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English I: Coming of Age and the Quest for Identity In English I, we will explore the complementary themes of coming of age and the quest for identity. The thematic focus of this course provides us with a platform from which we can develop our skills as critical thinkers, readers, and writers. In our reading and discussion of various texts-including short stories, poetry, novels, and films-we will consider both the meaning and form of the works. Throughout the course we will write in a variety of genres such as personal narrative, reflection, and literary analysis. Golding, Lord of the Flies Homer, The Odyssey (Fagles trans.) Knowles, A Separate Peace McCullers, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream This required course engages students in an extensive study of the short story form in the first semester, helping them to acquire a critical vocabulary and learn specifically about the literary elements of Plot, Character, Setting, Theme, Style, Tone, and Point of View. The writing component focuses on literary analysis and interpretation, with an emphasis on organization, structure, and thesis statement development. Regular vocabulary study is required. In the second semester students study multiple or longer works by major authors as well as literary criticism. The writing component focuses on research, with students preparing a major documented research essay on a literary topic. Regular vocabulary study is once again required. Bronte, Jane Eyre Roberts and Jacobs, eds., Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing Shakespeare, Julius Caesar MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Edition Information Seeking offers true life-long learning. The contents of this course will be integrated into existing projects, papers and assignments being completed in English II. The additional skills taught in this class are common to all disciplines, learning environments and levels of education. This class addresses the increasingly important skills that students need to intelligently use technology and sort through the complexity of information being presented to them from a variety of places in a range formats. In this class the students will become trained thinkers, seekers, evaluators and users of information.

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6 April 2012. Two papers published this month claim to identify those at greatest risk for Alzheimer’s disease and illuminate the mechanisms behind it. In one, French researchers identify a gene that may be poised to join the ranks of the few that are blamed for early-onset AD. Mutations in SORL1, which has previously been implicated in late-onset forms of the disease (see ARF related news story) showed up in seven out of 29 families who had early-onset AD with no known genetic mutation, according to a Molecular Psychiatry paper published April 3. A paper published April 6 in the American Journal of Human Genetics by U.S. researchers aims to connect some of the most prominent AD risk alleles according to their past natural selection. It suggests that a protective module incorporating three of those alleles may have been beneficial in human ancestry. Dominique Campion of INSERM in Rouen and colleagues have long sought genes responsible for familial, early-onset AD. Many cases of this form of AD are not caused by mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin-1 (PSEN1) and PSEN2 genes, and Campion is among those researchers who have gone looking for more culprits. His lab group previously added candidate genetic alterations to the list when they described a duplication in the APP gene (see ARF related news story on Rovelet-Lecrux et al., 2006) and rare copy number variants in genes involved in Aβ processing in some early-onset families (see Rovelet-Lecrux et al., 2011). Of the 130 autosomal-dominant families they screened, however, 14 still lacked a genetic explanation for their disease. In the current study, first author Cyril Pottier and colleagues sequenced the exomes of individuals from those 14 families. None carried any of the previously known mutations or copy number variants associated with early-onset AD. But in five participants, the researchers found missense or nonsense mutations in SORL1. This gene encodes a transmembrane neuronal sorting receptor called LR11/SorLA that binds APP and controls its movement through the retromer/retrograde pathway. None of these variants surfaced in a control sample of 1,500 healthy individuals. To replicate their findings, the researchers looked at another early-onset patient group of 15 cases with no known mutations. There, SORL1 was mutated in two patients—one missense and one nonsense. "This is the first evidence that SORL1 is involved in early-onset forms and autosomal-dominant forms of Alzheimer's disease," said Anne Rovelet-Lecrux, also of INSERM, a coauthor on the article. But were these mutations harmful? Scientists need to show that a mutation not only exists, but also is pathogenic. Previous research has shown that hampered SORL1 expression leads to more Aβ production (see Rogaeva et al., 2007). In one of the individuals with mutated SORL1 in the French study, RNA blood cell analysis revealed stunted SORL1 expression. Further, computational analyses predicted that the other mutations were likely damaging or pathogenic. But to really figure out whether the mutations are deleterious, the research team plans to develop cell models to analyze the pathogenic effects of each of these SORL1 mutations on Aβ release, Rovelet-Lecrux said. In addition, since segregation data were unavailable in most of the families with these mutations, the team cannot be sure yet whether SORL1 mutations result in fully penetrant early-onset disease. "These are promising candidate mutations," said Rudy Tanzi, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, who was not involved with the research. He agreed that crucial next steps will be to validate these mutations in cell models or animal models and show coinheritance in families. "We still need to see functional validation before we call these bona fide early-onset mutations," he said. Since there are many more families with early-onset AD and unknown genetic mutations, more genes for early-onset AD are likely yet to be found—some perhaps involved with Aβ in some way, said Rovelet-Lecrux. "The screen picked a novel gene in [the amyloid] pathway, thus reinforcing the amyloid cascade hypothesis in early-onset forms at least," Campion told Alzforum in an e-mail. While researchers have likely found all the deterministic mutations for the earliest forms of the disease that become symptomatic in people's forties or even earlier, there probably are other genes still to be found for early-onset AD that occurs between the ages of 50 and 65, Campion said. Compared to the known APP and presenilin mutations, the SORL1 gene seems to fit into this latter category. Campion's lab group will continue to probe the exomes of early-onset family members to seek out more mutations. Not only will the results help identify the people most at risk for the disease, but they may lead to insights about the cause and treatments for Alzheimer's, Tanzi told Alzforum. "The genes tell you what's broken and thus what you need to fix," he said. "Every new gene provides another opportunity to do that." A separate trend in AD genetics research is to try to find patterns between AD risk genes. "We have these susceptibility genes, but we don't understand how they work in the context of Alzheimer's disease," said Philip De Jager of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. He and his colleagues decided to look for evidence of recent natural selection in the top 11 gene variants associated with sporadic Alzheimer's disease (see AlzGene Top Results). The goal was to see if, like the ApoE locus (see Drenos and Kirkwood, 2010), any of these top hits had undergone recent selection. Three of the 11 genes they examined genes—PICALM, BIN1, and CD2AP—showed evidence of recent natural selection in people of East Asian descent. "The odds of that are pretty small," said De Jager. The genes may have been under selection pressure together because of some non-AD-related event in that particular population's history—perhaps a pathogen or metabolic or environmental challenge. "If true, the genes may be part of the same pathway," he said. To test that hypothesis, the group used a computational tool that looks for connections between genes based on whether their proteins interact and whether they are expressed in the same tissue. Though the proteins did not connect directly to one another, they did fit into the same pathway. Several intermediate proteins also seem to have undergone natural selection in the same East Asian population. One such intermediate, GAB2, has been associated with AD already. "We offer robust statistical evidence that these genes are interacting, and we link in new genes that were not suspected to be part of the pathway," De Jager said. "These offer targets for further genetic work to see if they do contribute to susceptibility of Alzheimer's." The researchers don't know exactly what the proteins do together; however, several of them are generally involved in vesicular trafficking. The team also found that some of the gene variants with evidence of natural selection seemed to influence gene expression in immune cells. These results suggest that the variants may have once been under selection because they altered immune cell function and protected individuals against a pathogen. Though speculative, "it is a plausible explanation [for how] this functional gene module, which is important for Alzheimer's disease today, probably has other uses in other contexts," De Jager said. Using mRNA data from immune and non-immune cells, he and colleagues plan to investigate this functional module to define its component genes and characterize the consequences of AD-associated genetic variation on its function. "How the proteins coded by these genes interact could be an important part of the mechanism in Alzheimer's disease," said Caleb Finch, University of Southern California in Los Angeles. "The association of this cluster with modern Alzheimer's risk factors is intriguing and will lead to productive experiments to test the hypothesis."—Gwyneth Dickey Zakaib. Pottier C, Hannequin D, Coutant S, Rovelet-Lecrux A, Wallon D, Rousseau S, Legallic S, Paquet C, Bombois S, Pariente J, Thomas-Anterion C, Michon A, Croisile B, Etcharry-Bouyx F, Berr C, Dartigues J-F, Amouyel P, Dauchel H, Boutoleau-Bretonnière, Thauvin C, Frebourg T, Lambert J-C, Campion D and PHRC GMAJ Collaborators. High frequency of potentially pathogenic SORL1 mutations in autosomal dominant early-onset Alzheimer disease. Molecular Psychiatry 2012 April 3. Abstract Raj T, Shulman JM, Keenan BT, Chibnik LB, Evans DA, Bennett DA, Stranger BE, De Jager PL. Alzheimer disease susceptibility loci: evidence for a protein network. Am J Hum Genet. 2012 Apr 6;90(4):720-6. Abstract

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|Park Reconstruction. View south on 6th Avenue from 42nd Street 1934 (Photo: NYC Parks Department)| The real change came in 1933 with the election of the reform-minded Fiorello LaGuardia as Mayor of NYC. LaGuardia knew that the prevailing situation, wherein the city’s parks were directly administered by borough Presidents who often had no expertise in the field, was inadequate. LaGuardia proposed that all of the city’s parks be administered by one true Parks Commissioner, and nominated Robert Moses for the post, who already chaired the New York State Park Council, was President of the Long Island State Park Commission. State lawmakers didn’t want Moses to hold all those positions, but after some intense lobbying in Albany, the appointment came through and Moses wasted no time. |1934 Opening Dedication with Commissioner Moses (Photo: NYC Parks Department)| Using Simpson’s plan as a basis, Moses directed an incredibly quick refashioning of Bryant Park in 1934. The park was raised four feet from the street, a broad lawn was installed, and the entire park was surrounded by a granite wall topped by a wrought-iron fence. The Lowell Fountain (picture taken at the opening dedication ceremony on September 14, 1934) was moved from the shadow of the library to its current position on the west end of the park, and 270 London Plane trees were planted. Though the effect was lavish, the renovation cost was relatively modest, as workers from the New Deal-era Civil Works Administration were employed. In little over six months, the park was transformed from a waste heap to an attractive accompaniment to the Beaux Arts magnificence of the New York Public Library. Praise was generally lavish, but not everyone was thrilled. Lewis Mumford, longtime architecture critic for The New Yorker, famously dissented. After perfunctorily admitting that anything was better than the previous situation, his objections centered on the fact that the east-west orientation led to a spectacular vista of…the Sixth Avenue El train. That structure had plagued the park since the 1880’s and was finally torn down in the late 1930’s. That was good news for the park, but unfortunately, that demolition, coupled with the construction of the Sixth Avenue subway, dominated the park for years. This photo of the El being torn down gives a good idea of just how unsightly it was. |Dismantling the IND 6th Avenue Line 1939 (Photo: NYPL)| There were other problems with the design, not immediately apparent. As discussed here before, the elevation of the park removed it from the ebb and flow of pedestrian traffic (check out this photo to see the effect the elevation wrought). Also, the stone walls, the relatively few entrances, and tall hedges inside the park exacerbated an urban problem that Moses and Simpson could not have anticipated: the open selling of illegal drugs. Whatever the defects, the 1934 rehabilitation of Bryant Park established some important precedents. First, the need for a breathing space in midtown-Manhattan was widely acknowledged; second, business and building owners in the area made it clear that they believed a thriving park was essential for the success of the entire neighborhood; and third, the changes that strong leadership could bring to bear on a seemingly forlorn cause was made apparent. For more information on the park's transformation, read posts from our 20th Anniversary Series: - March 20: Bryant Park from 1992 to Today - March 26: Bryant Park Before BPC - April 4: The Tide Turns in 1980 - April 10: Bryant Park in the 1930's This is an excerpt from a series of articles on the transformation of Bryant Park from our weekly newsletter, MidCity News, written by Terry Benoit. MidCity News keeps park enthusiasts informed about our events, milestones, operations, and all of the detailed maintenance work that goes into caring for the park. Weekly updates are sent with our sister organizations 34th Street Partnership and Chelsea Improvement Company. You can view this most recent edition of MidCity News online, or sign up to receive it in your inbox.

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Global environmental challenges from The Great Debate UK: - Dr Andrew Hooper is an Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology and is an expert on monitoring deformation of Icelandic volcanoes. The opinions expressed are his own. - The unprecedented no-fly zone currently in force across much of Europe has already caused the greatest chaos to air travel since the Second World War. Thousands of flights have been cancelled or postponed with millions of travel plans affected. The economic consequence to our ‘just-in-time’ society is incalculable at this stage given the disruption to holidays, business plans and indeed the wider business supply chain. However, the global cost of the disruption will surely ultimately result in a cost of billions, with the share price of several airlines in particular already taking a hit. It is exceptionally hard to gauge how long the current grounding of flights will remain in force, although Eyjafjallajökull, the Icelandic volcano which has erupted, could potentially sputter on for months or even more than a year. Much could depend upon weather patterns, especially wind direction, over the next few days.

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Barriers to Self-Fertilization Flowers can be staminate (bearing only male reproductive organs), pistillate (bearing only female reproductive organs), or perfect (bearing male and female reproductive organs). Individual plants can be monoecious (bearing staminate and pistillate flowers), dioecious (staminate and pistillate flowers borne on separate plants), or even trioecious (staminate, pistillate, and perfect flowers borne on separate plants). Within dioecy, various conditions can be found in different species; gynodioecy, for example, is the term applied to the breeding system of species in which individuals bear either female or hermaphrodite flowers (Richards, 1997). Almost three-quarters of all plant species produce perfect flowers. Approximately 5 percent are dioecious, and slightly more than 5 percent are monoecious (Molnar, 2004). Pollination can occur within the flowers of a single plant, among different flowers of a single plant, and among flowers of different plants. A plant that is self-fertile and self-pollinating is called autogamous if pollination and fertilization take place within the same flower. A plant is geitonogamous if pollination and fertilization take place between flowers of the same plant, whereas a plant that is cross-pollinated and cross-fertilized is xenogamous. It is common for plants to receive mixtures of self and outcross (nonself) pollen grains, especially if the male and female parts are in the same flower (Plate 1—a perfect or hermaphrodite flower). Perpetual self-fertilization could be problematic for plants because of the many potential genetic complications associated with inbreeding (Charlesworth and Charlesworth, 1987). Accordingly, adaptations that reduce the likelihood of selfing exist in many taxa. Dioecy and monoecy promote outcrossing,

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$12 Sale Happening Now. The Quantum Internet is Born “Years from now it may be said that the quantum Internet was born today.” Of course, the quantum internet is just in the baby stages now - but when it matures, it will be able to process ridiculous amounts of data at blaring speed, and never be hacked. The system, developed by physicists Stephan Ritter and Gerhard Rempe at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Germany, has two nodes. Although this is small, the internet you’re on right now started in the 1960s in a similar process. This first quantum network was built by utilizing two atoms of rubidium which exchange photons. Each atom is placed inside an individual ‘room’ with highly reflective mirrors surrounding it, and at a short distance from its sister atom. These rooms, called optical cavities, are connected by an optical fiber. First, scientists aim a laser at the first rubidium atom, which induces an emission of a single photon. That photon travels along the optical fiber to the other optical cavity, containing the other atom. Thanks to the mirrors, the photon bounces off the mirrors thousands of times, and is absorbed by the atom upon collision. This absorption transmits information about the first atom’s quantum state - and voila, a transfer of information. The two rubidium atoms were entangled beforehand, which effectively means that they were linked together. During entanglement (read more about entanglement here), certain properties of the atoms are linked, and measuring one instantaneously produces the same result in the other atom. During this experiment, the atoms were entangled for 100 microseconds - a long time in quantum physicists. Entanglement what renders any form of hacking impossible - as soon as a would-be hacker tapped into the quantum network, the quantum states of the atoms would no longer match up. This is the first step towards something great. I love physics Interviewer: And we’re hoping that at some point we can get rid of the hungry and sleepy problem. Jason Silva: Exactly, because that’s really the point, right? We want to transcend our biological limitations. We don’t want biology or entropy to interrupt the ecstasy of consciousness. Consciousness, when it’s unburdened by the body, is something that’s ecstatic; we use the mind to watch the mind, and that’s the meta-nature of our consciousness, we know that we know that we know, and that’s such a delicious feeling, but when it’s unburdened by biology and entropy it becomes more than delicious; it becomes magical. I mean, think of the unburdening of the ego that takes place when we watch a film; we sit in a dark room, it’s sort of a modern church, we turn out the lights and an illumination beams out from behind us creating these ecstatic visions. We lose ourselves in the story, we experience a genuine catharsis, the virtual becomes real—-it’s total transcendence, right?Right. Silva: But then think of being in the movie theater and you have to pee, or you have a headache, or you ate too much for lunch before the movie and you’re being weighed down by your metabolism. This is biology getting in the way of the potential that consciousness has to experience these heightened states. So you have this interesting thing happening where biology is this emergent phenomenon that builds upon its own complexity, and it leads to the emergence of consciousness, but then consciousness wants to free itself from constraints that biology sets forth. So even though biology causes consciousness, it also burdens it. This guys mind is amazing oh how i wish life was simple as the cartoons we watch Has Science Found the First “White” Hole? A white hole is a theoretical beastie that exists as a set of equations that were a by-product of Einstein’s theory of relativity. It is basically a black hole in reverse. If a black hole is an object from which nothing can escape, then a white hole is an object into which nothing can enter—it can only radiate energy and matter. i dedicate this song to michael

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Family: Papilionidae (swallowtails). Geographic Distribution: North and Central America. Larval host plants: Red Bay (Persea borbonia) and Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) Habits: Broadleaf evergreen swamp forests and woods near rivers. Identification: These butterflies are similar in appearance to the Black Swallowtail whose range overlaps but is found in most of the eastern US. The Black Swallowtail has distinctive spots on its abdomen.

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PSAT/NMSQT is the Preliminary SAT National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It is given in October to our sophomores and juniors, and Deerfield handles the registration. You do not need to sign up for the PSAT. Scores from the junior year are used for National Merit Scholarship Qualification (NMSQT), and are for student, advisor and parent reference only. These scores are not sent to colleges. SAT I is the most common college admission exam in the Northeast. The exam consists of critical reading, mathematics, and writing sections, and requires four hours to complete. It is administered six times a year on campus between October and June. SAT Subject Tests are often referred to as SAT IIs. These are one-hour, multiple choice exams that test your knowledge of specific academic subject areas such as foreign language, math, sciences, history, and English literature. Students can choose which tests to take and the tests are offered six times per year, on the same dates as the SAT except in March when only the SAT is offered. Foreign language subject tests include a listening section only on the November exam. Many highly selective colleges require two (and very rarely three) SAT subject tests in addition to the SAT I (or ACT—see below). However, many colleges don’t require any subject tests. It is important to know whether or not you will need subject tests (and which tests you may need) so be sure to check the admission websites of the colleges you are considering. Although three subject tests can be taken in one sitting, we recommend that you sit for only one or two at a time because it is difficult to be well prepared to take three at once. ACT (American College Test) is an alternative to the SAT and more popular than the SAT in many parts of the country. It is a content-based test with sections on reading, English, math, science, and writing. The ACT requires students to answer more questions in less time than the SAT, so speed is important. Many students find the test more straightforward. Research shows that 60% of students do about the same on both tests, 20% do better on the ACT, and 20% do better on the SAT, so it may be worth taking both to see which test is better for you. (Learn more about the differences between the tests.) Students can submit the ACT instead of the SAT I, the SAT subject tests, or both, depending on the college’s application requirements. All colleges accept the ACT and have no preference between the ACT and SAT. We offer a free ACT practice test each February for students who would like to try it to see if it might be a better test for them. The ACT is offered in September, December, and April at Deerfield. Most students will use the May and June test dates to take subject tests. The May date falls just before AP exams, and the June test date falls at the end of exam week. Plan carefully so you can spread the tests out and prepare adequately.

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Edgar Allan Poe Finally Getting Proper Funeral One hundred sixty years ago, the beleaguered, impoverished Poe was found, delirious and in distress outside a Baltimore tavern. He was never coherent enough to explain what had befallen him since leaving Richmond, Va., a week earlier. He spent four days in a hospital before he died at age 40. Poe's cousin, Neilson Poe, never announced his death publicly. Fewer than 10 people attended the hasty funeral for one of the 19th century's greatest writers. And the injustices piled on. Poe's tombstone was destroyed before it could be installed, when a train derailed and crashed into a stonecutter's yard. Source & Full Story To learn how to use GeneaNet, please read the "GeneaNet First Steps" pages.First Steps To ask for help on any topic related to the GeneaNet website, to report a bug and to make a suggestion, please go to our forum.Forum Questions not related to blog notes will not be answered here. Many thanks for your comprehension.

