col 4:10) who he accompanied with Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). Mark later went to Cypress with Barnabas, and later joined Paul again. Through 1 Peter 5:13 it is suggested Mark and Peter were in Rome. Rome was referred to as "Babylon" by the early Christians. Peter calls Mark "my son", which shows the kind of relationship between Peter and Mark, and further suggests that the Gospel of Mark had its origin in Rome. If the account of Papias (bishop of Hierapolis, AD 140) and other early traditions are accepted, then the Gospel of Mark is based on Peter's words, and written shortly after Peter's death in about AD 64-65. Mark's book is fast-paced, starting with the beginning of the ministry of Jesus and ending with the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Mark depicts Jesus as a Servant of God who came to do God's will. The miracles and healings and power show that Jesus was no ordinary servant, but was truly the Son of God (15:39). Return to list of People in the Bible

<urn:uuid:ec0613f1-8933-427f-9a12-f76228c95f89>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.about-jesus.org/mark2.htm

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Einsteins brain was normal size, but parts were abnormally large At the time of his death of an aortic aneurysm at age 76, Albert Einstein’s brain was no bigger, and weighed no more, than the brain of an average older male. But beneath that unique organ’s external folds and fissures, our universe was re-conceived. So not surprisingly, when photographs of Einstein’s post-mortem brain unexpectedly came to light recently, scientists were keen to find evidence of the genius that lay within. The result is a remarkably detailed look at the surface of Einstein’s brain, published recently in the journal Brain. Among the unusual features of Einstein’s cerebral cortex, portrayed in a series of 14 high-quality photographs, are evidence of his early training as a violinist, his highly evolved skill in imagining events and simulating their consequences, and his remarkable powers of non-verbal visuospatial processing. These tantalizing pieces of evidence are not obvious: In most cases, they must be deduced by the existence of extra folds, larger-than-usual bulges or other anatomical quirks seen on the surface of the cerebral cortex. The “tension-based theory” of how the brain’s convolutions and sulci are formed suggests that the surface of the brain – its growth limited by the skull – folds in on itself to make room as clusters of neurons connect, reconnect and reorganize themselves with mental exercise. The resulting growth in neurons and connective tissue should show up as asymmetry in the shapes and sizes of the brain’s hemispheres, and in the distinctive sub-areas of the brain that process perception, movement and high-level thought. Upon Einstein’s death, his heirs approved the removal of his brain, and a trove of histological slides were made, documenting minute slices of the theoretical-physicist’s brain. And if only they could all be found, more evidence of Einstein’s genius might be gleaned. One hundred sixty of the slides, made from 240 “blocks” of Einstein’s brain, are at Princeton’s University Medical Center, and an additional 560 slides are housed at the National Museum of Health and Medicine, until recently on the grounds of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. But the whereabouts of many slides are unknown. (Slices of Einstein’s preserved brain tissue are known to be in Ontario, California, Alabama, Argentina, Japan, Hawaii and Philadelphia.) Among the asymmetries observed by the authors of the Brain article are Einstein’s parietal lobes, where much of the circuitry for visuospatial and mathematical thinking is housed. On the surface of Einstein’s primary motor cortex, an enlarged “knob” is evident in the area where the brain “represents” the left hand: The authors of the study surmised that this is probably the result of Einstein’s early and extensive training on the violin. The surfaces of Einstein’s visual cortex were found to be particularly dense with folds – evidence, perhaps, of the physicist’s unique talent for closing his eyes and visualizing objects, the authors wrote. Not so surprising was the finding that Einstein’s prefrontal cortices – the seat of higher reasoning and judgment – were “relatively expanded. His brawn there “may have provided underpinnings for some of his extraordinary cognitive abilities, including his productive use of thought experiments,” the authors wrote. The authors also suggested that their observations on Einstein’s brain might allow researchers to compare it with the preserved brains of other mental giants in a bid to map the anatomy of genius. The fully preserved brain of the German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss was preserved upon his death in 1855. The brain of the physiologist Ivan Pavlov was preserved for further study after he died in 1936.