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May 19th, 2013 Pentecost May 20th, 2013 Whit Monday May 21st, 2013 World Day for Cultural Diversity May 22nd, 2013 National Maritime Day May 22nd, 2013 World Biological Diversity Day May 25th, 2013 African Liberation Day May 26th, 2013 Trinity Sunday May 27th, 2013 Memorial Day May 27th, 2013 Jefferson Davis Birthday May 29th, 2013 International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers May 30th, 2013 Corpus Christi May 31st, 2013 World No Tobacco Day June 1st, 2013 Statehood Day June 3rd, 2013 Jefferson Davis Birthday June 4th, 2013 World Day for Child Victims of Aggression June 5th, 2013 World Environment Day June 6th, 2013 Isra and Mi'raj June 8th, 2013 World Oceans Day June 11th, 2013 Kamehameha Day June 12th, 2013 World Day Against Child Labour June 14th, 2013 World Blood Donor Day June 14th, 2013 Flag Day June 16th, 2013 Father's Day June 17th, 2013 Bunker Hill Day June 17th, 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification June 19th, 2013 Juneteenth June 20th, 2013 World Refugee Day June 20th, 2013 West Virginia Day 16th Century Spanish Baroque Painted Wooden Sculpture. Polychrome Infant Jesus For Sale Striking Spanish Baroque Painted Wooden Sculpture from the 16th Century. Polychrome Infant Jesus with the Globe in his Hand Antique and valuable Spanish painted wooden sculpture depicting Infant Jesus with the Globe in his hand. This is an original polychrome carving from the 16th century that still keeps a great part of the painting that covered it completely hundreds of years ago. It is a very antique and highly appealing piece, an iconographic representation known as “Niño de la Bola” or “Santo Niño de la Bola” (Holy Child with the Ball). These sculptures are representations of Jesus Christ as Infant Jesus carrying a ball in his hand that symbolizes the World. In this particular piece the ball is missing, but the figure still preserves all its charming and beautiful presence though hundreds of years have passed by since it was made. The Child is standing on an anvil-shaped wooden pedestal. The figure depicts a completely naked child who is lifting his right hand in a blessing pose. The fingers of this hand are missing and so is the left hand that in origin would carry the Globe. The rest of the sculpture is almost complete, and some points have been attacked by antique woodworm. Nevertheless the figure has been treated and the woodworm is completely eradicated. This sculpture keeps a great part of its original painted covering, and this feature provides it with high value and enhances its deep beauty. More than the fifty per cent of its surface is covered by stucco and temple painting used to embellish this kind of pieces. The skin’s delicate color shows light shades of pink in some places such as the lips and cheeks, turning this sculpture into a charming piece. The figure’s back also keeps most of its paint; the covering is missing mostly at the front left side of the piece. This amazing sculpture is a real collector’s piece because of its ancient age and great beauty. It deserves a place of honor in an elegant room or a stylish house. Measurements: Width: 340 mm. Height: 780 mm. I think I left nothing in the description but if I forgot something, I'll be glad to answer any questions. offer with confidence. We are professional antique dealers. For any questions about this or any other article you can contact me through or by calling +34 976 45 39 31. We are open from 9 am to 8 pm Madrid time. Thanks for trusting me and enjoy ! My name is José Pascual, and I am an antique dealer located in Zaragoza, Spain, which is a medium size city between Madrid and Barcelona. If you have any question, send me an email and I will gladly answer you. Enjoy my articles and I hope we keep in touch. Best wishes from Spain." José Pascual Aznar CLICK here to see my other items BUY SAFELY WITH US As important is to win the sale as what happens afterwards. Our work is not complete until you receive your item safely in your home. - We are a 5 Stars Seller, which means that , certify that we have achieved the highest standards of quality in the service we offer. - We certify that our products are 100% originals. Otherwise we undertake to refund of the purchase. - We certify that the description and dating of the article that we give is 100% accurate. Otherwise also, we pledge to refund of the purchase. - This article will be perfectly packed so that it arrives in excellent condition. We pay full attention that you receive your article perfectly. We treat the article as if it were going to be sent to ourselves. Shipments are made with the best transport agencies worldwide, with the possibility of express delivery and insured. All shipments have tracking number via the Internet, so that at all times we know where your package is. Some articles as antique weapons, can not be sent by ordinary mail. We will contact you once the sale is ended, to specify the type of delivery. Shipping performed in association with WE GUARANTEE YOUR ACQUISITION Investing in antiques is always a nice way to profitable your money. Many collectors have became millionairs. If you are starting a collection, follow these important tips: - If you want to invest in antiques, always choose original pieces and avoid reproductions. A reproduction loses half of its value in the same minute that you are purchasing it, while an original antique gains value each passing day. This is an original antique and its value will continue growing tomorrow. - Read and learn about for area of interest: swords, clocks, phonographs, antique photos, old silver, technical antiques, typewriters... Invest in books as much as in your collection and learn as much as you can. If you keep your collecction catalogued, you will increase its value. - Keep yourself informed about the market prices in your area of interest. There are many sources but mainly, visit as many fairs as you can, research in the Internet and read the final sales prices in the traditional sale houses. - Finally... Collect antiques, not junk. It is always better a small collection with excellent pieces than a huge collection of junk, rusty irons and broken machines. Select your pieces. There is not a goal to reach, so take the pleasure in in the process of your treasure hunting. A collection should be something to enjoy, and there is many interesting pieces out there and very few time to enjoy them, so be selective with your choices. If you follow these simple steps you will be in the correct direction to develop an excellent collection, whatever is your area of interest and, for me the most important of all, enjoying the process

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CAPTIVE IN LIBYA - A REPORTER’S STORY A year ago, as the uprising in Libya got underway, Clare Morgana Gillis was covering the fighting and was captured by the Qaddafi forces. She was held captive with two colleagues and a fourth was killed. During the time, she was accused of being a spy and eventually was brought to Saadi Qaddafi, the third son of the then leader of Libya. Read Clare’s piece on her detention here. Read Clare’s blog. A DAGUERREOTYPE CAPTURES ONE DAY IN 1848 Get out your magnifying class for this conversation with a librarian from the Cincinnati Public Library. She tells the story of a daguerreotype of the Cincinnati river front that was examined, blown up and conserved by the George Eastman House. Once the work was done, details were revealed that no one could have imagined, giving us a glimpse of a moment in life from 1848. Explore the image here. Learn more about the project. Music in this episode: 1850 by Claude Bourbon; Haymaker’s Hoedown from Ashokan Farewell / Beautiful Dreamer - Songs of Stephen Foster.

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Thank you for signing up! Solar Cooking Saves Trees and Does Global Good The next time you turn on the stove to boil water, think about this: Between 50 and 60 percent of the world’s population — more than 3 billion people — still build fires with wood and other biofuels to cook meals. That’s a lot of trees going up in smoke — and contributing to deforestation, as well as climate change. Burning wood releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. What’s more, social action groups say widespread reliance on cooking fires is leading to health and social problems including respiratory illness, poverty and even violent crime in many regions. The team at nonprofit Solar Household Energy (SHE) says there’s a solution that comes up every day: The sun. SHE and other organizations including Solar Cookers International, Jewish World Watch and the Solar Oven Society are bringing solar ovens and education into remote communities in countries around the world. How can something barely bigger than a breadbox do that much good? These gleaming contraptions are fueled only by direct sunlight — no gas lines, firewood or even solar panels required. Sun cookers can roast up a hearty meal faster than you might think — in the middle of nowhere. In places like Darfur, Kenya, Rwanda and Central America, that can make all the difference in the world. How solar cooking takes on global problems Kenya has lost five percent of its tree cover in the last 10 years as villagers and refugee camp residents cut trees for firewood. And in Botswana, where many people cook with wood fuel, annual per capita carbon dioxide emissions are 2.2 metric tons per person, compared with 1.1 in China, according to the World Resources Institute. “There is nothing more important than solar cooking for fighting climate change and biodiversity degradation,” says SHE Training Director Louise Meyer. Once local trees are gone, firewood must be purchased — and it isn’t cheap. “The poor in these areas spend 25 percent or more of their income on fuel,” Meyer adds. “We call it fuel poverty when your daily spending for fuel threatens money you need to spend on food.” Cookers provided to Darfur refugee camps by Jewish World Watch have reduced the need for firewood by up to 75 percent. And for many — especially women — in these regions, the ability to cook with the sun’s energy is much more than a free alternative to buying firewood. Annual deaths from respiratory diseases related to breathing cooking smoke stand at 1.6 million. But solar cooking’s social impact is perhaps the most compelling part of this story. In refugee camps in Darfur, it’s the women’s responsibility to get firewood, and often they must forage for miles outside their camps. But this puts them at risk of beatings, rape and murder at the hands of roving Janjaweed patrols and local villagers competing for scarce resources. Harnessing the power of the sunlight shining down in their own camps enables these women to remain safely inside the camps instead of out walking miles beyond camp boundaries. Meyer says access to solar cooking also enables families to use money previously spent on fuel to buy a more nutritious variety of food. And SHE is showing people how to use the solar cookers they’ve received through its program to run small restaurants or bakeries, as well as to dye fabrics, can produce, or sell and repair solar cookers and train neighbors in how to use them. SHE builds solar cooking success story in Mexico SHE’s work to address all of these issues extends from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Peru to several countries across Africa. In Mexico’s Sierra Gorda Nature Reserve, SHE teamed up with Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza to introduce solar cookers and educate area residents on how to use them. “I cook chickens perfectly in my solar cooker!” says homemaker Teresa Díaz Martínez from nearby Oaxaca, who tried a solar cooker as part of SHE’s Sierra Gorda program. “We must teach people how to solar cook rather than use a lot of fuel wood.” Solar Cookers International makes a difference in Kenya Margaret Owino, regional director for the East Africa region of Solar Cookers International, says sun cookers offer an instant solution to a multitude of problems. Owino’s work bringing solar cookers to villages and refugee camps in Kenya is profiled in the Earth Cinema Circle featured documentary Suncookers. “The sun is an infinite resource,” says Owino, “and we can use it for one of the basic human needs — to cook food and make water safe to drink. We have the technology; we just need to support the venture. My passion is speaking the news that the sun can cook.” Washington is getting the message SHE recently collaborated with a number of organizations to demonstrate solar cooking on Capitol Hill and raise awareness among policymakers about how solar cooking programs are helping to solve social and environmental problems. SHE representatives served samples of solar-cooked foods, from chocolate chip cookies to Cornish game hen, ratatouille and corn muffins. The demo made waves. “Want to stop global warming … and excessive [use of] wood?” blogged Capitol Hill renewable energy advocate Adam Siegel. “Solar cooking is a path toward achieving this.” How you can support solar cooking for social good Sales of Gaiam's HotPot solar cooker subsidize SHE’s distribution of solar cookers in developing regions. And Solar Sport Oven’s manufacturer donates a portion of proceeds to help support similar programs. You can also make a tax-deductible donation directly to SHE or Solar Cookers International. Images courtesy of Solar Cookers International

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Where a Ball Ends Up after a Collision If a moving ball collides with a stationary one, then the moving ball should be replaced along its original trajectory at the point corresponding to the sum of the distances travelled by both balls from the point of collision. The above result incorporates the assumptions that there is a constant deceleration of the ball1, the collision is elastic (energy is conserved) and the balls have the same weight. A simple proof of why the distance travelled by a ball is proportional to its energy is given in the Appendix. Under those conditions the distance travelled by a ball is directly proportional to the energy it carries. This is reassuring – hit the ball with twice the energy and it goes twice as far. When the balls collide the energy is shared between them and they each move a distance corresponding to the fraction of the energy they received. Add the distances travelled by the separate balls and it gives you the distance which would have been travelled by the unhindered ball. It has been noted by Max Hooper who used a mallet-swinging rig, that the method above underestimates the final position of the ball. This is not surprising given the assumptions. The assumption that the collision of the ball is elastic (energy is conserved on collision) is patently false. The coefficient of restitution (bouncyness) of a croquet ball is defined in the Croquet Laws to lie between 50-75% (6th Edition Laws Appendix 2; a ball must bounce between 30-45" when dropped from 60" on to a defined rigid surface). Consequently 25-50% of the energy is lost during a head-on collision. We know that distance scales with energy hence we should need to multiply the sum of the scattered distances by up to 2 times. The amount of energy available to be transfered between balls during a collision also depends on the geometry. There is no real problem with the assumptions that both balls weight the same. The final assumption that the balls undergo a constant deceleration (which justifies the 'distance scales with energy') is a rough approximation. A curve fitting was used on experimental data to produce a relationship1. The data is sparse for when the ball is moving slowly (i.e. for short total travel distances = short transit times). It may be that a slowly moving ball decelerates less than a quickly moving ball. Further measurements are needed but the empirical data indicates that the estimate of constant deceleration is good and not likely to have as large an effect on the Simple Theory as the assumption that energy is conserved. There are additional factors which affect the forces on the balls after collision, some may be non-linear with ball velocity. These include: All of these will act as 'energy leaks' and hence may make the deceleration dependent on velocity (hence not constant). It is, for example, well known that air resistance scales as the square of velocity. More experimentation is needed. An Australian System A system is proposed in the Australian Croquet Association (ACA) Referees Manual (2003, Page B16). I hope I have paraphrased their solution accurately below (thanks to Owen Edwards for the recipe). As indicated in the caption the Red ball is replaced the distance it was scattered from the point of collision plus two and a half time the distance the Brown ball was scattered. From the above sections in this document it is clear that the multiplication factor (2.5) is an attempt to scale for the energy losses on collision and for what happens subsequently. For certain collision configurations this is plausible. Consider however the two circumstance below: A) where Red hits Brown almost full on - as in a rush, and B) where Red gives Brown only a slight glancing blow. The situtations are approximatey symmetrical with the balls interchanged. Case A) is the hardest to reconcile. In the rush-like situation, Brown is boosted almost as far as Red might have travelled. Yet Red gets replaced two and a half times y1 up the lawn. Given the approximate diagrams above it seems unlikely that x1 + (2.5 * y1) = x2+ (2.5 * y2). Experiments have yet to be repeated. The almost mathematics-free version is: Energy = force x distance, the force being the resistance of the grass (constant, by assumption). If you start two balls with say half the energy, they each will go half the distance; add the two distances together and it is the same as a single ball with all the energy. We can attempt to make it appear more thorough by using Newton’s Equations of Motion: Consider a ball rolling along the grass; it will stop when its velocity becomes zero after a time tf – the ‘final’ time. Putting v = 0 into Eqn. 1 and rearranging; substitute t= tf in Eqn. 2 and we get the total distance, sf, travelled by the ball: A little bit of deviousness now in the calculation. We use the standard equation for the initial kinetic energy: This is the simplification; the ball will hold its energy in both kinetic and rotational energy but those forms are readily inter-convertible. We would be surprised if a ball came to rest but was still spinning! We can rearrange Eqn. 5 to get u, the initial velocity, in terms of E: We can now substitute for u2 in Eqn. 4 This result shows that the total distance, sf, is a simple multiple of the initial energy, E. Note that the 'acceleration', a, is negative designating a deceleration due to the friction, etc. against the grass and ground. This yields a positive distance travelled. Another way to phrase it is that the energy decreases linearly with distance. 1. Lawn Speeds: http://www.oxfordcroquet.com/tech/lawnspeed/index.asp All rights reserved © 2008-2013

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My question is driven by the plot below. We see that acceptable operating range of a motor is between 50-100% of the rated load. Below 40% or so the efficiency of the motor drops off dramatically. What is the cause of this phenomenon? First, efficiency of an electric motor is just output power divided by input power. Input power is your electrical input power, which is V*I. Output power is your mechanical output power, which is speed*torque. Given that, we can see that efficiency for every motor is going to be 0% at no load (i.e., maximum speed at 0 torque). Efficiency will then increase as torque increases until it reaches a maximum and then it will start to drop off until stall torque is reached. At this point, the efficiency is 0% again because the speed will be zero. The other way to ask your question is why is efficiency low at low loads? Friction is the main cause of inefficiency at low loads. Losses due to friction are essentially constant with respect to load so at low loads, the majority of your input power may be used to overcome friction. As the load increases, friction plays a smaller and smaller roll in the overall efficiency. Granted, other inefficiencies begin to occur at larger loads ($I^2R$ losses, copper losses, stray load losses, etc.) but in a well-designed motor the efficiency will peak in the 80-100% load range.

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Hi Teachers, I am working on a class and I need to talk to some fellow teachers via blogs and ask some questions and find out if they live in rural, urban areas. Some of the questions I have are: 1. How do you teach vocabulary in your class? 2. Do you use rubrics? If so in what subject areas? 3. How do you use technology in your classroom? 4. How do you teach spelling in your classroom? Any help with this would be SO appreciated!!!!!

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Featured Scientist: David G. McGrath, Ph.D. Associate Scientist Project: Human ecology and management of the Amazon floodplain The Amazon varzea, the core area of the Amazon floodplain, is one of the largest and most biodiverse tropical wetland systems in the world. Its fertile soils and abundant plant and animal resources supported some of the densest and most politically complex societies in the Amazon basin. Varzea resources have continued to play a central role in the regional economy. In recent decades the rise of commercial fishing, logging and extensive cattle ranching have modified varzea habitat and depleted key resources, leading to conflicts over access to and use of floodplain lakes, forests and grasslands. WHRC scientists are working with floodplain communities, grassroots organizations, key government agencies and other stakeholder groups, to develop a multi-scale comanagement system for reconciling conflicts and sustainably managing varzea resources. The overall objective is to develop the policies, and technical and organizational capacity needed for the co-management of floodplain fisheries and other natural resources and so conserve the ecological integrity and services that major tropoical wetlands like the Amazon provide. Video: Produced by Research Associate Kathleen Savage. Image: Igarapé de Costa in Santarém, State of Pará, Brazil. Courtesy of David G. McGrath. Composite design by Development Solutions of New England (DSNE).

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Didgeridoo helps stop snoring Kept awake at night by a snoring partner? It might be a good idea to ask them to take up playing the didgeridoo. New Swiss research has found that playing the didgeridoo can help reduce snoring and the day time sleepiness associated with the syndrome known as obstructive sleep apnoea. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome are two common sleep disorders caused by collapse of the upper airways. The researchers say a didgeridoo instructor reported that some of his students had less daytime sleepiness and snoring after practicing the instrument for several months. The didgeridoo is a wind instrument about 1.5 metres long from Australia and is traditionally made from the trunk of a tree hollowed out by termites. The researchers examined 25 patients who suffered from snoring and moderate sleep apnoea to scientifically assess what impact didgeridoo playing would have on them. Half the group were given daily lessons in playing the didgeridoo. First they were taught how to place their lips over the instrument and produce a keynote for 20 to 30 seconds. Then they learnt the art of circular breathing, a technique that enables the wind instrumentalist to maintain an unbroken sound for long periods of time by inhaling through the nose while maintaining airflow through the instrument, using the cheeks as bellows. The participants had to practise at home for at least 20 minutes on at least five days a week. Those who played the instrument over a four-month trial period saw a significant improvement in their daytime sleepiness and apnoea. And their partners also reported less disturbance from snoring. The researchers say training the upper airways through the breathing techniques required to play the didgeridoo was behind the improvement. "Our results may give hope to many people with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and snoring, as well as their partners," they say.

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Investigating and prosecuting cybercrimes are diverse and fluid fields. The dark-hearted members of the human race have found ways to exploit innovations for their own selfish means throughout time. Now, with the ever-growing global dependence on computer networks, criminals are finding new ways to disrupt lives in the real world through enterprise in the cyber one. The U.S. Department of Justice and its allies have adapted their methods and techniques over the past decade and continue to adjust to prevent the morphing illegal activities in cyberspace, whether the computer crime itself is the full intent or only part of a larger scheme. During the past 10 years, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has seen changes in intrusions and cybercases, from the crimes themselves to the types of criminals carrying out the illegal actions. Previously, most computer crimes were perpetrated by lone-wolf hackers acting independently, often for fame, publicity or the thrill. Today, cybercrime has become more organized, with financial gain serving as the main motive for most actions. Attacks often are aimed at financial institutions or designed for identity theft. And instead of some solitary computer geek giggling away as he hacks into networks from his basement, groups of people are now coming together, sometimes in tight organizations and sometimes in more loosely knit associations, to achieve a financial end. Though the DOJ has seen instances where organized crime uses the Internet to handle some of its activities, most of the online organizations the department battles lack a hierarchy. Instead, people use social networking tools such as instant messaging, forums and e-mail to connect and work together in groups. They buy themselves information so people in different countries or across one nation can work together to perpetrate a crime. This type of networking allows for greater specialization in a particular field. In the past, when cybercrime was conducted mainly by individuals, each criminal had to obtain all the pieces necessary to carry out the transgression. For example, someone aiming to commit financial fraud might need three pieces of information—a credit card number, a fake credit card and a fake identification—to steal money. Now, officials at the DOJ are dealing with more specialized criminals who band together and collaborate to benefit from one another’s individual areas of expertise. People skilled at stealing credit card numbers would sell that information to individuals who are experts at encoding fake credit cards. In 2004, the department made a major bust in this area, taking down a large operation known as Shadow Crew, which was basically a marketplace for selling identification information. One of the DOJ’s greatest challenges is the increasing organization of groups committing cybercrime as well as the increasing intersection of organized and hacking crime groups. International organized criminals are using computer networks to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from the In other efforts to address the problem of organized crime in cyberspace, the DOJ has prioritized and targeted these groups and has employed resources across the government to address the factions. The resources include collecting and synthesizing law enforcement and intelligence information on these targets. In addition, the department continues to expand cooperative cybercrime operations efforts with foreign law enforcement agencies. The Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat International Organized Crime announced by the U.S. Attorney General in April 2008 specifically addresses the threats these groups pose in cyberspace, including the ability of groups to wreak havoc in locations far from their physical geographies. In terms of cybercrime and cybersecurity, the cooperative strategy builds on years of foundational work by the DOJ in international organizations such as the G8, Interpol and the Council of Europe. “Our efforts in these groups involve both building the legal infrastructure so that criminals do not find safe havens in countries that do not have the laws to prosecute them, as well as building the operational infrastructure, ensuring that police and prosecutors are prepared to investigate and prosecute high-tech crime, and to cooperate with other countries in doing so,” Lynch explains. Operationally, prosecutors and law enforcement in the These crimes being perpetrated in cyberspace and the methods of carrying them out force the DOJ to adapt its techniques both in apprehending and prosecuting the guilty parties. “It creates challenges in both respects,” Lynch says. Actually identifying the people responsible for computer crimes is difficult and requires the use of many resources from the department’s law enforcement partners. Finding the perpetrators of computer crimes can be a two-fold effort. First, law enforcement officials have to locate the cyber identity of the guilty party. Once that is complete, they still have to dig beyond the nickname to attribute the activities to an actual person. To do this, officials follow both electronic and money trails, and they sometimes find the money trail to be more efficient to trace. Lynch explains that the DOJ and its partners must integrate the information they receive from the cyberside of an investigation with old-fashioned techniques such as forensic accounting and surveillance of people picking up money. Jurisdiction also is often an issue in cybercrimes. Because cyberspace covers all geographies, criminals working together might be in different parts of one country or different countries. Crimes cross state, district and other boundaries, and Lynch acknowledges that working with state and local law enforcement, international partners and other agencies to identify different people involved with a criminal effort and to prosecute them successfully can create challenges. For example, the first knowledge of an identity-theft ring might come from the New York Police Department when someone tries to pass a fake credit card. That individual may be linked to people in a foreign country or other parts of the While officials at the DOJ declined to comment on specific current or future cyberoperations, Lynch did explain that the department continues to evaluate the changing shape of criminal behavior. Any information discovered through those efforts will be rolled into the department’s future initiatives. He shares that officials always are looking at the threat and criminal landscape as well as working with their law enforcement partners to ensure appropriate reaction to threats. Other areas where the DOJ holds its cards close include specific technologies used in the detection and prosecution of criminals—these are open for discussion only when they come up in court—and research and development activities. Though the department does not comment directly on its research and development, it does work with partners across the public and private sector to ensure the acquisition of necessary capabilities. Beyond basic law enforcement technology, officials with the department must be aware of financial and banking systems operation, and they must share information they learn during investigations with the private sector so institutions can secure themselves better in the future. The DOJ works to ensure a healthy line of information among prosecutors, responders and the private sector. The agency strives to ensure it obtains threat and vulnerability information. That usually does not go directly to prosecutors, but to investigative agencies, underlining the need for robust information-sharing practices. Investigators and prosecutors have a number of methods available to them when trying to track down cybercrimes. Statutes and standards in place enable law enforcement officers to request search warrants from a court to obtain necessary information from contract service providers. Basic customer information also can be obtained with a subpoena. The DOJ continues to examine the tools for investigating crimes on the network to ensure they keep up with current technologies. Officials also continually examine the balance between privacy and law enforcement needs. Despite the pervasive nature of cybercrime, Lynch says it is only one of several high-priority fields in the DOJ. The highest priority is terrorism, and much of the department’s work deals with national security issues. In many cases, cyberoperations become a part of other operations. Lynch explains that his office has consulted with law enforcement agencies, and the criminal division works closely with the national security division to ensure that best efforts are applied to investigating terrorist operations. Lynch explains that cybercrime and cyberhacking are his focus area; however, information related to computer networks has effects across all types of criminal activities. The Child Protection and Obscenity Section of the DOJ, for example, has a large cyberfocus to address child pornography that is being traded online. Across the criminal landscape, perpetrators use computers to commit crimes, so Lynch’s division provides advice and assistance to help equip its partners with the information they need to investigate those misdeeds. Terrorism prosecutors in the National Security Division, for instance, need knowledge of computer operations and how to store information on computer systems legitimately to identify how groups are communicating using computer technologies. Lynch shares that the military and intelligence communities focus on the cyberterrorism threat in partnership with the DOJ. State-sponsored computer crimes often come to the department as a law enforcement issue. When officials first see an intrusion into a network, they have to determine if the intruder is an individual criminal, a member of an organized crime group or someone working to disrupt national security. The DOJ works with the intelligence community and the FBI to ensure that information about the threat is appropriately shared and handed off to the right people at the right time in the process. Lynch says that quantifying personal risk versus institutional risk is difficult. If investigators find someone’s personal information is being used for financial theft, they might not know immediately how criminals obtained that information. It could have been stolen when a person voluntarily offered the information in response to a phishing e-mail. Or, the information could have been collected through malicious software that records keystrokes on a computer system. Additionally, information could have been stolen from a bank, retailer or public database. As cybercrime and cyberoperations continue to advance and change, the law has to adjust as well. Several recommendations for changes to the U.S. Code for computer crime were enacted by Congress in August 2008. Updates to the computer crime statute have occurred several times over the last decade to ensure criminality is covered adequately. Lynch explains that when looking at appropriate statutory approaches, the DOJ tries to avoid language that is too specific about technologies and methods so the statute can be used to prosecute new forms of criminality as they emerge. Language should remain neutral when describing crimes and how they are carried out, because otherwise when a new technology comes along, changes must be made to the laws and regulations. The legislative process often moves more slowly than the criminals who are developing means for exploiting the system. To counter this effect, authors try to keep the legislative language as broad as possible to ensure officials can prosecute crimes. Lynch explains that much of what occurs is simply new ways of committing the same crime and that the department wants to ensure the public understands that is illegal. Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section: www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/index.html Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Investigations: www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/cyberhome.htm Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat International Organized Crime: www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2008/ioc-strategy-public-overview.pdf

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Lead Disulfide Microcrystals Atomic force microscopy (AFM) image of lead disulfide microcrystals grown on a silicon oxide surface patterned by the AFM using "Dip-pen Nanolithography" (DPN). The field of view is 11.6 µm across, and the hexagonal crystallites are about 60 nm high. DPN was used to write a 5 µm x 5 µm chemically-reactive region on the wafer, which was then soaked in lead acetate and exposed to H2S gas. Microcrystals selectively grew starting from the patterned area. S. E. Kooi, L. A. Baker, P. E. Sheehan, and L. J. Whitman. Image courtesy: Dr. L. J. Whitman, Naval Research Laboratory.

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Global warming news and climate change headlines for March 2008 March 31 - Australia's love affair with cars cranks emissions The Australian state of Victoria has experienced an overall carbon emission increase of 12.6% since 1990 with transport associated emissions being the major contributor, skyrocketing by 26.5% over the last 20 years. Road transport is the biggest offender, contributing 14.8% of the state's total emissions. Read March 30 - Global warming already affecting islanders The Sundarbans are where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers meet. For many villagers living on islands in this area, the effects of global warming are very real and they battle for survival. Melting Himalayan glaciers are raising river and sea levels - rebuilding crude dams and dikes to try and prevent inundation is a daily task. Read March 29 - Earth Hour initiative- 8PM - 9PM on March 29 Earth Hour, organized by conservation group WWF is a global climate change initiative which rallies individuals and businesses around the world to turn off their lights for one hour on Saturday March 29 2008 between 8 pm and 9pm. The aim of the campaign is to express that individual action on a mass scale can help change our planet for the better and to get people thinking more about ways of maximizing energy efficiency. March 28 - Warmer recent winters for Britain and Canada A study released by the British Meteorological Office has stated that the coldest winter days in Russia and Canada are as much as four degrees Celsius milder since the 1950s. In Britain, warming was between 0.5 and 2.0 Celsius. Read March 27 - Major ice shelf in Antarctica collapsing The Wilkins ice shelf, a 13,000 square kilometre body of floating ice recently lost 415 square kilometres and a large part of the ice shelf is now supported by only a thin area of ice. Ted Scambos, a scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Centre says the phenomenon has been rare up until recent times and is due to warm air and wave action. Read March 25 - Climate change threatens Aussie animals In Australia, climate change is not only threatening the viability of some of its unique animal species, but also encouraging the proliferation of non-native species. The cane toad that has ravaged parts of the state of Queensland is steadily spreading across the country and conditions are also benefiting the European fox. Read March 24 - Power needs accelerating faster than predicted The activity of developing nations including Africa, Asia and South America has accelerated global warming past official predictions. While the International Energy Authority states yearly growth in the planet's power consumption will be 3.3 per cent until 2015 an Aggreko study commissioned from Oxford Economics states 5 per cent annual growth. March 23 - Lovelock predicts global disaster James Lovelock, creator of the Gaia hypothesis which sees all the components of our planet as a complex interacting system that can be thought of as a single organism, believes that it too late to save the planet from global warming. Lovelock predicts that by 2040, parts of the Sahara desert will have moved into middle Europe, and China will become uninhabitable. Southern Europeans and South-East Asian, will be scrambling into countries such as Canada, Australia and Britain and subsequent ethnic tensions could lead to civil war. March 22 - US power station emissions increase The Environmental Integrity Project has released their findings after studying data from the US Environmental Protection Agency from more than 1,000 power plants using coal, oil and natural gas for electricity generation. Their study shows that carbon dioxide emissions grew by nearly three per cent last year, the biggest annual increase in nearly a decade. March 21 - Forget oil, invest in water According to the UN, around 20% of humanity lacks access to safe drinking water; while 44 percent of the world's population live in areas affected by high water stress - a figure expected to increase to 47 percent by 2030. Global warming related issues and population increases are beginning to see huge investment in water and waste projects around the world. March 19 - Adelaide heatwave one in 3,000 years event Adelaide residents (including me) are breathing a sigh of relief after a record heatwave finally subsided yesterday. The city experienced temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius for 15 days in a row, smashing the capital city record set by Perth in 1988 and ending with temperatures reaching 40.5 degrees. A climate model created by atmospheric scientist Dr Warwick Grace indicates that a heatwave of such intensity is only likely to happen once in 3,000 years. Read March 17 - Glaciers melting at record rate Experts been monitoring 30 glaciers around the planet for close to 30 years have found that glaciers are melting faster than at any time since records began. The findings have added to growing concerns about sea levels rising faster than previously predicted. March 14 - Deforestation emissions increasing According to the World Wildlife Fund, the current ratio of greenhouse gas contribution is 80/20, the larger figure being energy production and the smaller, deforestation. The WWF has warned that split may change if deforestation continues. The countries generating the largest amount of emissions through deforestation are Indonesia with 35 percent, Brazil with 19 percent and Malaysia with 10 percent. March 13 - Rapid growth in China's CO2 emissions forecast Previous estimates predicted China's CO2 emission to increase by 2.5 to 5 percent annually between 2004 and 2010, but new research from University of California, Berkeley, and UC San Diego believes the annual growth rate will be at least 11 percent for the same time period - representing an amount greater than the total current emissions produced by Great Britain. March 12 - Adelaide, Australia breaks temperature records Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia experienced its 9th consecutive day of temperatures over 35C (95F) with high temperatures expected to persist for at least another 6 days. The heatwave has been particularly unusual given the southern hemisphere is now in Autumn. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is confident that the heatwave is connected to a general warming of the atmosphere. Read March 11 - Britain goes back to black - coal power The UK government has sent environmentalists into a spin after showing support for the construction of new so-called clean coal power stations. An aging coal fired plant is to be replaced with two new units using cleaner coal technologies and utilizing controversial carbon sequestration. A further seven coal fired plants are also in the pipeline. March 10 - Wind power statistics According to the Earth Policy Institute, wind power capacity will exceed 100,000 megawatts globally this month and 2008 will be the first year that wind power additions in Europe will have exceeded the additions of any other power source, including natural gas. The cost wind power has decreased by more than 80 percent over the last 25 years to approximately 7 cents per kilowatt-hour at suitable sites. Read March 9 - European leaders warned of mass migration European leaders are being warned that due to their closeness to countries particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, pressure from migration and regional political instability could increase in the future. In the Middle East, water is becoming increasingly scarce and major reductions in crop yields are forecast. Climate change could also have a dramatic impact in South Asia, with serious consequences. Read March 8 - Oceanic deserts expanding due to warming The regions of the ocean where little to no plant life is found have expanded dramatically over the past decade. According to recent research, these biological deserts are growing at roughly 1 to 4 percent annually - an area around the size of Texas every year. Scientist have found that these barren areas are expanding due to increasing water temperatures. Read March 7 - OECD warns of 38% global emissions increase The OECD has warned the global economy could double in size by 2030, largely due to growth in countries including Russia, China and India. Without proper controls, this could create a 38 percent increase in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. The OECD is urging for carbon taxes to be established for most countries as soon as possible in order to motivate shifts to renewable energy, and low impact design and construction. March 6 - Reduction in coral growth points to acidic oceans A study of a section of Australia's Great Barrier Reef has found an unprecedented 21 per cent decline in the growth rate of finger corals. This is believed to be a warning sign of ocean acidification - where massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere have dissolved into the ocean, causing it to become more acidic. March 4 - China's killer dust storms on the move Schools in Korea have been closed due to a veil of sand and toxic dust from China covering much of the country and other parts of Asia. The yearly yellow dust storms, originating in China's Gobi Desert have been increasing in frequency and toxicity over the years because of China's rapid economic growth . The storms kill scores of people each year and cause billions of dollars in damage. March 2 - EPA's final ruling rejects Cali. emission standards The USA Environmental Protection Agency's has rejected California's request to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, marking the first time that the EPA denied states the ability to enforce more stringent vehicle emissions standards. The EPA's justification is the Clean Air Act only allows for emission standards for vehicles to address local or regional pollution problems, rather than global ones such as climate change. March 1 - Finland: warmest winter on record With average temperatures approximately 5 degrees Celsius (9 Fahrenheit) higher than usual, the warmest winter on record in Finland may increase crop yields due to an extended growing season. Parts of Finland had snow cover for only 20 days, which is over 50 less days than during a usual winter. March 1 - An ice free Arctic this year? According to Dr. Olav Orheim, from the Norwegian International Polar Year Secretariat, if Norway's average temperature this summer reaches the same level as 2007,the ice cap in the Arctic will be non-existent. Dr. Orheim and his associates are deeply concerned that the new shipping channels such an event will open up could see irreversible impact on ecological security in the Arctic region. March 1 - A warmer Arctic could become a battleground Former U.S. Coast Guard Lt.-Cmdr. Scott Borgerson believes a Canada-U.S. agreement must be formulated on how the Arctic should be handled as global warming opens northern sea lanes and the Arctic's huge economic potential. Territorial disputes could pose threat of "armed brinkmanship". With an ice-free Arctic in the summer being predicted to occur as early as this year; the complexities of carving up the Arctic among five states with competing claims is sure to become an increasingly pressing diplomatic and political issue very soon. March 1 - Australia to buy back water from farmers. The Australian government will be spending $50 million this year to buy back irrigator water entitlements in order to rescue the Murray-Darling Basin's rivers and wetlands after 11 consecutive years of dry conditions and six consecutive years of record low inflow on the Murray River. The Murray-Darling is one of Australia's longest river systems and is a critical water source for farming and drinking water for many towns and cities. Read

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Violence Against Women in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Comparative Analysis of Population-Based Data from 12 Countries This report, produced by the Pan American Health Organization, in collaboration with CDC, highlights that intimate partner and sexual violence against women is widespread in all Latin American and the Caribbean countries where survey data are available. Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance—United States, 2009 CDC released today the latest Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Surveillance Summary presenting state-specific data on the number and outcomes of all ART procedures started in 2009. This report provides detailed information on rates of preterm birth and low birthweight for infants conceived with ART as well as for overall U.S. births. In addition, state-specific data on determinants of multiple gestations and the prevalence of elective single-embryo transfers (eSET) are presented. Current Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Women of Reproductive Age—14 Countries, 2008–2010 Tobacco use and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in reproductive-aged women can cause adverse reproductive health outcomes, such as pregnancy complications, fetal growth restriction, preterm delivery, stillbirths, and infant death. To examine current tobacco use and SHS exposure in women aged 15–49 years, data were analyzed from the 2008–2010 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) from 14 countries. Announcing the Release of Smoking Cessation for Pregnancy and Beyond: A Virtual Clinic This is an interactive Web-based program designed for health care professionals to hone their skills in assisting pregnant women to quit smoking. Up to 4 hours of continuing education credits can be earned by completing the practicum. The Reproductive Health Assessment After Disaster Toolkit The Reproductive Health Assessment After Disaster Toolkit provides a set of tools to assess the reproductive health needs of women aged 15–44 years affected by natural and man-made disasters. The data gathered will promote and enhance evidence-based local programs and services to improve the reproductive health of women and their families.

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An overview of the Chandra mission and goals, Chandra's namesake, top 10 facts. Classroom activities, printable materials, interactive games & more. Overview of X-ray Astronomy and X-ray sources: black holes to galaxy clusters. All Chandra images released to the public listed by date & by category Current Chandra press releases, status reports, interviews & biographies. A collection of multimedia, illustrations & animations, a glossary, FAQ & more. A collection of illustrations, animations and video. Chandra discoveries in an audio/video format. Going Not Gentle Into That Good Night May 7, 2007 The Mystery of SN 2006gy, the Most Luminous Supernova Ever Recorded Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Astronomers have long recognized that massive stars do not have a gentle demise. Rather they explode as supernovas, explosions that can blaze with the light of a billion or more suns. Which stars make the most luminous supernovas? The recent discovery of Supernova 2006gy (SN 2006gy), a supernova that produced more light than any previously recorded supernova, has stimulated a lively discussion of this issue, and may provide insight into how very massive stars die. SN 2006gy was first detected by an optical robotic telescope as part of the Texas Supernova Search project on September 18, 2006. It brightened slowly for about 70 days, peaked at a luminosity or intrinsic brightness equal to that of 50 billion suns - ten times brighter than its host galaxy - and began a slow decline. The peak luminosity, the very gradual rise and decay of the brightness, and the total energy radiated put SN 2006gy in a class by itself. One possible explanation for this behavior is that a very massive star exploded into a dense gas cloud. Debris from such an explosion would collide with the gas cloud and produce a shock wave that would convert the explosive energy into light. Additional observations of SN 2006gy with optical telescopes in California and Hawaii determined that the bulk of the debris is moving outward at around 15 million kilometers per hour (kph) into a circumstellar cloud that is coasting along at a leisurely 700,000 kph. This cloud was presumably ejected by the doomed star prior to the explosion. So far so good. Until the X-ray data from Chandra came in. The Chandra data, taken 56 days after the explosion of SN 2006gy, revealed that SN 2006gy was a relatively paltry X-ray emitter. Although a collision of the supernova debris with the surrounding cloud is occurring, the cloud is not dense enough to explain the optical brilliance of the supernova. The weak X-ray emission also rules out any type of gamma-ray burst event. Another way to make an ultra-bright supernova is for the initial explosion to produce a large amount of radioactive nickel. Radioactive decay of the nickel into cobalt and other nuclei could feed energy into the expanding debris for several months, heightening the luminosity of the supernova. This happens when a white dwarf star becomes unstable and is disrupted in a thermonuclear explosion that produces, among other heavy elements, a fraction of a solar mass of radioactive nickel. About 50 times this much radioactive nickel would be required to account for the extreme luminosity of SN 2006gy. This rules out the possibility that the explosion of a white dwarf star, with a maximum mass of about 1.4 solar masses, is responsible. Simply cranking up the mass of the pre-supernova star fiftyfold will not work either. Theoretical calculations indicate that stars more massive than about 40 solar masses will collapse directly to a black hole without a supernova explosion, unless they manage to shed most of their mass and leave behind a neutron star when they explode. However, none of these scenarios produces much nickel. The solution of the mystery of SN 2006gy may lie in an obscure corner of the theory of massive stars. According to the theory, temperatures rise to several billion degrees in the central regions of stars with masses between 140 and 260 suns. The usual process of converting mass into energy (E = mc2 ) is reversed, and energy is converted into mass in the form of pairs of electrons and antielectrons, or positrons. The production of electron-positron pairs saps energy from the core of the star, disturbing the equilibrium and precipitates a collapse. This so-called "pair instability" would cause violent pulsations that eject a large fraction of the outer layers of the star, and eventually disrupt the star completely. Pair-instability supernovas, if they exist, would be the most energetic thermonuclear explosions in the universe. In stars with masses greater than about 260 suns, the pulsations would be overwhelmed by gravity and the star would collapse to form a black hole without an explosion. For stars with initial masses above about 200 suns, pair-instability supernovas would produce an abundance of radioactive nickel. So, it would seem that the mystery of SN 2006gy has an intriguing, even spectacular solution. The outburst represents the first detected example of a long-predicted (40 years ago) but never observed pair-instability supernova. At the same time it would establish that these very massive stars can exist. Maybe. A previous calculation of the expected light output from pair-instability supernovas showed that their peak luminosity would be about the same as that produced by the explosion of a white dwarf. This surprising, and disappointing, result was attributed to absorption of energy by the massive outer envelope of the star which is ejected in a pair-instability supernova. So, is it back to the hunt for other suspects? Not yet. The earlier calculations of peak luminosities made assumptions about the state of the pre-supernova star which may not be valid. In particular, it will be interesting to see new calculations for very massive stars with a different chemical composition (more carbon, for example) and somewhat smaller diameters prior to explosion. As SN 2006gy continues to evolve it will reveal more clues to its true nature. If its luminosity continues to decline smoothly from the peak as predicted from the known decay rates of radioactive nickel and cobalt, then the likelihood that astronomers have sighted a rare astronomical bird will be greatly strengthened. If not, there will be more raging against the dying of the light. REFERENCE: N. Smith et al. 2007, astro-ph/0612617v2 and references cited therein.