<urn:uuid:adf9ead2-b238-44ec-be39-e3ed1483879e>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.aikenstandard.com/article/20121201/AIK0107/121209924/0/caring-for-pets-this-holiday-season

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Financial and administrative matters Dealing with practical issues "I find it difficult to handle money. I just can’t make sense of it. Fortunately, I can do all my shopping at the village shop where I have an account and my son sorts it all out for me at the end of the month. That way I can keep my independence." (Erik) "Last week, we sorted out standing orders for the electricity, water and telephone bills. I will get most of the shopping in from now on and Rachael will just keep a little bit of cash on her for small purchases." (Sam) For many people with dementia, money loses its symbolic meaning. Consequently, they may be less careful with it, lose it or give it away. At the other extreme, some people with dementia hoard or hide money. Due to memory problems, they may end up paying for goods or services more than once or not at all. To make matters worse, they are not always aware that they have a problem handling money. This can be dangerous in that it can make them vulnerable to abuse. Some people with dementia also give away goods, sometimes of financial or sentimental value to themselves or others. With regard to financial issues, they may be able to handle some transactions or parts of a transaction but not others. Typical transactions which may at some time prove problematic include the following: - Handling money (identifying coins/notes, counting money and paying in cash) - Withdrawing money (from a cash dispenser and over the counter) - Using cheques (writing and cashing a cheque, balancing a cheque book) - Using credit cards (understanding the principle and consequences of their use) - Understanding bills and statements of account - Paying bills on time and distinguishing bills from offers for goods or services - Managing loans and debts It is advisable for people with dementia and carers to think about these potential problems as soon as possible and to try to find a solution. In some cases, the carer may be able to help directly, whereas in others, it may be advisable to seek outside help. For the person with dementia If you experience problems handling money: - Ask the cashier/shop assistant to help you by taking the relevant money out of your purse or wallet for you (presuming that you consider him/her to be trustworthy). - Take your time when making a payment. - Take someone with you to help or just to make sure you don’t make a mistake. - If you do go shopping alone, try to take just enough money to cover the estimated cost. Ask someone for advice if you’re not sure how much that should be. - Carry a small amount of money to cover taxi fares if you get lost or feel unwell. - Find a time to do your shopping when it is fairly quiet. - It might be preferable to get little bits of shopping in regularly. - Find out if there is a concession card available for public transport.1 If not, buy a weekly transport card to avoid having to deal with cash. - Avoid paying with a credit card as you may find it difficult to keep track of how much you are spending and accumulate debts without realising. Another problem with credit cards is that nowadays you usually need a PIN number and this can be easily forgotten. - Arrange for monthly/regular bills to be paid by standing order or direct debit. That way, you won’t have to worry about forgetting to pay. - Consider granting a Power of Attorney to someone you trust. - Ask for help whenever you need it. - If you have a joint account, make sure that your partner can withdraw money without your signature. - Consider making a will so that you can decide what you want to happen to your money and possessions. For the carer - Discuss the various issues with the person with dementia and try to find solutions together e.g. powers of attorney, standing orders, credit accounts at shops, limiting the amount of available cash, writing a will etc. - If you handle the money of the person with dementia, keep it separate from your own and keep receipts and a record of what you have received/spent in case you are asked to account for it (particularly if you are not related). - If you are unable to manage the finances of the person with dementia, you should both consider alternative solutions e.g. look into official guardianship measures, appoint a financial administrator etc. - If you are the partner of the person with dementia and have joint accounts, savings and debts, it will be necessary to ensure that you have full access to your accounts even when your partner no longer has capacity. - Avoid taking over completely if it is not necessary. Last Updated: vendredi 11 septembre 2009