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Preparing your visit & travel to Aboriginal Australia Planning a trip? Want to experience Aboriginal culture? Get the most out of your trip by following these handy tips for your visit. Things to do from home Google and forums are your friends for preparing your trip. - Learn about Aboriginal culture. The more you know the more respectful you will be. Read websites like this. Try to find sites which give Indigenous peoples a voice. Read books written by Aboriginal authors. - Recognise stereotypes. Many travel sites still promote Aboriginal people as half-naked bush people who perform corroborees (ceremonial dances), throw boomerangs and play the didgeridoo. This is no longer the case. 60% live in cities. Avoid following those good tourist stereotypes. - Discover tribe names. Find out what Aboriginal people call themselves in the region where you will be travelling. They appreciate being called a Murri, a Koori or Nyoongar over just ‘Aboriginal’. It’s like being called a Pennsylvanian rather than just an American. For example, do a web search for ‘aboriginal tribe name sydney’. - Research Aboriginal history. Research Indigenous history of the places you are going to. What happened there after invasion? Were there any massacres? Aboriginal missions? Which local hero roamed the area? Which events influenced local Aboriginal history? Search the web for ‘aboriginal history perth’ for example. - Prepare your questions. You’ll be left with a few questions no matter how much you research. Prepare a list of them and take it with you. - Think what you’d like to buy. From your research you might favour certain art styles or artefacts to bring home. Browse pages about Aboriginal music and Indigenous movies for ideas. Many items are cheaper in Australia. - Research events. Chances are you’ll be at the right place at the right time at least once. But only if you know. Check out events of the area you visit organised by or with Aboriginal people. Things to do whilst travelling Now you’re here. Some tips to avoid the typical tourist traps. - Book tours offered by Aboriginal businesses. Many Aboriginal people offer tours and cultural experiences. Enjoy a first hand experience. Pull out your list of questions. Don’t be shy. Ask local travel agents, your backpacker reception or fellow travellers, or browse an Indigenous listing’s Tourism and Travel category. - Buy authentic Aboriginal. Many ‘tourist traps’ offer what they claim to be ‘authentic Aboriginal’. Don’t go there, chances are you’ll pay for middlemen and gallery rent. Buy directly from Aboriginal people. Ask Aboriginal people you meet they can point you in the right direction. Think not only of art, but also of books by Aboriginal authors, DVDs by Aboriginal directors and CDs of Indigenous musicians. Get a copy of an Indigenous newspaper. - Keep a diary. Write down your Indigenous experiences. You’ll be rewarded with a deeper, longer-lasting memory of what you’ve experienced and paid a lot of money for. Plus you can publish it on your blog or read it back home when you show off your photos. - Photograph respectfully. Don’t just point and shoot whilst in the presence of Aboriginal people. As with most social situations, ask if you can take pictures before you take the first. Your respect will be welcomed and permission granted more often than refused. - Ask, ask, ask. I cannot stress enough to fearlessly ask and engage with Aboriginal people. They’ll appreciate your interest. One of my questions evolved into a talk at the end of which I was invited to a ceremony. Things to do back home What a trip! Now that you’re back and your memory is still fresh. - Document your trip. Create one folder for each place you visited. Create subfolders if necessary. Copy the photos for each place from your memory cards into the appropriate folders. Rename the files if you have the time. Move the files you saved during your research into these folders. - Send back photos. You might have promised someone you met back in Australia to send them photos you took of them. - Copy your diary. Copy your diary notes into a digital medium if you wrote them by hand. Add references to the photos you took. - Tell how it was. You might notice how your perception of Aboriginal Australia has changed during your trip. Share this transformation. Many people still hold stereotypes in their heads. Write blog entries, comment in the forums you visited during your research phase or create a mini site with your most striking experiences. Create a slideshow and invite friends and family. Last updated: 14 November 2012 | Out of respect for Aboriginal culture I use Indigenous sources as much as possible.

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- Study at Deakin - Campus life - Industry and community - About Deakin Deakin University researcher Associate Professor Liz Eckermann is working to reduce the morbidity rates of mothers and infants in Lao PDR by gaining a better understanding of ancient customs called Yu Fai and Mother Roasting. Yu Fai, literally meaning ‘on fire’, occurs in a number of countries throughout South East Asia when after giving birth, a mother lies on a bamboo bed either over a brazier containing hot charcoal embers or with the brazier located in the centre of the room. Women remain on the hotbed throughout their confinement which can range from 10 to 45 days. The hotbed is only left when the mother undertakes a cleansing ritual otherwise she remains there all day and all night, eats her meals on the bed and nurses her infant with the temperature usually exceeding 50°C. Mother roasting is a separate activity within the Yu Fai ritual in which the mother exposes herself to high temperatures between 80-100°C generated by hot charcoal embers, either while seated on a chair, while standing crouched over the fire, or while reclining on the bed. There are many cultural imperatives for women in South East Asia to practice Yu Fai. For them to be good mothers they must adhere to cultural beliefs and practices surrounding the new born infant. There are also health benefits attributed to yu fai. However, a high morbidity rate for both mothers and children also needs to be properly investigated. “Lao PDR is well short of the 2015 targets for Millennium Development Goals in relation to maternal and infant morbidity,” said Associate Professor Eckermann, a member of the Alfred Deakin Research Institute. “It has one of the highest Maternal and Infant Mortality ratios in the Western Pacific Region. “Furthermore the levels of maternal and infant morbidity, especially from pneumonia and other respiratory infections, are very high. “A key likely contributor to post-parity maternal and infant deaths and morbidity is exposure, for both mothers and infants, to extreme heat, carbon monoxide and smoke pollution during the yu fai process which is practiced by over 90% of Lao families for up to 45 days after birth. “No attempts have been made to examine the impact on the health of mothers and newborns.” So the key challenges in Associate Professor Eckermann’s project are to: 1. Measure the levels of heat and smoke exposure during "yu fai" and the effects of such exposure on key indicators of health status. 2. Develop the technology to adapt the yu fai ritual such that it is smokeless and within an acceptable temperature range so that it causes no harm to mothers and babies. 3. Generate communication materials and networks to inform communities of the health advantages of smokeless and moderate heat yu fai technology which empowers women in their communities to make healthy choices for themselves and their children 4. Monitor heat and smoke levels with simple and cheap data-loggers and 5. Collate qualitative data on why yu fai is so central to postnatal care and identify what “safe” adaptations would be acceptable to communities unwilling to abandon it. The world-class nature of Associate Professor Eckermann's research was recently recognised a when she was invited to Seattle In the United States to be among the 65 finalists in the international competition called Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development. This challenge came about when USAID, the Government of Norway, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and Britain’s Department for International Development joined together to find the tools and approaches to help the mothers and newborns during their most vulnerable hours. It seeks ground-breaking prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant women and newborns in poor, hard-to-reach communities around the time of delivery. This is the period when the majority of maternal and newborn deaths occur and the population that has been the most difficult to reach. "Melinda Gates and many other funding partners were very interested in the topic," Associate Professor Eckermann said. "Many had never heard of yu fai. "I have been invited back again with a prototype product - an adapted rocket stove with damper to control temperature. "Other funders have also said they will be in touch, so overall, it was a great exchange and well worth the five days of concentrated effort."

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Sexual Diversity in Asia, c. 600 - 1950 Editor : Raquel A.G. Reyes, William G. Clarence-Smith Master eBook ISBN10 : 0203116003 Master eBook ISBN13 : 978-0-203-11600-5 No of pages : 192 eBook Price : $135.00 Originally Published : Jul 26, 2012 Non-reproductive sex practices in Asia have historically been a source of fascination, prurient or otherwise, for Westerners, who being either Catholic or Protestant, were often struck by what they perceived as the widespread promiscuity and licentiousness of native inhabitants. Graphic descriptions, and pious denunciations, of sodomy, bestiality, transvestitism, and incest, abound in Western travel narratives, missionary accounts, and ethnographies. But what constituted indigenous sexual morality, and how was this influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity over time and place? What sex practices were tolerated or even encouraged by society, community, and religious ritual, and what acts were considered undesirable, transgressive and worthy of punishment? Sexual Diversity in Asia, c. 600-1950 is the first book to foreground same- sex acts and pleasure seeking in the histories of India, China, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. Drawing on a range of indigenous and foreign sources, the contributors, all renowned experts in their fields, shed light on indigenous notions of gender and the body, social hierarchies, fundamental ideas concerning morality and immorality, and episodes of seduction. The book illuminates - in striking case studies - attitudes toward non-procreative sex acts, and representations and experiences of same-sex pleasure seeking in the histories of Asia. This path-breaking book is an important contribution to the study of gender and sexuality in Asian cultures and will also interest students and scholars of world history.

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Ten common myths about teaching Educators discuss the nation’s biggest misconceptions about teachers and their profession It seems everyone has an opinion about teachers and their profession these days … and most of them aren’t teachers. Perhaps it would be a different matter if the conceptions of teaching were like those of NASA engineers: smart, genius! Or maybe like those of firefighters: brave, self-sacrificing! However, in our nation’s current climate, saying the word “teacher” is like Forrest Gump opening a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get, as teachers too often are seen as a convenient scapegoat for the perceived problems that are plaguing public education. eSchool News recently asked readers: “If you could clear up one misconception about teachers and/or teaching, what would it be?” Our goal was not only to help others understand these misconceptions, but also to learn how teachers feel they are perceived by others. Here are 10 misconceptions about teachers and teaching that emerged from readers (responses edited for brevity): 1. Those who can’t do, teach. “The one misconception I would like to clarify is around the phrase, ‘Those who can cannot do, teach.’ While many educators are active contributors to the particular area in which they have domain expertise (i.e. Science, Language Arts, History), K-12 educators … have committed themselves to developing skills in how to engage and foster growth of young people around the content and processes that comprise that area of expertise. It is the very special practitioner [who] makes a good educator; however, good educators need to have enough knowledge of their areas of expertise to cultivate excitement, curiosity, and spark the passion to commit to a vocation or avocation. Maybe a better phrase is, ‘Those who teach create those who do.’” —Michael Jay “One of my favorites is, ‘Those who can’t, teach.’ Teachers must be well educated in their field of study, of course, but that is only the beginning. Teachers need much pedagogical preparation on topics including educational psychology, classroom management, assessment, curriculum instruction, communication skills, and budgeting. And that is all before a teacher steps into a classroom. The requirements for a qualified teacher include all of the skills needed for the 21st-century workplace.” —Mary Montag, teacher, St. Teresa’s Academy

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Rolf Muller sat in a seat next to a window of the bus and looked at the white stucco houses with red tile roofs. The bus was heading through Zeppelinheim, which was a town built for Zeppelin employees and their families. Rolf's father, Fritz Muller had worked for Dr. Hugo Eckener and Zeppelin for about 25 years and was now retired. Rolf became a Christian while living in Zeppelinheim with his parents and was not interested in the Nazi way of life. Rolf had been interested in airships most of his life and since his father worked for Zeppelin, was able to spend time around the Graf Zeppelin. The Graf Zeppelin was the predecessor to the Hindenburg. research help: ' The Hindenburg Murders' by Max Allan Collins. Read more articles by ric gustafson or search for articles on the same topic or others.

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In the Media Laser-based forest mapping as accurate for carbon as ground plot sampling November 02, 2011 Two new research papers show that an advanced laser-based system for forest monitoring is at least as accurate as traditional plot-based assessments when it comes to measuring carbon in tropical forests. The first paper, published in Remote Sensing of Environment by researchers from the Department of Global Ecology at Carnegie Institution for Science and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), compared plot data for Barro Colorado Island, Panama — the most intensively studied tract of tropical forest on Earth — with carbon data derived from overhead flights using the Carnegie Airborne Observatory’s (CAO) LiDAR system. It found that “lidar-based uncertainties of aboveground carbon stocks are indistinguishable from errors obtained when doing the most detailed plot-based estimates.” The second paper, published in Oecologia by researchers from Carnegie, STRI, and other institutions, laid out a universal equation for determining forest carbon stock values from LiDAR data. The equation — based on sampling of forests in Panama, Peru, Madagascar, and Hawaii — is adjusted for a forest region based two variables: basal area and wood density information, allowing researchers to “radically decrease” the time needed to calibrate airborne LiDAR data. Please click here to read the original news item. Keywords: Forest, laser, LiDAR, mapping, monitoring, MRV, remote sensing

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Vienna Philharmonic asks historians to look into alleged Nazi past Historian says orchestra demonstrated sympathy for Austria's Nazi leadership during Holocaust. The Vienna Philharmonic has asked three historians to research the orchestra's alleged Nazi past. The announcement on January 22 came after Harald Walser, a historian and Parliament member for the Austrian Greens, said in an interview that the orchestra demonstrated sympathy for the country’s Nazi leadership during World War Two. Historians Fritz Truempi, Oliver Rathkolb and Bernadette Mayrhofer will look into the "politicization" of the Vienna Philharmonic from 1938 to 1945, the fate of its Jewish musicians during that time and its relations with Nazis afterward, according to an orchestra statement, the French news agency AFP reported. Their report is due in March. Walser has called for forming a committee of inquiry into the role of the philharmonic during those years and said the orchestra has not released all its documents from the Nazi era or has destroyed some of them. He cited a listing on the philharmonic’s official website that describes a concert delivered on New Year’s Day of 1939 as a “sublime homage to Austria,” when it actually was a celebration of the country's unification with Nazi Germany in 1938. The New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic takes place each year on the morning of January 1 in Vienna and is broadcast to an estimated audience of 50 million in 73 countries. Walser claims that after the war, an emissary of the Vienna Philharmonic gave a new copy of its honor ring in 1966 to Nazi war criminal Baldur von Schirach, who was responsible for the deportation of tens of thousands of Austrian Jews to death camps, following his release from Berlin’s Spandau Prison for war criminals. Von Schirach had received the original ring in 1942. Six Jewish musicians from the philharmonic were murdered by the Nazis in Austria and 11 were deported to death camps, according to reports.

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What is the difference between Section 504 and IDEA? Can't find what you're looking for? Our health information specialists are here to help. Contact us at 800-233-4050 or online. There are significant differences between Section 504 and IDEA. Perhaps the most significant is that Section 504 is a civil rights law, and IDEA is an educational benefit law. Section 504 is designed to level the playing field for individuals with disabilities. Its purpose is to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the same access to education that individuals without disabilities have. It does this by eliminating barriers that exclude individuals with disabilities from participating in protected activities, including a free and appropriate public education. As an educational benefit law, IDEA offers additional services and protections for those with disabilities that are not offered to those without disabilities. These laws are also distinguished by their different eligibility requirements and the benefits they provide. The definition of a disability is much broader under Section 504 than it is under IDEA. All IDEA students are covered by Section 504, where as not all Section 504 students are protected under IDEA. An IEP, which is provided to students covered by IDEA, must be tailored to the child's unique needs and must result in educational benefit. However, a Section 504 Plan provides accommodations based on the child's disability and resulting weaknesses, but does not require academic improvement. Additionally, fewer procedural safeguards are offered to children and parents under Section 504 than under IDEA.

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Recognizing that many Americans learn about the past, and how to think about it, during their K12 years, many historians have worked to strengthen the bonds between historians and history teachers. Historians have long been active in their communities, in workshops with teachers, and in national organizations. One important locus of activity, however, has been neglected: history departments themselves. We believe that historians in higher education might educate, in more purposeful and effective ways, the future teachers among their own students. In fact, it seems to us, all history departments might benefit from interesting themselves in these issues even if they have not done so before. We urge every department to devote at least one department meeting in 2007 to discussing this message. To help focus the conversation, this document offers background, resources, and strategies that have worked elsewhere. - American Historical Association - Organization of American Historians - National Council for History Education - Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History - Carnegie Corporation of New York - The Thomas Jefferson Foundation - University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences - Virginia Center for Digital History

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No manned supersonic aircraft fought in World War II. In fact, the first manned supersonic flight had to wait until October 1O, 1947, when the Bell X-1 rocket plane exceeded the speed of sound. Nevertheless, the German V-2 ballistic missile penetrated the hypersonic range early in the war. The first V-2s fell on England in 1944 at speeds of Mach 5 (3400 mph) and were completely invulnerable to fighter interception. When the Allies captured the V-2 test facilities at Peenemunde on the Baltic, they discovered, to their surprise, a 0.4-meter (1. 2-foot) wind tunnel that could attain Mach 5 on an intermittent basis. In addition, a 1-meter (3.3-foot) continuous-flow tunnel capable of Mach 10 was under construction for the purpose of testing the German A-9 and A-10 intercontinental ballistic missiles destined for the bombardment of the United States. Hypersonic flight had thus leapfrogged the supersonic range. There was much debate about whether ballistic missiles would ever amount to much in a military sense, but the technically astounding V-2s made it imperative to at least explore this new range of flight. There is no clear-cut beginning of the hypersonic range of flight. Generally, speeds above Mach 5 are considered hypersonic. This is the speed at which aerodynamic heating becomes important in aircraft design. Hypersonic wind tunnels, like their supersonic cousins, employ the expanding nozzle principle to accelerate subsonic air to speeds faster than sound. Of course, the area ratio of the nozzle is much greater for hypersonic tunnels because the Mach 1 air at the nozzle throat must be accelerated so much more. To attain Mach 5, an area ratio (test section area divided by nozzle area) of 25 is required. The ratio jumps to 536 for Mach 10. Consequently, hypersonic test sections are fed through tiny nozzles that expand into grossly larger test sections. Pressure ratios must rise dramatically too-from 1.1 at Mach 1, to 20 at Mach 5, and 350 at Mach 10. Such high-pressure ratios increase the number of compressor stages and naturally demand more power. The hypersonic power requirements for continuous operation are so large that intermittent wind tunnels are common. In the intermittent tunnel, energy is stored, usually as compressed air, and then released suddenly to force a large quantity of air through the diminutive throat of the nozzle in a short period of time. So far, these considerations seem just simple extrapolations of supersonic tunnel design. But a new factor emerges as the tunnel air accelerates to hypersonic velocities: The air temperature drops dramatically as the air's latent heat is transformed into energy of motion. In a Mach 5 tunnel, for example, air at 200° F in the settling chamber before the nozzle will cool to - 350° F in the test section. This is close to the point at which air liquefies-not condensation of contained moisture but actual liquefaction of the air itself. To prevent liquefaction, tunnel air must be heated before it enters the settling chamber. In a Mach 10 tunnel, for example, the settling chamber air will typically be at a temperature of 3000 ° F and a pressure of 100 atmospheres. The hypersonic tunnel therefore resembles a rocket engine-a hot, highpressure one-although the ultimate energy source is not rocket fuel but stored compressed air.