<urn:uuid:97a7fa9d-370b-424f-b8df-6bc8719e66f2>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.alzheimer-europe.org/FR%E9%85%B6/Living-with-dementia/After-diagnosis-What-next/Dealing-with-practical-issues/Financial-and-administrative-matters

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Mattatayah Antigonus, the ambitious son of Aristobulus II, led several futile Jewish rebellions against the Romans during his father's imprisonment, only increasing Rome's suspicions of independence-minded Jews. In 43 B.C., the murder of Antipater, the chief supporter of his Roman-aligned uncle, Hyrcanus II, led Antigonus launch a last attempt to seize control of Judea. He was defeated in battle by Antipater's younger son, Herod. But Antigonus allied himself with the Parthians, who were challenging Rome for control of Syria and Palestine. . "[Antigonus] promised [to Parthia] one thousand talents and five hundred women to dispose of Hyrcanus and give the throne to [him] ." Proclaiming Antigonus king, a Parthian force took Jerusalem in 40 B.C., deposed Hyrcanus from power and held Herod's older brother, Phasael, hostage. Herod, however, escaped and rallied Roman support. After the Parthians were defeated by Marc Antony, Antigonus was eventually captured by Herod in 37 B.C., and delivered to the Romans at Antioch, where he was executed, thus marking the transition from the end of the Maccabean Dynasty and the beginning of the Herodian. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural details that are often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. The struggle of Jewish independence, as represented by this coin, has in modern times finally come to an end. This coin reconnects us with the past, with those who fought and struggled for their freedom against an oppressive empire over two thousand year ago. - (C.7820)

<urn:uuid:d40f1e8c-ce46-41de-9635-619dd98c8aa4>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.antiques.com/classified/Antique-Coins/Ancient-coins/Antique-Maccabean-Bronze-Prutah-of-King-Alexander-Jannaeus---C-7820

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

At the bottom of what became known as the Lee Declaration are 12 hash marks in the "aye" column, one for each colony declaring its independence (New York would sign on later). The date is July 2, 1776.Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. "So why don't we celebrate on the 2nd?" Ferriero asks vault manager Jane Fitzgerald as she gingerly handles the nation's first declaration of independence. Because the final declaration, she said, wouldn't be printed until two days later. John Adams may have predicted that July 2 would "be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more," but the archivist of the United States will have to wait two days to hang out with Thomas Jefferson on the Mall and ride in his agency's first-ever Fourth of July parade float. "Things that you've grown up learning about, there's actually documentation that proves that it actually happened," marveled Ferriero, confirmed as the nation's "collector in chief" in November. "That they have been preserved all these years is absolutely amazing." A former head of the New York Public Libraries, the nation's largest public library system, Ferriero now presides over an even bigger domain: 44 facilities across the country that include 13 presidential libraries, a huge military records center near St. Louis and, of course, the charters of freedom here. As head of the National Archives and Records Administration, Ferriero is responsible for the safekeeping of 10 billion paper records, 4 billion digital records, 300,000 reels of motion-picture film, 200,000 sound and video recordings, 30 million photographs, 2.7 million maps and charts, and 3.5 million architectural drawings and engineering plans. "It's an awesome responsibility," said Ferriero, 64, "but also very exciting." Ferriero recently oversaw the release of 170,000 pages related to Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, who served in the Clinton White House. It took 16 archivists, six archival technicians and a supervisor working more than 6,000 hours, seven days a week, at the Clinton Presidential Library to process the records in time for this week's confirmation hearings. Many of the Kagan records, like so many today, were e-mails. Although less than 3 percent of government documents have traditionally been deemed important enough to keep permanently, the advent of electronic records has produced a tsunami of data that has made collection and curation in some ways more difficult than in dead-tree days. And much of it, both paper and electronic, has been secret. Until now. Soon after Ferriero moved into his office here, President Barack Obama issued an executive order that 400 million pages of secret documents be declassified as part of his administration's effort to increase transparency and open government. He called for a new National Declassification Center within the archives to coordinate a governmentwide review of records, many of them relating to military operations during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The goal, as Ferriero wrote on his blog, is "to get as many of these documents as possible on the open shelves -- as quickly as possible -- for researchers, journalists, historians, government officials and the public" by the end of 2013. Ferriero expects the first batch of declassified documents to be released later this year. In the meantime, the National Archives will announce two initiatives later this month to streamline and make easier public access to government records: - Electronic Records Archives. The government's digital vault is about to go online for the first time in a search-friendly format that will allow the public to more easily find and order copies of electronic records stored in the system. - Federal Register. The daily compendium of government rules and regulations and general goings-on will soon be searchable online. While the routine doings of government may make for dry reading, a new comments section that allows the public to weigh in on legislation as it's being hashed out should make for lively give-and-take. Ferriero said federal agencies will monitor the comments, but he was unsure what the rules of posting would be. "It's your opportunity to learn what your government is doing, how your tax dollars are being spent and your opportunity to influence that," he said. "That's what this is all about. The way we encourage that is making it readable, in English, highly graphical, with lots of uses of technology to make it interactive." Ferriero, the first national archivist to tweet and give updates on Facebook, hopes to have an iPad app next. But while he wishes he had thought about tweeting the Declaration of Independence as Slate has lately, old-fashioned parchment and paper still excite him as he prepares to oversee his agency's biggest day of the year. Like a kid in a candy store, Ferriero looks on as Fitzgerald and archivist Trevor Plante pull out acid-free folders containing one irreplaceable colonial document after another. There's the deposition of Capt. John Parker on how the Battle of "My entire life as a librarian I've had access to great collections," said Ferriero, once head of libraries at MIT and Duke University, "but it's hard to top the charters of freedom."