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Kidney Disease of Diabetes On this page: - The Burden of Kidney Failure - The Course of Kidney Disease - Diagnosis of CKD - Effects of High Blood Pressure - Preventing and Slowing Kidney Disease - Dialysis and Transplantation - Good Care Makes a Difference - Points to Remember - Hope through Research - For More Information The Burden of Kidney Failure Each year in the United States, more than 100,000 people are diagnosed with kidney failure, a serious condition in which the kidneys fail to rid the body of wastes.1 Kidney failure is the final stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, accounting for nearly 44 percent of new cases.1 Even when diabetes is controlled, the disease can lead to CKD and kidney failure. Most people with diabetes do not develop CKD that is severe enough to progress to kidney failure. Nearly 24 million people in the United States have diabetes, 2 and nearly 180,000 people are living with kidney failure as a result of diabetes.1 People with kidney failure undergo either dialysis, an artificial blood-cleaning process, or transplantation to receive a healthy kidney from a donor. Most U.S. citizens who develop kidney failure are eligible for federally funded care. In 2005, care for patients with kidney failure cost the United States nearly $32 billion.1 African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics/Latinos develop diabetes, CKD, and kidney failure at rates higher than Caucasians. Scientists have not been able to explain these higher rates. Nor can they explain fully the interplay of factors leading to kidney disease of diabetes—factors including heredity, diet, and other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure. They have found that high blood pressure and high levels of blood glucose increase the risk that a person with diabetes will progress to kidney failure. 1United States Renal Data System. USRDS 2007 Annual Data Report. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2007. 2National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Diabetes Statistics, 2007. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008. The Course of Kidney Disease Diabetic kidney disease takes many years to develop. In some people, the filtering function of the kidneys is actually higher than normal in the first few years of their diabetes. Over several years, people who are developing kidney disease will have small amounts of the blood protein albumin begin to leak into their urine. This first stage of CKD is called microalbuminuria. The kidney's filtration function usually remains normal during this period. As the disease progresses, more albumin leaks into the urine. This stage may be called macroalbuminuria or proteinuria. As the amount of albumin in the urine increases, the kidneys' filtering function usually begins to drop. The body retains various wastes as filtration falls. As kidney damage develops, blood pressure often rises as well. Overall, kidney damage rarely occurs in the first 10 years of diabetes, and usually 15 to 25 years will pass before kidney failure occurs. For people who live with diabetes for more than 25 years without any signs of kidney failure, the risk of ever developing it decreases. Diagnosis of CKD People with diabetes should be screened regularly for kidney disease. The two key markers for kidney disease are eGFR and urine albumin. eGFR. eGFR stands for estimated glomerular filtration rate. Each kidney contains about 1 million tiny filters made up of blood vessels. These filters are called glomeruli. Kidney function can be checked by estimating how much blood the glomeruli filter in a minute. The calculation of eGFR is based on the amount of creatinine, a waste product, found in a blood sample. As the level of creatinine goes up, the eGFR goes down. Kidney disease is present when eGFR is less than 60 milliliters per minute. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend that eGFR be calculated from serum creatinine at least once a year in all people with diabetes. Urine albumin. Urine albumin is measured by comparing the amount of albumin to the amount of creatinine in a single urine sample. When the kidneys are healthy, the urine will contain large amounts of creatinine but almost no albumin. Even a small increase in the ratio of albumin to creatinine is a sign of kidney damage. Kidney disease is present when urine contains more than 30 milligrams of albumin per gram of creatinine, with or without decreased eGFR. The ADA and the NIH recommend annual assessment of urine albumin excretion to assess kidney damage in all people with type 2 diabetes and people who have had type 1 diabetes for 5 years or more. If kidney disease is detected, it should be addressed as part of a comprehensive approach to the treatment of diabetes. Effects of High Blood Pressure High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major factor in the development of kidney problems in people with diabetes. Both a family history of hypertension and the presence of hypertension appear to increase chances of developing kidney disease. Hypertension also accelerates the progress of kidney disease when it already exists. Blood pressure is recorded using two numbers. The first number is called the systolic pressure, and it represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart beats. The second number is called the diastolic pressure, and it represents the pressure between heartbeats. In the past, hypertension was defined as blood pressure higher than 140/90, said as "140 over 90." The ADA and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that people with diabetes keep their blood pressure below 130/80. Hypertension can be seen not only as a cause of kidney disease but also as a result of damage created by the disease. As kidney disease progresses, physical changes in the kidneys lead to increased blood pressure. Therefore, a dangerous spiral, involving rising blood pressure and factors that raise blood pressure, occurs. Early detection and treatment of even mild hypertension are essential for people with diabetes. Preventing and Slowing Kidney Disease Blood Pressure Medicines Scientists have made great progress in developing methods that slow the onset and progression of kidney disease in people with diabetes. Drugs used to lower blood pressure can slow the progression of kidney disease significantly. Two types of drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), have proven effective in slowing the progression of kidney disease. Many people require two or more drugs to control their blood pressure. In addition to an ACE inhibitor or an ARB, a diuretic can also be useful. Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and other blood pressure drugs may also be needed. An example of an effective ACE inhibitor is lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), which doctors commonly prescribe for treating kidney disease of diabetes. The benefits of lisinopril extend beyond its ability to lower blood pressure: it may directly protect the kidneys' glomeruli. ACE inhibitors have lowered proteinuria and slowed deterioration even in people with diabetes who did not have high blood pressure. An example of an effective ARB is losartan (Cozaar), which has also been shown to protect kidney function and lower the risk of cardiovascular events. Any medicine that helps patients achieve a blood pressure target of 130/80 or lower provides benefits. Patients with even mild hypertension or persistent microalbuminuria should consult a health care provider about the use of antihypertensive medicines. In people with diabetes, excessive consumption of protein may be harmful. Experts recommend that people with kidney disease of diabetes consume the recommended dietary allowance for protein, but avoid high-protein diets. For people with greatly reduced kidney function, a diet containing reduced amounts of protein may help delay the onset of kidney failure. Anyone following a reduced-protein diet should work with a dietitian to ensure adequate nutrition. Intensive Management of Blood Glucose Antihypertensive drugs and low-protein diets can slow CKD. A third treatment, known as intensive management of blood glucose or glycemic control, has shown great promise for people with diabetes, especially for those in the early stages of CKD. The human body normally converts food to glucose, the simple sugar that is the main source of energy for the body's cells. To enter cells, glucose needs the help of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. When a person does not make enough insulin, or the body does not respond to the insulin that is present, the body cannot process glucose, and it builds up in the bloodstream. High levels of glucose in the blood lead to a diagnosis of diabetes. Intensive management of blood glucose is a treatment regimen that aims to keep blood glucose levels close to normal. The regimen includes testing blood glucose frequently, administering insulin throughout the day on the basis of food intake and physical activity, following a diet and activity plan, and consulting a health care team regularly. Some people use an insulin pump to supply insulin throughout the day. A number of studies have pointed to the beneficial effects of intensive management of blood glucose. In the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), researchers found a 50 percent decrease in both development and progression of early diabetic kidney disease in participants who followed an intensive regimen for controlling blood glucose levels. The intensively managed patients had average blood glucose levels of 150 milligrams per deciliter-about 80 milligrams per deciliter lower than the levels observed in the conventionally managed patients. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, conducted from 1976 to 1997, showed conclusively that, in people with improved blood glucose control, the risk of early kidney disease was reduced by a third. Additional studies conducted over the past decades have clearly established that any program resulting in sustained lowering of blood glucose levels will be beneficial to patients in the early stages of CKD. Dialysis and Transplantation When people with diabetes experience kidney failure, they must undergo either dialysis or a kidney transplant. As recently as the 1970s, medical experts commonly excluded people with diabetes from dialysis and transplantation, in part because the experts felt damage caused by diabetes would offset benefits of the treatments. Today, because of better control of diabetes and improved rates of survival following treatment, doctors do not hesitate to offer dialysis and kidney transplantation to people with diabetes. Currently, the survival of kidneys transplanted into people with diabetes is about the same as the survival of transplants in people without diabetes. Dialysis for people with diabetes also works well in the short run. Even so, people with diabetes who receive transplants or dialysis experience higher morbidity and mortality because of coexisting complications of diabetes-such as damage to the heart, eyes, and nerves. Good Care Makes a Difference People with diabetes should - have their health care provider measure their A1C level at least twice a year. The test provides a weighted average of their blood glucose level for the previous 3 months. They should aim to keep it at less than 7 percent. - work with their health care provider regarding insulin injections, medicines, meal planning, physical activity, and blood glucose monitoring. - have their blood pressure checked several times a year. If blood pressure is high, they should follow their health care provider's plan for keeping it near normal levels. They should aim to keep it at less than 130/80. - ask their health care provider whether they might benefit from taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB. - ask their health care provider to measure their eGFR at least once a year to learn how well their kidneys are working. - ask their health care provider to measure the amount of protein in their urine at least once a year to check for kidney damage. - ask their health care provider whether they should reduce the amount of protein in their diet and ask for a referral to see a registered dietitian to help with meal planning. Points to Remember - Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure in the United States. - People with diabetes should be screened regularly for kidney disease. The two key markers for kidney disease are estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin. - Drugs used to lower blood pressure can slow the progression of kidney disease significantly. Two types of drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), have proven effective in slowing the progression of kidney disease. - In people with diabetes, excessive consumption of protein may be harmful. - Intensive management of blood glucose has shown great promise for people with diabetes, especially for those in the early stages of CKD. Hope through Research The number of people with diabetes is growing. As a result, the number of people with kidney failure caused by diabetes is also growing. Some experts predict that diabetes soon might account for half the cases of kidney failure. In light of the increasing illness and death related to diabetes and kidney failure, patients, researchers, and health care professionals will continue to benefit by addressing the relationship between the two diseases. The NIDDK is a leader in supporting research in this area. Several areas of research supported by the NIDDK hold great potential. Discovery of ways to predict who will develop kidney disease may lead to greater prevention, as people with diabetes who learn they are at risk institute strategies such as intensive management of blood glucose and blood pressure control. Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research. For information about current studies, visit www.ClinicalTrials.gov. For More Information National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 1 Information Way Bethesda, MD 20892-3560 National Kidney Foundation 30 East 33rd Street New York, NY 10016 Phone: 1-800-622-9010 or 212-889-2210 National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1987, the Clearinghouse provides information about diseases of the kidneys and urologic system to people with kidney and urologic disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NKUDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about kidney and urologic diseases. Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users of this publication to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired. NIH Publication No. 08-3925 Page last updated: September 2, 2010

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Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is commonly used in cosmetics as cleansing agents, emulsifiers, skin conditioners, surfactants. According to a report in the International Journal of Toxicology by the cosmetic industry's own Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) committee, impurities found in various PEG compounds include ethylene oxide; 1,4-Dioxane; polycyclic aromatic compounds; and heavy metals such as Lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, and arsenic. Many of these impurities are linked to cancer. Despite this, the CIR concludes that many PEG compounds “are safe for use” in cosmetics but adds that PEG compounds should “not be used on damaged skin.” PEG compounds have been found to open the pores of the skin, enabling environmental toxins to more easily enter the body. Examples of these environmental toxins are DDT and DDE, both of which have the ability to influence the endocrine and reproductive systems. PEG is also known to cause allergic reactions on skin with sun exposure, otherwise known as “Mallorca Acne”. According to the Environmental Working Group, the following percentages of common toiletries contain PEG compounds and other impurities that are linked to breast cancer: Hair Dye 79.5% Baby Bath Wash 73.8% Douche/Personal Cleanser 58.3% Menopause Cream 54.5% Depilatory Cream/Hair Remover 48.2% Baby Lotion/Oil 46.4% Anti-Itch/Rash Cream 46.3% After Sun Products 45.5% Lip Balm/Treatment 43.6% Facial Moisturizer/Treatment 42.0% Shaving Products 41.3% Anti-Aging Treatment 41.0% Styling Product 39.6% Eye Treatment 38.8% Foot Odor/Cream/Treatment 37.3%

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(BPT) - It’s a serious problem with a simple solution. Nearly 1 million children under the age of 5 are exposed to potentially poisonous medicines and household chemicals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is no better time than now to learn more about preventing accidental and unintentional poisonings. “Parents know to keep household cleaners and other chemicals out of a child’s reach, but in my experience as a pharmacist, I’ve seen that they don’t always think about prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and vitamins,” says Paul Reyes, Express Scripts pharmacist and host of Ask the Pharmacist radio series. The CDC reports that more than 60,000 young children end up in the emergency room each year from wrongly ingesting medicines; but it’s not only parents who need to be aware of the risks. Many of these incidents occur outside of the child’s home. In fact, in 23 percent of the cases in which a child under 5 mistakenly ingests an oral prescription drug, the medication belonged to someone who did not live with the child. “Medications can keep us healthy, but can be extremely dangerous if taken by the wrong person or in the wrong amount,” says Reyes. “Add in a child’s insatiable curiosity, and you have the ingredients for a very serious and dangerous situation.” Reyes offers these tips for preventing accidental and unintentional poisonings, and what to do if you suspect your child or teen has ingested a potentially poisonous substance: * Be cautious of colors: Medications are colorful and attractive to children, and can be mistaken for candy. For example, Tums look like SweeTarts, and Advil and Ecotrin resemble Skittles or M&M’s. Parents should not encourage children to take their medicine by comparing it to candy, as this may lead to improper use. * Lock it up: Don’t leave your next dose out on the counter where a child can reach it. Lock up all medicines and vitamins in a cool, dry place. Tightly secure caps and keep medicines in their original labeled containers so if there is an emergency, you can tell medical personnel exactly what the child ingested. * When not to share: Be sure to remind children that they should never share their medication. When playing “doctor,” friends and younger siblings of those taking a medication are often the recipients; this can lead to accidental poisoning. * Know your numbers: If the child has collapsed or is not breathing, dial 911 immediately. If the child is awake and alert, call the Poison Hotline at 800-222-1222 and follow the operator’s instructions. If possible, have available the victim's age and weight, the container or bottle of the poison, the time of the poison exposure and the address where the poisoning occurred. * Know the signs: Reactions to ingested medications or household products may vary. Look for signs such as vomiting, drowsiness and any residue odor in the child's mouth and teeth. But know that some products cause no immediate symptoms, so if you suspect that your child has ingested a potentially hazardous substance, call the poison hotline immediately. * Keep calm: It’s important to remain calm so you can effectively communicate with emergency personnel. If the child ingested medicine, do not give anything to the child by mouth until advised by the poison control center. If chemicals or household products have been swallowed, call the poison control center immediately or follow the first aid instructions on the label. For more information and additional tips on preventing prescription drug abuse at home, visit lab.express-scripts.com. This website is powered by Web Advertising, Inc. For more information on how we can provide your business or organization with a professional website, please Click Here.

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Scabies is a mite infestation of the skin that produces tiny reddish bumps and severe itching. Scabies is caused by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The female itch mite tunnels in the topmost layer of the skin and deposits her eggs in burrows. Young mites (larvae) then hatch in a few days. The infestation causes intense itching, probably from an allergic reaction to the mites. The infestation spreads easily from person to person on physical contact, often spreading through an entire household. In rare cases, mites may be spread on clothing, bedding, and other shared objects, but their survival is brief, and normal laundering destroys them. Symptoms and Diagnosis The hallmark of scabies is intense itching, which is usually worse at night. The burrows of the mites are often visible as very thin lines up to 1/2 inch (about 1 centimeter) long, sometimes with a tiny bump at one end. Sometimes, only tiny bumps are seen, many of which are scratched open because of the itching. The burrows can be anywhere on the body except the face. Common sites are the webs between the fingers and toes, the wrists, ankles, buttocks, nipples, and, in males, the genitals. Over time, the burrows may become difficult to see because they are obscured by inflammation induced by scratching. People with a weakened immune system may develop severe infestations, which produce large areas of thickened, crusted skin. Usually, itching and the appearance of burrows are all that are needed to make a diagnosis of scabies. However, doctors can confirm the presence of mites, eggs, or mite feces by taking a scraping from the bumps or burrows and looking at it under a microscope. Scabies can be cured by applying a cream containing 5% permethrin, which is left on the skin overnight and then washed off. For older children and adults, lindane lotion is an alternative. With either drug, a second treatment is required a week later. Ivermectin taken by mouth in two doses given a week apart also is effective and is especially helpful for severe infestations in people with a weakened immune system. Even after successful treatment, itching may persist for 2 to 4 weeks because of a continued allergic reaction to the mite bodies, which remain in the skin for a while. The itching can be treated with mild corticosteroid cream and antihistamines taken by mouth (see Itching and Noninfectious Rashes: Treatment). Occasionally, the skin irritation and deep scratches lead to a bacterial infection, which may require antibiotics given by mouth. Family members and people who have had close physical contact, such as sexual contact, with a person with scabies should be treated as well. Clothing and bedding used during the preceding few days should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer or dry cleaned. Last full review/revision September 2008 by James G. H. Dinulos, MD

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Food Bacteria (Key Stage Four) From the Chilled Food Association, this resource helps students to think about contamination of food and how the risk of contamination can be reduced. The materials are aimed at STEM ambassadors or company personnel running a session in a secondary school. However, they can be adapted for use by teachers in the classroom. The materials consist of a lesson plan, stimulus materials and suggested activities. They will help students to: • understand how bacteria grows • understand why it is important to reduce the number of bacteria on food • understand how to store food in a fridge to reduce the risk of bacteria HEALTH and SAFETY Any use of a resource that includes a practical activity must include a risk assessment. Please note that collections may contain ARCHIVE resources, which were developed at a much earlier date. Since that time there have been significant changes in the rules and guidance affecting laboratory practical work. Further information is provided in our Health and Safety guidance.

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Deep Vein Thrombosis Exams and Tests When you first see the doctor, he or she will do a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. These help your doctor decide what tests you need based on your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Your doctor will check: - Your heart and lungs. - Your legs for warmth, swelling, bulging veins, or changes in skin color. Your doctor may ask: - Do you have any swelling or pain in your legs? - Have you had a blood clot before? - What medicines do you take? - Have you had surgery recently or have you been on any long trips lately? Reference Ultrasound is the main test used to help diagnose DVT. It creates a picture of the flow of blood through the veins. If your doctor thinks you should have more tests, you might have two or three more ultrasounds over the next 7 to 10 days. More tests may be used when ultrasound results are unclear. These tests often aren't needed, but they may help diagnose or exclude a blood clot in the leg. These tests may include: Blood thinner testing If you are treated with anticoagulant medicines, you may need periodic blood tests to monitor the effects of the anticoagulant on the blood. Blood tests include: - Reference Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) to monitor treatment with heparin. - Reference Prothrombin time (PT), also referred to as INR, to monitor treatment with warfarin (Coumadin). Tests for clotting problems Special blood tests may help identify Reference inherited blood-clotting problems that can increase your risk of forming blood clots or help explain why you got a blood clot. These tests check for genetic conditions or specific proteins in your blood. Testing might be done if you have or had one or more of the following: - A blood clot in a vein that has no clear cause - A blood clot at age 45 or younger - A blood clot in a vein at an unusual location, such as the gastrointestinal region, the brain, or the arms - A first-degree family member (mother, father, brother, or sister) who has had a blood clot in a vein before age 45 or has had problems with blood clotting Screening for these problems in the general population is not routinely done. |By:||Reference Healthwise Staff||Last Revised: Reference August 17, 2012| |Medical Review:||Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Reference Jeffrey S. Ginsberg, MD - Hematology

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Fear for no peers! Free English Dictionary Definition of Gain - [n.] - A square or beveled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam. - [a.] - Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable. - [v. t.] - That which is gained, obtained, or acquired, as increase, profit, advantage, or benefit; -- opposed to loss. - [v. t.] - The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation. - [n.] - To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by effort or labor; as, to gain a good living. - [n.] - To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition; as, to gain a battle; to gain a case at law; to gain a prize. - [n.] - To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate. - [n.] - To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top of a mountain; to gain a good harbor. - [n.] - To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage. - [v. i.] - To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress; as, the sick man gains daily.

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Two towns, two solutions—one technology. MBR/retrofit: Star, Idaho - Population: 2000 - Plant size: 0.8 mgd with a peak flow of 1.2 mgd - Cost: $5.2 million MBR/new construction: Delphos, Ohio - Population: 7000 - Plant size: 3.83 mgd with a peak flow of 12 mgd - Cost: $32 million Although they're half a continent apart and have never spoken, wastewater operators Hank Day and Kim Riddell solved very different treatment issues using the same technology. Day's issue is growth. He's maintenance and operations foreman for the sewer and water district of Star, Idaho, where 20 separate housing developments are crowding his 5-acre treatment plant and have filled his three lagoons to capacity. When he joined the utility a decade ago, the city had 5 miles of sewer line. By the end of this year it will have 24. He had to find a way to treat more wastewater in the same amount of space. Riddell's problem is regulatory. Just before she became water superintendent for Delphos, Ohio, in 2002, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency ordered the city to build a facility that would bring it back into compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. Parts of the plant were a century old, its most recent upgrade was in 1982, and violations had become increasingly severe. Day and Riddell met their respective goals with membrane bioreactors (MBR), a treatment option that many communities dismiss as cost-prohibitive. In an exclusive survey of PUBLIC WORKS readers, only 13% of respondents report using the technology. But a perfect storm of factors—ever-tighter discharge requirements, lower membrane technology costs, and the soaring cost of reinforced concrete—is prompting operators to reconsider membranes, mainly because they increase capacity without expanding a plant's footprint and produce extremely clean water. The effluent during non-peak flows is usually better than required. “Whatever we were going to buy, we wanted to make sure we wouldn't later have to scrap it and start all over,” says Day, whose utility borrowed $3.2 million from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to add a membrane bioreactor to its system. “We figured the membrane would meet any EPA guidelines coming down the pike. The output is almost drinking-water quality.”