<urn:uuid:74936497-2465-402e-929d-a8a7426c6550>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/07/02/us-archivist-preps-for-july-4-on-real-independence-day/

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

The White (Concolor Fir) Fir grows in acidic, drought tolerant, loamy, moist, sandy, well drained soils. The White Fir, sometimes called Concolor Fir, is a favorite Christmas tree among discerning buyers. It is also an important timber tree in its natural range within the Sierra Mountains and the western slopes of the central Rockies. It is widely planted as a beautiful ornamental in the East. Not surprisingly, White Fir is named for its light-colored bark and the silvery or "glaucous" color of its needles. The beautiful White (or Concolor) Fir has light-colored bark and silver blue-green needles. Tolerates most soils and drought. Matures at 50', 20' spread in the home landscape. (zones 4-7) White fir are used for cover by mammals and game birds. It is also used for roosting and nesting by songbirds and the seeds are eaten by squirrels and game birds. White Fir is one of the 40 members of its genus worldwide, and nine in North America. Its common name is descriptive of the foliage, whereas its scientific name is not too helpful. "Abies" is simply the ancient Latin word for Fir trees, and "Concolor" means "together, or of one color." This wild mountain resident has no outstanding credits to its name in the lumber business. It does have commercial value and is harvested for miscellaneous products, but it is far overshadowed by its stronger woodland associates. Long ago, naturalist Donald Peattie predicted the real glory of this species. "Rather does the future of this tree lie in its value as an ornamental," he wrote in 1953. It is today a favorite for urban landscaping. Normal moisture required; drought tolerant. The needles of the White Fir are silvery blue to silver-green; flat; blunt; 2 to 3 inches long. (The longest of the Fir family.) The fruit is elongated; upright; 3 to 6 inches long; dry or hard; brown.

<urn:uuid:8e340136-9d20-46f9-9d7c-44aa27957566>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.arborday.org/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ID=45

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Promotion of healthy swimming after a statewide outbreak of cryptosporidiosis associated with recreational water venues-utah, 2008-2009. Summary of "Promotion of healthy swimming after a statewide outbreak of cryptosporidiosis associated with recreational water venues-utah, 2008-2009." No Summary Available This article was published in the following journal. Name: American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Tr - PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22845912 - DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-6143.2012.04218.x Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions Sverdlovsk Accidental Release ANTHRAX outbreak that occurred in 1979 and was associated with a research facility in Sverdlovsk, in the Ural mountain region of central RUSSIA. Most victims worked or lived in a narrow zone extending from the facility. The zone of anthrax-caused livestock mortality paralleled the northerly wind that prevailed shortly before the outbreak. It was concluded that an escape of ANTHRAX caused outbreak. A moderate-growing, photochromogenic species found in aquariums, diseased fish, and swimming pools. It is the cause of cutaneous lesions and granulomas (swimming pool granuloma) in humans. (Dorland, 28th ed) An activity in which the body is propelled through water by specific movement of the arms and/or the legs. Swimming as propulsion through water by the movement of limbs, tail, or fins of animals is often studied as a form of PHYSICAL EXERTION or endurance. Intestinal infection with organisms of the genus CRYPTOSPORIDIUM. It occurs in both animals and humans. Symptoms include severe DIARRHEA. During the summer of 2007, Utah experienced a statewide outbreak of gastrointestinal illness caused by Cryptosporidium, a parasite transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Approximately 5,700 outbreak-re... On June 20, 2011, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security notified the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) of an Indiana fire station that reported gastrointestinal illness among a substanti... In July 2009, local, regional, state, and federal public health officials investigated a cryptosporidiosis outbreak at a youth summer camp in North Carolina. The investigation identified 46 laboratory... SUMMARYThe occurrence of a gastrointestinal illness among a class of 96 undergraduate veterinary students in New Zealand prompted laboratory and questionnaire-based investigations. Cryptosporidium par... Abstract Cryptosporidium spp. are frequent parasites of livestock and companion animals, raising questions about the clinical significance of such infections. Cryptosporidium infections have a wide sp... To provide azithromycin for the treatment of individual patients with proven cryptosporidiosis whose disease has persisted or progressed despite prior therapies. The purpose of this study is to see if nitazoxanide (NTZ) can be used to treat AIDS patients suffering from cryptosporidiosis (diarrhea caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium). The purpose of this study is to see if it is safe and effective to add interleukin-12 (IL-12) to the standard drug combination (paromomycin plus azithromycin) used to treat cryptosporidios... This protocol provides for the availability of spiramycin under compassionate-use conditions for the treatment of chronic diarrhea due to cryptosporidium in patients with a compromised imm... To examine the efficacy of cow's milk immune globulin in the treatment of diarrhea due to chronic intestinal cryptosporidiosis in patients with AIDS. The secondary end points of the study...

<urn:uuid:69e72b63-d5e8-46d9-986a-e13ffb14dba3>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.bioportfolio.com/resources/pmarticle/348377/Promotion-Of-Healthy-Swimming-After-A-Statewide-Outbreak-Of-Cryptosporidiosis-Associated-With.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Flaccid paralysis is a condition characterized by extreme weakness of muscles and loss of muscle tone. Acute paralysis in limbs that are flaccid (floppy or limp) are associated with this condition. Signs and symptoms depends on what is causing the AFP: Free Legal Case Evaluation - Progression of paralysis - Fever onset - Diminished muslce tone - Sensory loss, cramps, or tingling of palms and soles of the feet - Bladder dysfunction - Respiratory insufficiency Causes of Flaccid Paralysis A common cause of flaccid paralysis is anterior spinal artery syndrome, in which the anterior spinal artery is blocked. Blockage can be caused by spinal cord trauma, cancer, arterial disease, or thrombosis. Other causes of flaccid paralysis include: - Central pontine myelinolysis— The protective layer around the brainstem nerve cells is destroyed, preventing the transmittal of nerve signals - Hyperkalemia— Caused by an excess of potassium in the body - Hypokalemic periodic paralysis— An inherited muscle condition characterized by severe episodes of paralysis and muscle weakness which can last for hours or days - Japanese encephalitis— A form of encephalitis transmitted by mosquitoes Treatment for Flaccid Paralysis The doctor determines the location of activity using evaluation and special testing. Once the presence of muscle activity is determined, a therapist can help the patient regain some strength and muscle tone by reinforcing correct movement patterns. Acute Flaccid Paralysis and West Nile Virus The West Nile Virus has also been associated with acute flaccid paralysis because of a peripheral demyelinating process. Patients who exhibit sever weakness should be screened for West Nile Virus before beginning treatment for presumed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). AFP can be differenitated from GBS, as GBS usually exhibits symmetric weakness, sensory changes or parathesias, and the syndrome usually follows signs of a severe infection after several days. Elevation of CSF proteins is also characteristic of GBS.