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The Grihya Sutras, Part 1 (SBE29), by Hermann Oldenberg, , at sacred-texts.com 1 1. At a Kaitya sacrifice he should before the Svishtakrit (offering) offer a Bali to the Kaitya. 2 2. If, however, (the Kaitya) is distant, (he should send his Bali) through a leaf-messenger. 3 3. With the Rik, 'Where thou knowest, O tree' (Rig-veda V, 5, 10), let him make two lumps (of food), put them on a carrying-pole, hand them over to the messenger, and say to him, 'Carry this Bali to that (Kaitya).' 4. (He gives him the lump) which is destined for the messenger, with (the words), 'This to thee.' 5. If there is anything dangerous between (them and the Kaitya), (he gives him) some weapon also. 6 6. If a navigable river is between (them and the Kaitya, he gives him) also something like a raft with (the words), 'Hereby thou shalt cross.' 7 7. At the Dhanvantari sacrifice let him offer first a Bali to the Purohita, between the Brahman and the fire. 178:1 12, 1. There seems to be no doubt that Professor Stenzler is right in giving to kaitya in this chapter its ordinary meaning of religious shrine ('Denkmal'). The text shows that the Kaitya sacrifice was not offered like other sacrifices at the sacrificer's home, but that in some cases the offering would have to be sent, at least symbolically, to distant places. This confirms Professor Stenzler's translation of kaitya. Nârâyana explains kaitya by kitte bhava, and says, 'If he makes a vow to a certain deity, saying, "If I obtain such and such a desire, I shall offer to thee an Âgya sacrifice, or a Sthâlîpâka, or an animal"and if he then obtains what he had wished for and 'performs that sacrifice to that deity: this is a kaitya sacrifice.' I do not know anything that supports this statement as to the meaning of kaitya. 178:2 'He should make of a leaf a messenger and a carrying-pole.' Nârâyana. It is not clear whether besides this image of a messenger there was also a real messenger who had to carry the Bali to the Kaitya, p. 179 or whether the whole rite was purely symbolical, and based on the principle: In sacris ficta pro veris accipiuntur. 179:3 Comp. Pâraskara III, 11, 10. 179:6 Pâraskara III, 11, 11, 179:7 Comp. above, chap. 3, 6.

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Nov. 18, 2011 Factors such as low hemoglobin levels, increased systolic blood pressure, and male gender are linked to a higher risk of silent cerebral infarcts (SCIs), or silent strokes, in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA), according to results from a large, first-of-its-kind study published online November 17 in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Silent strokes are the most common form of neurological injury found in SCA, with more than 25 percent of children with the disorder suffering a SCI by age six,1 and nearly 40 percent by age 14.2 Strokes occur in patients with SCA as a result of low hemoglobin levels in the blood. Because hemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen to the blood, the body compensates for low hemoglobin levels by increasing blood flow to the brain, raising patients' risk for brain injury, including these silent strokes. "Young patients with a history of silent strokes have an increased risk of future overt strokes and new or increasingly severe silent stroke-related events, and have poorer cognitive function than children with sickle cell disease who have normal brain MRIs," said Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH, first author and initiator of the study and Director of the Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease at Vanderbilt University. "Children with silent strokes have a much higher risk of poor academic performance, and over the long term, we see a higher proportion of these young adults requiring special education or being retained in school." While silent strokes have been well documented in older adults, there has been limited research available to support clinical risk factors for silent strokes in children with SCA. In order to assess whether previously identified risk factors for silent strokes in the general population -- low hemoglobin, high systolic blood pressure, and male gender -- were also associated with an increased risk of silent strokes in patients with SCA, investigators analyzed data from the international, multicenter Silent Cerebral Infarct Multi-Center Clinical Trial (SIT Trial). The SIT Trial, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), was designed to determine the efficacy of blood transfusion therapy for prevention of recurrent silent stroke events in participants with SCA. In this cross-sectional study, investigators evaluated clinical history and baseline laboratory values and performed brain MRIs (to confirm silent stroke) in 814 children with SCA between the ages of 5 and 15 years with no history of overt stroke or seizures. Results from the data analysis showed that silent strokes occurred in one-third (251 of 814) of SCA patients enrolled in the trial. Further analysis demonstrated that lower concentrations of hemoglobin, higher baseline systolic blood pressure, and male gender were associated with a significantly increased risk of silent stroke. "This study confirms our original hypothesis that risk factors for silent strokes in the general population are also risk factors for pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia," said Dr. DeBaun, also the JC Peterson Endowed Chair in the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University. "With these results, we can focus our research efforts on strategies to prevent these silent strokes in children with SCA." Dr. DeBaun and colleagues are currently conducting additional research to determine if hydroxyurea, a treatment traditionally used to manage the pain episodes that occur with SCA, can also be used to prevent silent strokes in infants. - Kwiatkowski JL, Zimmerman RA, Pollock AN, et al. Silent infarcts in young children with sickle cell disease. Br J Haematol. 2009;146:300-305. - Bernaudin F, Verlhac S, Arnaud C, et al. Impact of early transcranial Doppler screening and intensive therapy on cerebral vasculopathy outcome in a newborn sickle cell anemia cohort. Blood. 2011;117:1130-1140; quiz 1436. Other social bookmarking and sharing tools: - M. R. DeBaun, S. A. Sarnaik, M. J. Rodeghier, C. P. Minniti, T. H. Howard, R. V. Iyer, B. Inusa, P. T. Telfer, M. Kirby-Allen, C. T. Quinn, F. Bernaudin, G. Airewele, G. M. Woods, J. A. Panepinto, B. Fuh, J. K. Kwiatkowski, A. A. King, M. M. Rhodes, A. A. Thompson, M. E. Heiny, R. C. Redding-Lallinger, F. J. Kirkham, H. Sabio, C. E. Gonzalez, S. L. Saccente, K. A. Kalinyak, J. J. Strouse, J. M. Fixler, M. O. Gordon, J. P. Miller, R. N. Ichord, J. F. Casella. Associated risk factors for silent cerebral infarcts in sickle cell anemia: low baseline hemoglobin, gender and relative high systolic blood pressure. Blood, 2011; DOI: 10.1182/blood-2011-05-349621 Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

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Web edition: June 15, 2012 Print edition: June 30, 2012; Vol.181 #13 (p. 26) Arguably, and it would be a tough argument to win if you took the other side, computers have had a greater impact on civilization than any other machine since the wheel. Sure, there was the steam engine, the automobile and the airplane, the printing press and the mechanical clock. Radios and televisions also made their share of societal waves. But look around. Computers do everything TVs and radios ever did. And computers tell time, control cars and planes, and have rendered printing presses pretty darn near obsolete. Computers have invaded every realm of life, from work to entertainment to medicine to education: Reading, writing and arithmetic are now all computer-centric activities. Every nook and cranny of human culture is controlled, colored or monitored by the digital computer. Even though, merely 100 years ago, no such machine existed. In 1912, the word computer referred to people (typically women) using pencils and paper or adding machines. Coincidentally, that was the year that Alan Turing was born. If you don’t like the way computers have taken over the world, you could blame him. No one did more to build the foundation of computer science than Turing. In a paper published in 1936, he described the principle behind all of today’s computing devices, sketching out the theoretical blueprint for a machine able to implement instructions for making any calculation. Turing didn’t invent the idea of a computer, of course. Charles Babbage had grand plans for a computing machine a century earlier (and even he had precursors). George Boole, not long after Babbage, developed the underlying binary mathematics (originally conceived much earlier by Gottfried Leibniz) that modern digital computers adopted. But it was Turing who combined ideas from abstract mathematical theory and concrete mechanical computation to describe precisely how, in principle, machines could emulate the human brain’s capacity for solving mathematical problems. “Turing gave a brilliant demonstration that everything that can be reasonably said to be computed by a human computer using a fixed procedure can be computed by … a machine,” computer scientist Paul Vitányi writes in a recent paper (arxiv.org/abs/1201.1223). Tragically, though, Turing didn’t live to see the computer takeover. He died a victim of prejudice and intolerance. His work lived on, though, and his name remains fixed both to the idealized machine he devised and to a practical test for machine intelligence, a test that foreshadowed powers that today’s computers have begun to attain. Born in London on June 23, 1912, Turing grew up in an era when mathematics was in turmoil. Topics like the nature of infinity, set theory and the logic of axiomatic systems had recently commandeered the attention of — and confused — both practitioners and philosophers interested in the foundations of mathematics. Constructing an airtight logical basis for proving all mathematical truths had been established as the ultimate goal of mathematical inquiry. But in 1931, Austrian logician Kurt Gödel dashed that hope, proving that some true statements could not be proved (within any mathematical system sufficiently complex to be good for anything). In other words, no system built on axioms could be both complete and internally consistent — you couldn’t prove all true statements about the system by deductions from its axioms. A second deep question remained, though. Even if not all true statements can be proved, is there always a way to decide whether a given mathematical statement is provable or not? Turing showed the answer to be “no.” He wasn’t the first to figure that out; as he was finishing his paper, the American logician Alonzo Church at Princeton published his own proof of such “undecidability.” Turing’s triumph was not in the priority of his claim, but rather in the creative way his proof was constructed. He proved the “no” answer by inventing his computer. He didn’t actually build that computer (at first, anyway), nor did he seek a patent. He conceived a computational machine in his imagination — and outlined the essential principles by which it would work — to explore the limits of mathematics. Turing’s machine was deceptive in its conceptual simplicity. Its basic design consisted of three parts: a limitless length of tape, marked off by squares on which symbols could be written; a read-write “head” that could inscribe symbols on the tape and decipher them; and a rule book to tell the machine what to do depending on what symbol the head saw on the tape. These rules would tell the head both what to do in response to a given symbol and then which rules to use next. Suppose, for instance, the head detects a 1 on the tape. A possible rule might be to move one square to the left and write a 1; or move one square to the right and write a 0; or stay on that square, erase the 1 and leave the square blank. By following well-thought-out rules, such a mechanism could compute any number that could be computed (and write it as a string of 0s and 1s). One of the prime consequences of Turing’s analysis was his conclusion that some numbers could not be computed. He adopted Gödel’s device of assigning a number to every possible mathematical statement and then showed that this inability to compute all numbers implied that the provability of some statements could not be decided. (And Turing showed that his proof of undecidability was also equivalent to Church’s more complicated proof.) Turing’s result was immediately recognized as exceptional by his professor at the University of Cambridge, who advised Turing to go to Princeton for graduate school and work with Church. Turing’s imaginary computer (christened by Church the “Turing machine”) offered additional lessons for future computer scientists. Depending on the type of calculation you wanted to perform, you could choose from Turing machines with different sets of instructions. But, as Turing showed, you have no need for a roomful of machines. A portion of one computer’s tape could contain the rules describing the operations needed for carrying out any particular computation. In other words, you can just give that machine a rule book (today, you’d call it a program) that tells it what to do. Such a “universal Turing machine” could then be used to solve any problem that could be solved. During his time at Princeton, Turing discussed these ideas with the mathematician John von Neumann, who later articulated similar principles in describing the stored program general purpose computer, the model for digital computers ever since. Today’s computers, whether Macs or PCs or teraflop supercomputers, are all Turing machines. “Von Neumann realized that Turing had achieved the goal of defining the notion of universal computing machine, and went on to think about practical implementations of this theoretical computer,” writes Miguel Angel Martín-Delgado of Universidad Complutense in Madrid in a recent paper (arxiv.org/abs/1110.0271). Turing’s thoughts about his machine went well beyond the practicality of mixing math and mechanics. He was also entranced by the prospect of machines with minds. To specify which rule or set of rules to follow, Turing assigned his machine a “state of mind.” More technically, he called that state a “configuration.” After each operation, the rules specified the machine’s configuration; the configuration in turn determined what rule the machine should implement next. For instance, in configuration “B,” if the head is positioned over a blank square, the instruction might be to write a 0 on the square, move one position to the right and then assume configuration C. In configuration C, a head positioned over a blank square might be instructed to write a 1, move one square to the right and then assume configuration A. When Turing referred to the machine’s configuration as its “state of mind,” he really did consider it analogous to the state of mind of a human computer, using a notepad, pencil and rule book rather than tape, head and program. Turing’s imaginary machine demonstrated that the computing abilities of the person and the mechanical computer were identical. “What he had done,” wrote his biographer, Andrew Hodges, “was to combine … a naïve mechanistic picture of the mind with the precise logic of pure mathematics.” Turing believed that people were machines — that the brain’s magic was nothing more than physics and chemistry “computing” thoughts and behaviors. Those views emerged explicitly years later, when he devised the now-famous test of artificial intelligence that goes by his name. To analyze whether machines can think, Turing argued, the question must be posed in a way that enables an empirical test. As commonly described, the Turing test involves a human posing questions to an unseen respondent, either another human or a computer programmed to pretend to be human. If the computer succeeds in deceiving the interrogator, then — by Turing’s criteria — it qualifies as intelligent. Actually, Turing’s proposal was a bit more elaborate. First, the interrogator was to pose questions to two unseen humans — one man, one woman — and attempt to determine which one was which. After several trials, either the man or the woman was to be replaced by a computer, and the game repeated, this time the interrogator attempting to tell which respondent was human. If the interrogator succeeded no more often in this task than when the respondents were both human, then the machine passed the thinking test. Since Turing’s paper appeared, in 1950, multiple objections to his test have been raised (some of which Turing anticipated and responded to in the paper). But the test nevertheless inspired generations of computer scientists to make their machines smart enough to defeat chess grandmasters and embarrass humans on Jeopardy! Today you can talk to your smartphone and get responses sufficiently humanlike to see that Turing was on to something. He even predicted a scenario similar to something you might see today on a TV commercial. “One day ladies will take their computers for walks in the park and tell each other ‘My little computer said such a funny thing this morning!’ ” he liked to say. Turing seeded a future in which machines and people interact at a level that is often undeniably personal. But he was not around to participate in the realization of his imaginations. Four years after that paper on artificial intelligence appeared, he was dead. A surviving vision During World War II, Turing had been the key scientist in the British government’s code-breaking team. His work on cracking the German Enigma code was, of course, a secret at the time, but later was widely recognized as instrumental in the Allies’ defeat of Germany. After the war, Turing returned to computer science, eventually developing software for a sophisticated (at the time) programmable computer at the University of Manchester. While in Manchester, he composed his paper on the artificial intelligence test. Later there he encountered the lack of intelligence in the British criminal code. During a police investigation of a break-in at Turing’s home, he acknowledged that he knew the culprit’s accomplice from a homosexual encounter. And so Turing became the criminal, prosecuted for “gross indecency” under a law banning homosexual acts. Upon his conviction, Turing chose the penalty of chemical castration by hormone injection rather than serving a term in prison. His security clearance was revoked. Two years later, Turing’s housecleaner found him dead in bed, a partly eaten apple at his bedside. It was officially ruled a suicide by cyanide. At the age of 41, the man who played the starring role in saving Western democracy from Hitler became the victim of a more disguised form of evil. In his tragically truncated life, Turing peered more deeply into reality than most thinkers who had come before him. He saw the profound link between the symbolisms of mathematical abstraction and the concrete physical mechanisms of computations. He saw further how computational mechanisms could mimic the thought and intelligence previously associated only with biology. From his insights sprang an industry that invaded all other industries, and an outlook that today pervades all of society. Science itself is infused with Turing’s information-processing intuitions; computer science is not merely a branch of the scientific enterprise — it’s at the heart of the enterprise. Modern science reflects Turing’s vision. “He was,” wrote Hodges, “the Galileo of a new science.” A. Hodges. Alan Turing: The Enigma, The Centenary Edition. Princeton University Press, 2012. Teens take home science gold at Intel ISEF One of the most abstract fields in math finds application in the 'real' world Fine-tuning of technique used in other animals could enable personalized medicine Simulation suggests long-term effect on sea level not as dire as some predictions Coverage of the 2013 American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting The Year in Science 2012 Three-part series on the scientific struggle to explain the conscious self Tables of contents, columns and FAQs on SN Prime for iPad

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Bronchodilators are medications commonly used by people with asthma. They relax the muscles that surround the airways and allow the airways (the tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs) to open up. Some bronchodilators act quickly to stop asthma symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath) that are often caused by narrowed airways. Known as rescue, quick-relief, or fast-acting medications, these bronchodilators are meant to be used when a person first notices symptoms, but their effect doesn't last long. Other bronchodilators, known as controller medications, are longer acting and are used to control, or prevent, asthma 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.

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by Anne Trafton, MIT News Office Cambridge MA (SPX) Jan 14, 2013 MIT engineers have created a new polymer film that can generate electricity by drawing on a ubiquitous source: water vapor. The new material changes its shape after absorbing tiny amounts of evaporated water, allowing it to repeatedly curl up and down. Harnessing this continuous motion could drive robotic limbs or generate enough electricity to power micro- and nanoelectronic devices, such as environmental sensors. "With a sensor powered by a battery, you have to replace it periodically. If you have this device, you can harvest energy from the environment so you don't have to replace it very often," says Mingming Ma, a postdoc at MIT's David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and lead author of a paper describing the new material in the Jan. 11 issue of Science. "We are very excited about this new material, and we expect as we achieve higher efficiency in converting mechanical energy into electricity, this material will find even broader applications," says Robert Langer, the David H. Koch Institute Professor at MIT and senior author of the paper. Those potential applications include large-scale, water-vapor-powered generators, or smaller generators to power wearable electronics. Other authors of the Science paper are Koch Institute postdoc Liang Guo and Daniel Anderson, the Samuel A. Goldblith Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and a member of the Koch Institute and MIT's Institute for Medical Engineering and Science. Previous efforts to make water-responsive films have used only polypyrrole, which shows a much weaker response on its own. "By incorporating the two different kinds of polymers, you can generate a much bigger displacement, as well as a stronger force," Guo says. The film harvests energy found in the water gradient between dry and water-rich environments. When the 20-micrometer-thick film lies on a surface that contains even a small amount of moisture, the bottom layer absorbs evaporated water, forcing the film to curl away from the surface. Once the bottom of the film is exposed to air, it quickly releases the moisture, somersaults forward, and starts to curl up again. As this cycle is repeated, the continuous motion converts the chemical energy of the water gradient into mechanical energy. Such films could act as either actuators (a type of motor) or generators. As an actuator, the material can be surprisingly powerful: The researchers demonstrated that a 25-milligram film can lift a load of glass slides 380 times its own weight, or transport a load of silver wires 10 times its own weight, by working as a potent water-powered "mini tractor." Using only water as an energy source, this film could replace the electricity-powered actuators now used to control small robotic limbs. "It doesn't need a lot of water," Ma says. "A very small amount of moisture would be enough." If used to generate electricity on a larger scale, the film could harvest energy from the environment - for example, while placed above a lake or river. Or, it could be attached to clothing, where the mere evaporation of sweat could fuel devices such as physiological monitoring sensors. "You could be running or exercising and generating power," Guo says. On a smaller scale, the film could power microelectricalmechanical systems (MEMS), including environmental sensors, or even smaller devices, such as nanoelectronics. The researchers are now working to improve the efficiency of the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy, which could allow smaller films to power larger devices. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com |The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2012 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement|

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Article in Mashable Tech Big Idea: Jerry the Bear is a robotic teddy bear that “has” diabetes. Children are able to take care of Jerry by checking his blood glucose levels, giving him “insulin shots” and “feeding” him a variety of foods. Why It’s Working: Targeted specifically to children living with type 1 diabetes, Jerry helps sick kids not only learn about the procedures that are performed on them daily but also empowers them to understand the importance of symptom-checking and self-care. People with type 1 diabetes, a lifelong genetic condition that prevents the accurate breakdown of glucose in the blood, rely on a steady amount of insulin to be delivered to their bodies every day. Since young children cannot manage an insulin pump, test their own glucose or deliver their own injections, parents with diabetic children must administer at least 3 finger-sticking blood glucose checks and frequent insulin injections every day to ensure diabetes is managed. For a five-year-old child, that’s a lot of boo-boos in the name of love. Enter Jerry the Bear, a fully interactive robotic teddy bear with type 1 diabetes and the brainchild of Northwestern students and Design for America fellows Aaron Horowitz and Hannah Chung. Horowitz, now CEO for the duo’s company Sproutel, explains that Jerry the Bear was inspired by the teddy bears children often get after their diabetes diagnosis.

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This is that time of year, it's deer mating season. It runs from October to late January. In fact, statistics show that the number of deer/auto collisions in November is nearly twice as many as those in October. "Deer-related crashes can result in serious injuries or death," said Transportation Secretary, Bill Nighbert. He said motorists need to be a lot more cautious this time of year. Here are some tips from the Transportation Department. Always wear your seatbelt. Drive defensively, constantly scanning the roadside. If you spot a deer on the edge of the road, blow your horn. Use a long steady blast to get the deer's attention. If a deer freezes in your headlights, flick the beams on and off to break the deer's concentration. That may cause the deer to move. Slow down immediately. Proceed slowly until you are past the point where the deer have crossed. Don't swerve. Stay in your lane. Most fatalities stemming from deer-related accidents involve drivers swerving, in an effort to miss the deer, and hitting a stationary object. If the worst happens, keep both hands on the wheel and brake down steadily. Report any deer collision, even if the damage is minor. There are about 500,000 deer wrecks in the U.S each year, with an average of $2,000 of damage per car.

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To preserve our planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 392 parts per million ("ppm")to below 350 ppm. But 350 is more than a number—it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet. At 350.org, we're building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis and push for policies that will put the world on track to get to 350 ppm. Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. Learn more about 350—what it means, where it came from, and how to get there. Read More » Submit your success story from your work in the climate movement and we'll share the best ones on our blog and social networks! Stories from people like you are crucial tools in growing the climate movement. Help spread the word and look good while doing it—check out the 350 Store for t-shirts, buttons, stickers, and more.

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The Senate Judiciary Committee met today to discuss legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), but after a procedural holdup the legislation has been delayed until next week for a vote. Passed in 1996, DOMA defines marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” The Respect for Marriage Act, which was introduced in March of this year, would provide federal protection to couples married in states that recognize same-sex marriages. “DOMA has created a tier of second-class families who are not treated equally under the law,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “This runs counter to the values upon which America was founded.” The bill would redefine marriage to be determined by the states, as it historically has been. “The Respect for Marriage Act would restore the power of states to define and determine ‘marriage’ without the federal government imposing its restrictive definition of marriage on the states,” said Leahy. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) echoed Leahy’s remarks. “It has been firmly established over decades, that family law, including marriage,” is a law handled by the states. Six states and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriages. “When DOMA passed, no state had passed a same sex marriage bill,” Feinstein said during the meeting. “Where now, today, there are 131,000 same-sex couples in the United States. They are real people. They’re our family members, our friends, our neighbors. They made a solid commitment of marriage to each other.” Leahy and Feinstein, who are two of the cosponsors of the bill, were quick to point out that nothing in the bill would force any state or religion to perform same-sex marriages, simply recognize the “1100 federal rights and benefits provided to every other legally married couple in the country,” said Feinstein. Some of the rights that are not awarded to same-sex marriages include filing joint income taxes, veterans’ benefits, employment benefits and immigration laws. “All married couples deserve the same clarity, fairness, and security under our Federal law,” said Leahy. “The time has come for the Federal Government to recognize that all married couples deserve the same legal protections.” Republicans on the committee today requested that the vote be delayed until next week. However, the legislation is expected to pass the panel when it comes to a vote, as it is supported by all ten Democrats on the committee. After that the legislation will go to the full Senate for consideration.

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Mexican immigration to the United States is steeply declining, CNN reported. According the a report released by the Pew Hispanic Center Monday, the immigration rate from Mexico to the United States has decreased, while the amount of Mexican immigrants leaving the United States has increased sharply. From 2005 to 2010, only 1.37 million Mexicans immigrated to the United States, about half of the immigrants from previous five year periods. Between 2005 and 2010, around 1.39 million Mexican immigrants returned to Mexico from the United States, more than twice the amount that have done so in past five-year periods. Mexican census data shows that there are more U.S. born children living in Mexico, the likely result of their parents being deported, the Denver Post reported.

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Not long ago the United States government believed that Native Americans must learn to embrace the ways of the non-natives so that they would assimilate better in modern American society. Children were rounded up and sent to government-run boarding schools where they were forbidden to use their native language and denied the ability to dress like their people. Many children were punished often for trying to communicate using their own language, which began the great suppression of Native American languages around the country. A few years after this practice of cultural and social assimilation of the Native American children, a missionary came to Navajo territory and, with him, his son Philip Johnston. Philip Johnston began to learn the Navajo language and kept its memory with him until World War II broke out involving the United States. There was an extreme necessity to end the conflict in the South Pacific against Japanese military aggression, but how they were going to be able to do it became the biggest puzzle. Regardless of the fact that the United States possessed larger military force than the Japanese, they were still suffering heavy death tolls. Every maneuver and strategic plan was matched and thwarted by the Japanese military. Every time the marines would plan an attack, the Japanese code breakers would decipher all the details. Even the United States Navy was not safe as Japanese code breakers found their ocean coordinates and bombed their ships and ports. The Japanese code breakers created the biggest obstacle for the United States military, and its higher officials were at a loss for a solution until Philip Johnston proposed that the Marines used Navajo Native Americans to send messages and receive throughout the south Pacific. What made the Navajo language so unique? It was mostly due to the fact that the Navajo language did not possess an alphabet and it wasn’t written. In fact, there were only 50,000 Navajo living in the United States during 1942. The only way a person could learn the Navajo language was by living in a community and observing the pronunciation of words, therefore being a Navajo language speaker was quite unique. With this knowledge, Philip Johnston convinced Major Howard Conner, 5th Marine Division signal officer, of the uniqueness of the Navajo language — and since it has never been a written language the Japanese had no means of reference to decipher what would be said. Shortly after this discussion, 29 Navajo males were enlisted to transmit and interpret encoded messages, thereby securing the vital communications between military commands. This first batch of brave young men began in 1942 and they were trained at Camp Pendleton Marine base before they served at their posts. Some of these Navajo males were still in their teenage years. These young men developed their own code using their Navajo language, which proved itself so successful, that it began to turn the tide in the favor of the United States during the war. By the time World War II ended, there were almost 420 code talkers utilized by the United States military, and every one of these brave young men was put in harm’s way to perform his duties. The United States had come full circle — from banning the them from speaking their own language, to embracing the Navajo and deeply valuing their native tongue — thus proving that even in the face of adversity, the Navajo cannot be broken. Given the treatment of the Navajo by the United States in the past, why would they want to fight with the very people who punished them for using their native tongue? Navajo Code talker Keith Little, replies to such questions by saying, “All I knew is that this was our land. When I heard it was being bombed, being attacked by some enemy, that didn’t sit well with me.” The taking of Iwo Jima was strategically pivotal for ending the war in the Pacific. The strategy of the taking Iwo Jima, made it possible so that the United States Military could land bombers that were capable of penetrating of what had been an impenetrable country. Simply put, the taking of Iwo Jima ensured a quick end to the war with Japan. In fact Major Howard Connor, stated “Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima.” Given the huge contribution that the Navajo code talkers had given to the United States, one would suspect that they were given one of the most enthusiastic celebrations when they came back to the Unites States. However, this was not the treatment they received. No one in the United States knew about their heroic efforts because their involvement was deemed classified. This was mainly due to the fact that the Japanese government was never able to crack the Navajo Code. They were considered too valuable due to concerns that another war may break out, therefore the Navajo code talkers were never acknowledged until the present. So when traveling in Navajo country, think not of their turquoise, their fry bread or even their baskets, but think of their language — a gift that cannot be held, and a people who will never be broken. -For more information and to contribute to the Navajo Nation’s “Code Talkers Museum” please visit their website.

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The big, red-brick building on State Street once housed the home and business of the free black barber William Johnson. Johnson, successful businessman and relentless diarist, sometimes called “the black Pepys,” chronicled the day-to-day dealings of a society when cotton was king. The National Park Service has owned the house since 1990, but the Johnson diaries have been famous for their rare glimpse of antebellum history since LSU published them in 1951. Schoby – who once taught, like his father before him – didn’t find his middle-school job a good fit. When his Alcorn State University professor told him about the Park Service opportunity, Schoby jumped at the chance. Now he teaches, all right, but the lesson plan involves one man: William Johnson. That man was extraordinarily interesting, clever and complicated, straddling the line between black and white societies. And Schoby has made it his business to learn Johnson’s strengths and frailties. Johnson was a money lender, some might say a loan shark. He even loaned money once to the Mississippi governor who signed his emancipation papers. Johnson loved duck and alligator hunting, and betting on the horses and cockfights. “Bottom line, William Johnson was a gambler,” adds Schoby, who could make drying paint a lively topic. “He would bet on anything.” Johnson, born a slave, was freed at age 11 by the white slave owner presumed to be his father, another William Johnson. The Natchez population in the mid-1800s was 3,000 whites, 1,600 black slaves and 200 free blacks. Johnson, the freed slave, eventually owned three barbershops and a bathhouse, lots of land, not to mention slaves. Talk about your complex societies. The diary Johnson began in 1835 and continued until his murder 16 years later was interrupted only once, for two weeks in 1840. “And do you know why?” Schoby asks dramatically, rhetorically. That year a tornado leveled downtown Natchez, built mostly of timbers, and Johnson was busy salvaging the bricks from a toppled hotel. He used some of the brick to build the house you can now tour, and he sold the rest to builders who wanted more tornado insurance. “He was not a man to miss an opportunity.” Johnson’s story ended badly, his diary abruptly. A neighbor, Baylor Winn, had been selling timber from land both men claimed. Johnson hired surveyors to determine the boundary. On June 16, 1851, Baylor Winn ambushed William Johnson and shot him in the back. Before he died, Johnson identified his murderer. The only witnesses to the crime were Johnson’s son, a slave and a mulatto boy. Under Mississippi law, none of the three could testify against Winn, who claimed to be white. After two trials and failing to prove Winn mulatto, prosecutors dropped the case and the murderer walked free. Johnson’s story, especially as told by the energetic and scholarly Schoby, is proof that skin color doesn’t determine character or cleverness. But, at times, it can seal a fate. Rheta Grimsley Johnson, a syndicated columnist, lives near Iuka.. Write to her at Iuka, MS 38852. To find out more about Rheta Grimsley Johnson and her books, visit www.rhetagrimsleyjohnsonbooks.com.

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[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Subject Index][Author Index] Re: DINOSAUR CANCER On Tue, 23 Jan 1996 firstname.lastname@example.org wrote: > Cancer may have killed dinosaurs, scientist says > LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuter) - Cancer caused by particles thrown out by dying > stars may have killed off dinosaurs 65 million years ago, an American > said on Thursday. > Juan Collar of the University of South Carolina believes that sub-atomic > particles called neutrinos released from stars collapsing in earth's galaxy > have produced a cancer pandemic among dinosaurs. > Neutrinos colliding with the nuclei of living atoms could damage DNA, > nature's genetic building blocks, producing cancer-causing mutations. > Writing in the New Scientist journal, Collar suggests that a collapsing star > within 20 light years of earth could produce about 12 malignant cells per > kilogram (2.2 lb) of living tissue. > The impact would be greater on larger animals like dinosaurs because they > have more tissue to become cancerous. Because neutrinos are not halted by the > outer layers of the body, the cancers are likely to develop in vulnerable > like bone marrow, Collar said. > Other scientists have suggested that mass extinctions could be caused by > cosmic rays from supernova explosions, but Collar says these happen too > infrequently to explain the disappearance of the dinosaurs. > Star collapses, when a star caves in under the weight of its own gravity, > occur within 20 light years of earth about every 100 million years. ...and people say genius is dead!

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|• Mayor||Yusuf Ziya Yılmaz (AKP)| |Time zone||EET (UTC+2)| |• Summer (DST)||EEST (UTC+3)| |Area code(s)||(+90) 362| The present name of the city may come from its former Greek name of Amisos by a shortening of Eis Amisos (meaning to Amisos) + ounta (Greek suffix for place names) to Sampsunda (Σαμψούντα) and then Samsun (pronounced [sɑmsun]). During the Ottoman Empire the present name was written in Ottoman Turkish: صامسون Paleolithic artifacts found in the Tekkeköy Caves can be seen in Samsun Archaeology Museum. Samsun (then known as Amisos, alternative spelling Amisus) was settled between the years of 760 - 750 BC by people from Miletus, who established a flourishing trade relationship with the ancient peoples of Anatolia. The city's ideal combination of fertile ground and shallow waters attracted numerous traders. In the 3rd century BC the city came under the expanded rule of the Kingdom of Pontus. The Kingdom of Pontus had been part of the empire of Alexander the Great. However, the empire was fractured soon after Alexander's death in the 4th century BC. At its height, the kingdom controlled the north of central Anatolia and mercantile towns on the northern Black Sea shores. When Constantinople was conquered in 1204 by the Fourth Crusade, Amisos was governed by a prudent official named Sabbas, who was accordingly popular. When the army of the Trebizond Empire under Emperor Alexios I appeared before its walls and demanded allegiance to Trebizond, Sabbas refused; the town was subjected to a siege until help arrived from the Sultan of Iconium. Knowing full well he lacked the resources to keep this city independent, Sabbas eventually acknowledged the nominal rule of Theodore Laskaris. Samsun was one of the Genoese colonies. In the later Ottoman period the land around the town mainly produced tobacco. The town was connected to the railway system in the second half of the 19th century, and tobacco trade boomed. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established the Turkish liberation movement in Samsun on May 19, 1919, the date which traditionally marks the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence. Later in the war the city was bombarded. The grandparents of many of the present inhabitants migrated to Samsun from further east on the Black Sea. Samsun is a long city which extends along the coast between two river deltas which jut into the Black Sea. It is located at the end of an ancient route from Cappadocia: the Amisos of antiquity lay on the headland northwest of the modern city center. The city is growing fast: land has been reclaimed from the sea and many more apartment blocks and shopping malls are currently being built. Industry is tending to move (or be moved) east, further away from the city center and towards the airport. To Samsun's west, lies the Kızılırmak ("Red River", the Halys of antiquity), one of the longest rivers in Anatolia and its fertile delta. To the east, lie the Yeşilırmak ("Green River", the Iris of antiquity) and its delta. The River Mert reaches the sea at the city. Samsun has a typical Black Sea climate with high and evenly distributed rainfall the year round. Summers are warm and humid, and the average maximum temperature is around 27 °C (81 °F) in August. Winters are cool and damp, and the lowest average minimum temperature is around 3 °C (37 °F) in January. Precipitation is heaviest in late autumn and early winter. Snow is quite common between the months of December and March but this usually varies considerably from year to year, and the snowcover and temperatures below the freezing point rarely last more than a couple of days. The water temperature, like on the rest of the Black Sea coast of Turkey, fluctuates between 8° and 20 °C (68 °F) throughout the year. |Climate data for Samsun| |Average high °C (°F)||10 |Average low °C (°F)||3 |Precipitation mm (inches)||74 |Avg. rainy days||10||10||11||9||8||6||4||4||6||7||8||9||92| |Mean monthly sunshine hours||93||84||124||150||217||270||310||279||210||155||120||93||2,105| |Source #1: BBC Weather | |Source #2: Weatherbase | Long distance buses: the bus station is outside the city centre, but most bus companies provide a free transfer there if you have a ticket. Bus station Tel: (+90-362) 238 17 06 City Buses Dolmuş: The routes are numbered 1 to 4 and each route has different color minibuses. Air: Samsun-Çarşamba Airport is 23 km east of the city center. It is possible to reach the airport by Havas service buses: they depart from the coach park close to Kultur Sarayi in the city center. Airport Tel : (+90-362) 844 88 30 - 844 88 24 - 844 88 25 Horse-drawn carriages (Turkish:fayton) run along the seafront. Samsun has a mixed economy. There is a light industrial zone between the city and the airport. The main manufactured products are medical devices and products, furniture, tobacco products (although tobacco farming is now limited by the government), chemicals and automobile spare parts. Road and rail freight connections with central Anatolia can be used to send inland both the agricultural produce of the surrounding well rained upon and fertile land, and also imports from overseas. However a pipeline is used to import natural gas undersea from Russia and distribute it to Ankara. The port (Tel: (+90) 362 4451605) fronting the city centre handles freight, including RORO ferries to Novorossiysk, whereas fishing boats land their catches in a separate harbour slightly further east. A ship building yard is under construction at the eastern city limit. Provincial government and services (e.g. courts, prisons and hospitals) support the surrounding region. Agricultural research establishments support provincial agriculture and food processing. Samsun State Opera and Ballet performs in The Atatürk Culture Center. Founded in 2009 it is one of the six state opera houses in Turkey. The Samsun Opera have performed Die Entführung (W. A. Mozart) in the annual İstanbul Opera Festival. In collaboration with The Pekin Opera, The Samsun Opera performed Puccini's Madama Butterfly in the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival in 2012. Other performances include La Boheme, La Traviata, Don Quijote, Giselle. The current musical director is Lorenzo Castriota Skanderbeg. There are two universities in Samsun: the state run Ondokuz Mayıs University and the private sector Canik Başarı University. There is also a police training college and many small private colleges. Places to see - Batı (west) Park is a large park on land reclaimed from the sea, featuring a recently constructed "Amazon Village" museum to honor the mythological Amazons. - Atatürk Kültür Sarayı (AKM - Palace of Culture). Concerts and other performances are held at the Kultur Sarayi, which is shaped much like a ski jump. - Archaeological and Atatürk Museum. The archaeological part of the museum displays ancient artifacts found in the Samsun area, including the Amisos treasure. The Atatürk section includes photographs of his life and some personal belongings. The museum is open from 8:30 till 12:00 and from 14:00 till 17:00. - Yabancılar Pazari (Foreigners Market) - Statue of Atatürk. By Austrian sculptor Heinrich Krippel, from 1928 to 1931. The statue was depicted on the obverse of the Turkish 100,000 lira banknotes of 1991-2001. - Atatürk (Gazi) Museum. It houses Atatürk's bedroom, his study and conference room as well as some personal belongings. - Pazar Mosque, Samsun's oldest surviving building, a mosque built by the Ilkhanate Mongols in the 13th century. - Tumuli, containing tombs dated between 300BC and 30BC, are a short walk up the hill from Batı Park or Baruthane tram station. Alternatively they can be reached by car, or by teleferique from Batı Park. - Valide or Büyük Mosque was built by the Batumlu Haci Efendi in 1884. Its name "Valide" comes from the mother of Sultan Abdulaziz. - Haci Hatun Mosque dates from 1694 - Tekkeköy Caves 14 km east of city center archaeological site from Hittites Tekkeköy Yaşar Doğu Arena opened in 2013. Football is the most popular sport: in the older districts above the city center children often kick balls around in the evenings in the smallest streets. The city's football club is Samsunspor, which plays its games at the Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadium. Basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, water skiing (in summer), horse riding, go karting, paintballing, martial arts and many other sports are played. Cycling and jogging are only common along the sea front, where recreational fishing is also popular. International relations Twin towns — Sister cities Samsun is twinned with: - North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States (2006) - İskele, Northern Cyprus (2006) - Novorossiysk, Russia (2007) - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2007) - Kalmar, Sweden (2008) - Bordeaux, France (2010) - Kiel, Germany (2010) Notable natives - Mustafa Dağıstanlı - two times Olympic gold medalist sports wrestler - Yaşar Doğu - Olympic gold medalist sports wrestler - Orhan Gencebay - musician - Ferhan Şensoy - writer, actor and stage director - Tanju Çolak - 1987 European Golden Boot holder soccer player/striker - Yıldıray Çınar - musician - Neyzen Tevfik – poet, satirist, and ney player - Ece Erken – TV-hostess and actress - Deniz Kılıçlı, college basketball player at West Virginia University - Şefik Avni Özüdoğru, military officer in the Ottoman and Turkish armies See also - Özhan Öztürk. Karadeniz: Ansiklopedik Sözlük (Blacksea: Encyclopedic Dictionary). 2 Cilt (2 Volumes). Heyamola Publishing. Istanbul.2005 ISBN 975-6121-00-9 - George Finlay, A History of Greece from its Conquest by the Romans to the Present Time (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1877), vol. 4 pp. 322-325 - "City buses". - airport bus timetable - "Police college website (Turkish)". - Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. Banknote Museum: 7. Emission Group - One Hundred Thousand Turkish Lira - I. Series, II. Series & III. Series. – Retrieved on 20 April 2009. - Samsun (tr) |Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Samsun| - Samsun Governor's Office (Turkish) - Samsun Metropolitan Municipality (Turkish) - Official Tourist Information - Samsun travel guide from Wikivoyage - Current port arrivals and departures - Amisos coins (click "Database" and search by state: Amisus) - Amisos coins found on criminals - Opera and Ballet

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This course aims to increase understanding of the ways we learn about the natural environment, and to apply this understanding to pressing environmental problems, both globally and locally. By the end of the course, you will gain a basic understanding of ecological principles and the scientific method, particularly as they relate to current environmental issues. Further, you will be able to critically appraise scientific studies and their presentation in public forums, and know how to begin evaluating policy choices related to environmental issues. The course will be organized into modules, each of which will consist of an introduction to key ecological principles and their application to a particular suite of environmental problems. Student work will include text readings and short quizes to demonstrate mastry of the essential information, and preparation and analysis of case studies that illustrate the principles of each module. Group work will be coordinated on Blackboard, and many minor assignments will be filed there as well. All students must sign up for the Blackboard course by the end of the first class meeting. Instructions for signing onto Blackboard are linked to this page. Final projects will take the form of a personal statement (for a letter to the editor, or a public hearing officer) that includes an overview, analysis and opinion on a local environmental issue of the students choice. Our text, Essential Environment: The Science behind the Stories, is being published in December. It is possible that the text will be delayed, in which case, we will be able to use a companion volume (a bit longer, but same authors) until our text is ready. Do not plan to go to the bookstore to pick up your text until the 1st day of class -- it will not be there sooner! T 1/4 Introduction: The role of ecological science in public life TH 1/6 Environmental Systems and Large-scale organization of life on earth T 1/11 Evolutionary processes Th 1/13 Populations and communities T 1/18 Human history and current conditions Th 1/20 Soils and Agriculture Introduction of case study 1: GE crops and sustainability T 1/25 Biodiversity Conservation GE/Sustainability questions due by 10pm on blackboard Th 1/27 Hands-on computer lab/group work T 2/1 Mock Hearing: GE crops and sustainability Th 2/3 Mock Hearing: GE crops and sustainability T 2/8 Toxicology and Human & Environmental Health Th 2/10 Tropical Ecology, International Economies and Indigenous Peoples Introduction to Ecuador Oil Exploration Case study T 2/15 Energy, Waste, and Ecology Ecuador Case Study questions due by 10pm on blackboard Th 2/17 Hands on computer lab/group work T 2/22 Negotiations: Ecuador Oil Development Th 2/24 Negotiations: Ecuador Oil Development T 3/1 Ecological Consequences of Climate Change Th 3/3 Special Challenges in Freshwater and Marine Environments T 3/8 Land Use and How We Live W 3/9 Topic selection for Final Project must be posted to Blackboard by 10pm Th 3/10 Final Discussion: how can we improve our local and global environment? Th 3/17 Final Project DUE on Blackboard by 8pm

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By Allan Kornberg, MD A groundbreaking new study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine made national headlines yesterday as mainstream media outlets like CNN reported on its findings and gave Americans plenty of food for thought. Following more than 85,000 female and roughly 44,500 male subjects without heart disease, cancer or diabetes over a span of 20 to 26 years, the study explored the correlation between low-carbohydrate diets based on either animal or plant-based proteins and mortality rates, ultimately revealing the positives of vegetarian alternatives. According to the study, subjects who consumed low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets centered on meat and other animal products had a 14 percent increased risk of dying from heart disease and a 28 percent risk of dying of cancer, while those whose diets emphasized plant-based proteins and fats had a 23 percent lower risk of succumbing to heart disease, as well as a 20 percent lower mortality rate overall. While no study is perfect, and all are subject to certain limitations, these numbers speak volumes about the potential of healthy plant-based foods to improve our quality of life. As a physician who has long been aware of the good plant foods can do, the results of this study come as no shock. Nonetheless, it is always encouraging for me, and doubtless many of you, to see such awareness grow and result in an ever-expanding body of research that compels us to reflect on the foods we consume and consider choices that not only more positively impact our own lives, but also the world at large. After all, we truly are what we eat and the time has never been riper to embrace the power of plants – not only to benefit our health, but billions of suffering farm animals and our ailing planet too.