<urn:uuid:6e63a950-a4e4-4c26-9cb4-ba7fba75da14>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/spinal-cord-injury-types/flaccid-paralysis/index.html

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

white-tailed sea eagle Simply begin typing or use the editing tools above to add to this article. Once you are finished and click submit, your modifications will be sent to our editors for review. description and characteristics White-tailed sea eagles ( H. albicilla), native to Europe, southwestern Greenland, the Middle East, Russia (including Siberia), and the coastlands of China, had disappeared from the British Isles by 1918 and from most of southern Europe by the 1950s; however, they began to recolonize Scotland by way of Norway in the 1950s and ’60s. By the early 21st century, more than 5,000 breeding pairs... ...Międzyzdroje also serves as a gateway to the Wolin National Park, known for its sandy beaches backed by steep cliffs. It is also an important habitat for the protected white-tailed eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla) and is the site of a bison reserve. The densely forested Drawno National Park is located in the central lakeland and is... What made you want to look up "white-tailed sea eagle"? Please share what surprised you most...

<urn:uuid:2d98bec4-3f69-4c46-adf8-7cc813ce14da>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1056145/white-tailed-sea-eagle

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Making it Stick Researchers find that even after a heart attack, healthy habits are hard to keep. While a New Year's resolution to start hitting the gym often fades by February, a heart attack can be a sobering wake-up call that it's time to get serious about getting healthy. But research shows that even survivors of cardiac events have a hard time sticking with exercise programs after their recovery. Researchers from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University checked up on 248 individuals one year after completing a 12-week rehabilitation following a cardiac event-a heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty-and found that only 37 percent exercised three times a week to keep their hearts healthy. "The study points out that interventions are needed to keep people exercising," says Mary Dolansky, assistant professor of nursing and the lead investigator of the study. The study identified differences based on gender and age. Women were less inclined to continue healthy changes than men, while young men sustained healthy exercise patterns better than all other groups. "The downward trend over time concerns us-especially since current guidelines suggest exercising five times a week," Dolansky says. "We need to understand why they stop exercising." Women notoriously tend to put taking care of their families ahead of their own health needs, says Dolansky, which could explain the gender divide. The research follows up on an assessment of individuals as they left a 12-week rehabilitation program to help cardiac patients make lifestyle changes in the area of exercise—a major factor in improving heart health. Research team member Shirley Moore, the nursing school's associate dean for research, led the original study. Both studies are projects of the SMART (Self-Managed Advancement Through Research Translation) Center, a National Institute of Nursing Research/National Institute of Health-funded Center of Excellence to build the science of self-management. This NIH-funded study is part of a long-term look at how people manage their chronic illness. Understanding the barriers that keep patients from exercising is key to determining what new interventions they need to maintain healthy habits for life, Dolansky says.

<urn:uuid:4c005eae-dbb6-45bb-b179-0111dfe2a535>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.case.edu/think/breakingnews/postheartattack.html?nw_view=1359359423

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en