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Since many ancestors of Americans were foreign born, naturalization records are another a source of genealogical information that you might want to investigate. Naturalization is the process through which a foreign born person becomes a citizen of the United States and is eligible to vote. Not all immigrants became citizens as it is not required. Many obtained their citizenship because of pride in their new country and a desire to participate in democratic elections, a privilege perhaps not accorded to them in their country of birth. Others became citizens for more materialistic reasons, such as the right to acquire free land through homesteading. During times of war, there was often hostility towards people from the enemy country and immigrants may have obtained citizenship to show their loyalty to the U.S., especially if they had children serving in the U.S. Was Your Ancestor Naturalized? Before beginning a search for a naturalization record, it may save hours of futile research if you try to determine if there is evidence that the individual you are researching did become a citizen. There are several ways to do this: Even with the above information, keep in mind the following caveats: - Location of Birth Was the person foreign born? Usually there's no need to be naturalized if born in the U.S. - Census The 1900 and 1910 censuses ask if a person is naturalized and 1920 further asks the year of naturalization. Indirectly, the 1820 and 1830 census provide a clue with the question "number of foreigners in each household not naturalized." - Homesteading Land The person had to have initiated the naturalization process to be eligible for free land through homesteading. - Voter Registration Lists Is he/she listed as a voter? - Occupation Did this person hold a job that required - Not all foreign born individuals applied for citizenship and a child born abroad is still a U.S. citizen if his/her parents are. During much of our history, the wife and children automatically became citizens when the husband/father took out citizenship papers. - Naturalization was one of many census questions. The person who provided the answer may not have known in fact if someone else had been naturalized. An individual may have said yes because he felt it was the right thing to say or he intended to begin the process. - A Declaration of Intent, not final papers, was all that was required - Not everyone who became a citizen registered to vote. Also, some states allowed people who had filed a Declaration of Intent to vote even if they had not received their final papers. What Is the Procedure? By now you might be getting the idea that naturalization documents are not necessarily as easy to use as some other records, such as the census. Generally, for most of our history there are two rules that apply to naturalizations: - It was a legal process handled through the courts. - It was usually a two-part procedure, the first being a Declaration of Intent indicating that the person intended to become a citizen (voluntary after 1952). This may have included as part of the document or as a separate certificate or record information on the individual's date and place of arrival into the United States. After a required period of residency (five years, with some exceptions) the individual would then file a Petition for Naturalization and, if granted, would receive a Certificate of Naturalization. Both or either the Declaration and/or the Petition may contain valuable genealogical information. The procedures and requirements differed greatly depending on the location and the time period. The first important information the researcher needs to establish is whether the naturalization was before 1906 or afterwards. In 1906 the naturalization process was simplified and taken over by the federal government. It is much easier to find out where to look and what to expect if it took place after 1906. Where are Records Located? Prior to 1906, naturalization could take place in any court having common law jurisdiction. The court could be federal, state, or local and be called by many names circuit, supreme, civil, equity, district, common pleas, chancery, superior. In some cases a municipal, police, criminal, or probate court did not actually have the right to handle naturalization but they issued certificates anyway. Prior to 1905, over 5,000 courts had been handling naturalization. By 1908 that number was reduced to just over 2,000 courts and the Department of Labor began issuing A Directory of Courts Having Jurisdiction in Naturalization Proceedings. This directory, available on microfilm through the Family History Library, can help you determine which court your ancestor may have used. Naturalizations can now be handled in either federal or local courts. Since 1929, most naturalizations have been at federal courts, but earlier records are more likely to be at a local court because it was closer to the individual. Prior to 1906, the biggest problem confronting a researcher is where to find the record. The two procedures did not have to take place in the same court so the immigrant could have filed a Declaration soon after his arrival in New York, or perhaps he lived in Ohio for a while and filed his Declaration there, hoping to qualify for free land. Then, after settling on land in South Dakota, he may have submitted his Petition to a local court. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of many pre-1930 records. If your ancestor lived in an urban area, there are many rolls of films relating to Chicago (1871-1930), New York (1792-1906), Philadelphia (1793-1911) and New England (1791-1906). The good news is that copies of all naturalization records from 1906 to 1956 are at the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Washington, DC. This does not guarantee success though. Since you are dealing with a government agency, be prepared for a long wait. I had a copy of one certificate of citizenship which gave the court, location, date, and name of the immigrant, but the INS was never able to locate the file. You may also be able to obtain copies of the file from the court, but some courts will refer you to INS in Washington. Naturalizations after 1956 are kept at the local INS office. Some records are being transferred to National Archives branches or state archives. See their page "Naturalization Records" for information about records at the National Archives. What Do the Records Contain? In 1906, the process was standardized and uniform forms were issued. The forms have been revised periodically, but generally contain at least the following information: - Declaration of Intention The court date and location; the individual's name, age, occupation, personal description, birth date and location, and residence; their date and vessel of arrival and last foreign residence. From 1929 to 1941, it asked for the spouse's name, marriage date and place, and birth information, plus names, dates, and places of birth and residence of each child. It also includes a picture of the applicant. After 1941, it requests the spouse's name (no details on birth) and doesn't mention children. After 1929, the last foreign residence is omitted. A separate Certificate of Arrival giving details of arrival was required for arrivals after 1906, with - Petition for Naturalization The court date and location; name, residence, occupation, birth date and place; immigration departure date and place; U.S. arrival port, date, and ship; date and place of Declaration of Intention; spouse's name, birth date and place; children's names, dates and places of birth; residence, witnesses, and oath of allegiance. From 1929 to 1941 it also asked race, marriage date and place, date of spouse's entry into the U.S. and naturalization information, last foreign residence, and name used on arrival. After 1941, a personal description was added, as well as details of any trips longer than six months out of the U.S. - The actual certificate This is the document given to the new citizen and the one a researcher is most likely to find in old family papers. It contains little information: court, date. and name of new citizen. It may contain other information, but the Declaration and Petition are the papers the researcher should try to locate. Prior to 1906 There is no predicting what you might find in naturalization papers prior to 1906. Until 1828, the immigrant had to report to a court to register. This report was supposed to contain information on the birthplace, age, and nationality. These alien registry books were separate volumes in many areas, especially in the northeast. The registry may be found in later records combined with the Declaration. After 1911, the immigrant was issued a certificate of arrival. A Declaration of Intention was usually required, again with exceptions. It may contain little more than the name of the immigrant, but may also have some of the details incorporated in the post-1906 form described above. These are also called "first papers." Early Petitions are part of the court record and may even be recorded in separate ledgers called "second papers" or "final record." Information varies greatly. Certificates of Naturalization were given to the new citizen. The information was recorded but duplicates of the certificate were not kept on file. Spouses and children may derive their citizenship from their husband/father and not have to go through the procedure themselves. Up until 1922, a foreign born woman who married an American citizen became naturalized upon marriage or, if her husband was foreign born, when he became a citizen. No separate filings were required. Prior to 1906, they usually were not even mentioned in the husband's petition. After 1922, a woman had to be naturalized on her own. However, from 1907 to 1922, if a woman married an unnaturalized alien, she took his citizenship. This created one particularly bizarre situation for a woman who was born in Poland in September 1901. In November of that same year she came to the U.S. with her parents. Her father obtained citizenship in 1906 and she automatically became a citizen as well. In 1918 she married a man who had immigrated from Russia in 1913, but was not yet a citizen. She lost her citizenship because of this rule. In November 1922, her husband became a citizen. This did not help her because on September 22, 1922, the law was changed to say that any alien woman who married an American does not become a U.S. citizen automatically. She applied on her own and again became a U.S. citizen in 1942! Children under the age of 21 automatically become citizens by the naturalization of a parent. However, there are many exceptions to this law regarding residence, whether or not a Declaration is required, what happens if the parent dies or becomes insane, adopted children, illegitimate children, step-children, and children born abroad. Obtaining citizenship generally has been made easier for aliens who served in the U.S. military. Filing of the Declaration of Intention was often not required and the period of residency eliminated or reduced. However, in 1894 the law was changed and during times of peace no one (except Indians) could serve in the military unless he or she was a U.S. citizen or had filed a Declaration of Intention. Aliens were allowed to serve during times of war and to become naturalized. Some states had laws forbidding aliens from owning land unless they had filed a declaration. Homesteaders were able to qualify for free public land after filing the declaration. The National Archives has homestead records prior to May 1, 1908 and Bureau of Land Management after that date. BLM can be accessed at http://www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm. Obstacles to Research Besides identifying the court (or courts) that handled the various steps in the procedure, there are other pitfalls. Some immigrants filed the Declaration, perhaps for homesteading, but did not follow through with the final papers. If they could vote and obtain land with the Declaration only, they had no need to complete the process. Others were allowed to skip the declaration and only had to file the final petition. In addition, fraud occurred on a large scale. Thousands of fraudulent certificates were issued in 1868 in New York because votes were needed in an election. These certificates had no court records documenting the citizenship. If you cannot locate the naturalization record in the court where it was supposed to have occurred, your ancestor may have had a fraudulent certificate. For further information, see the National Archives and Records Administration Records" page; the LDS Research Outline on the U.S. (p. 38-41) and the excellent 43-page booklet American Naturalization Processes and Procedures 1790-1985 by John J. Newman (Indianapolis: Family History Section, Indiana Historical Society 1985).

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SPEAR, a weapon of offense, consisting of a wooden shaft or pole varying in length up to eight or nine feet, and provided with a sharp piercing point. The spear may be regarded as the prototype of the various forms of piercing weapons, such as the arrow, bolt and dart, which are projected from bows, catapults or other engines, and the javelin, assegai and lance, held in or thrown by the hand. The longer and heavier spears and lances are mainly retained in the hand while in use, but there is no absolute distinction. and the throwing of a spear has in all ages been a form of offensive warfare. In its earliest form the spear would naturally consist of a simple pole of tough wood sharp ened to a point at one extremity, which point might be both formed and hardened by charring in fire. From this an improvement would con sist in fitting to the shaft a separate spear head of bone, as is still practised among primitive races. The war lance of the mediaeval knights was 16 feet long; the weapon of modern cavalry regiments known as lancers may be from 81/2 to 11 feet long, usually adorned with a small flag near the head. The Persians at the present day forge spear heads for ornamental purposes only, with two and sometimes three prongs. The modern spears of savage tribes, used equally for hunting and for warlike purposes, are frequently barbed with fish and other bones, and their fighting spears have sometimes poisoned tips. Among civilized communities the hunting spear continues to be used for fol lowing the wild boar and other large game, while the Cossacks of Russia and various corps in the armies of western Europe are armed with spears or lances, which experience has shown to be efficient weapons for cavalry. The spear was not an ordinary weapon among the North American Indians, who, before the intro duction of the musket among them, used the bow and arrows and the tomahawk.

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Throughout history, women have made a name for themselves by being pioneers in their fields. From Sally Ride to Marie Curie, Elizabeth Blackwell to Rosa Parks, women have worked hard to change the world. My Name is Not Isabella is a children’s book by Jennifer Fosberry with pictures by Mike Litwin that tells the story of a day in the life of a little girl named Isabella who dared to dream. She dreams of being an astronaut, a doctor, and an activist among other things, telling her mom what she will do to help change the world. This is a great story for any little girl to inspire her to dream big and believe in herself. You can never start believing in yourself too soon and never dream too big. In a world full of stories about princesses and fairies, it’s refreshing to see a book teaching girls that they can be whatever they set their minds to. Not only is this a great story to help inspire little girls, it’s a great book to help teach any child about women’s history. This book retails for $16.99 and is published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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On August 26 the school board of Washakie County School District #1, in Worland, Wyoming, voted to consider changing the district's policy on teaching biology. According to an Associated Press news report the proposed change reads: "It shall be the policy ... when teaching Darwin's theory of evolution that it is only a theory and not a fact. "Evolution is a normal part of science and should be treated the same way as all other scientific ideas." That was the message to Texas authorities from the authors of leading biology textbooks, delivered on September 8 in a statement jointly released by Texas Citizens for Science and the National Center for Science Education. The authors, who are scientists and educators, also stated, "It is a disservice to students to mislead them about the important position that evolution holds in biological and other sciences." Evolution education in Delaware just keeps getting better. An article in the News Journal hails, "While other states wrestle over whether to even use the word "evolution" in their science standards, Delaware has become one of the nation's leading states in teaching the theory in public schools, state officials and national experts say." A local conservative group in Montgomery County, Texas is mounting a petition drive to mandate the teaching of "intelligent design" in all six school districts in the county. Jim Jenkins, president of the Republican Leadership Council (RLC), said that the group is attempting to convince school boards to supplement evolution with intelligent design, reported the Magnolia Potpourri (2003 Jul 22); available on-line here. Subscribe here to Evolution and Climate Education Update, NCSE's free weekly e-newsletter with the latest on evolution and climate education — and challenges to them.

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Australasian Journal of Philosophy 84 (1):59 – 73 (2006) |Abstract||'Philosophy arises through misconceptions of grammar', said Wittgenstein. Few people have believed him, and probably none, therefore, working in the area of the philosophy of mathematics. Yet his assertion is most evidently the case in the philosophy of Set Theory, as this paper demonstrates (see also Rodych 2000). The motivation for twentieth century Set Theory has rested on the belief that everything in Mathematics can be defined in terms of sets [Maddy 1994: 4]. But not only are there notable items which cannot be so defined, including numbers and mereological sums, the very notion of a set, as formalized within this tradition, is based on a series of grammatical confusions.| |Keywords||No keywords specified (fix it)| |Through your library||Configure| Similar books and articles Emily Carson (1996). On Realism in Set Theory. Philosophia Mathematica 4 (1):3-17. John Mayberry (1994). What is Required of a Foundation for Mathematics? Philosophia Mathematica 2 (1):16-35. F. A. Muller (2001). Sets, Classes, and Categories. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 52 (3):539-573. John J. Ross (2009). Reading Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations: A Beginner's Guide. Lexington Books. Siegfried Gottwald (2006). Universes of Fuzzy Sets and Axiomatizations of Fuzzy Set Theory. Part I: Model-Based and Axiomatic Approaches. Studia Logica 82 (2):211 - 244. José Ferreirós (2011). On Arbitrary Sets and ZFC. Bulletin of Symbolic Logic 17 (3):361-393. Emmon Bach, ACTL Semantics: Compositionality and Morphosemantics: II: Words, Morphemes, Constructions, Interpretations. John P. Burgess (1988). Sets and Point-Sets: Five Grades of Set-Theoretic Involvement in Geometry. PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1988:456 - 463. Added to index2009-01-28 Total downloads12 ( #93,408 of 549,122 ) Recent downloads (6 months)1 ( #63,361 of 549,122 ) How can I increase my downloads?

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Pentucket Regional High School offers a five-year foreign language sequence in French, German, Latin and Spanish, introduced in an exploratory semester of the seventh grade. The second semester of the seventh grade begins the foreign language concentration that continues at the high school in two academic tracks – College Preparatory and Honors. Latin classes at the high school are conducted only at the Honors level. Advance Placement courses are offered in French, German and Spanish. All classes are designed for students to develop the four core language skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – emphasized in areas of communication, culture, connections, comparisons and community. As a classical language, the study of Latin encompasses reading comprehension, translation, and grammar. PRHS requires all students to complete 5 credits in Music, Art, Theater or Foreign Language. Students are encouraged to complete three full years of one foreign language and to add a second foreign language in their sophomore or junior years. Changing language choices and levels interferes with the mastery sequencing of grammatical and morphological information. Placement exams at the end of the school year accommodate students’ abilities into appropriate courses. Students also register for the National Language Exams (conducted in all four languages) that offer additional assessment data. The Honors classes lead to the Advance Placement course in each foreign language. The active pace of new materials requires accurate retention and mastery of previous linguistic blocks so the language acquisition is solid enough that students can combine different groups of information with newer ones. Students in these classes use more abstract thinking skills to transfer vocabulary and grammar units into their own natural conversational patterns. Student responsibilities include consistent, efficient preparation and effective time management skills. A desire to understand and use the foreign language in the classroom is essential as only that language will be spoken/read in explanations and class lessons. Reading and writing samples are authentic; they demand proficiency in expression and present cultural information. Summer reading/writing projects start the class with additional rigor. The CP (college preparation) classes incorporate basic vocabulary and linguistic categories. Various practice opportunities at a moderate pace allow appropriate time for the students to comprehend, to review and to be comfortable with new materials. A functional approach provides clearly defined steps that mix chunks of vocabulary and grammar into communicative patterns. Student responsibility involves a commitment to being prepared and to coming to class with a desire to learn. Reading and writing samples incorporate the classroom materials in newer presentations for more comprehension. Summer reading/writing projects maintain a consistent start to the school year. Foreign Exchange Program Pentucket provides the foreign language student with the opportunity of a foreign exchange through the GAPP, German American Partnership Program. German students from the Landrat Lucas Gymnasium in Leverkusen, Germany come to Pentucket and spend three weeks attending school here. These students and their teachers are hosted by Pentucket students. During the summer, Pentucket students and their teachers visit the partner school for a three-week period. This exchange program, in its 19th year, provides the students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the German language and to experience German life and customs first hand by living with a German family, attending school and visiting cultural and historical sites in Germany and neighboring European countries. Pentucket also encourages individual exchanges with many foreign countries. Pentucket students wishing to exchange with a foreign student, or simply wishing to study abroad, may receive five credits for a minimum of three months official enrollment and attendance at the foreign high school, with further credits given for longer stays, not to exceed ten credits. In addition, particularly for longer exchanges, arrangements can be made for the transferal of grades and credits from the foreign school to Pentucket with prior consultation with the program director and the approval of the proper school officials. Students who stay less than three months may be assessed at the discretion of the program director and the approval of the proper school officials. Some students may also wish simply to host a foreign student at their home here in the U.S., and this is greatly encouraged. This requires much detailed planning, the student’s desire to work at becoming fluent, co-operation among parents, teachers and administrators. All programs need approval from both sites before they can be implemented. During February and/or April vacation weeks other foreign language immersion opportunities are available. Check with the foreign language teachers and Department

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Build Your Own Radio Controlled Vehicle - Paint Your RC - Tools & Supplies - Build RC Planes & Helis (18) - Build RC Cars & Trucks (19) - Build RC Boats & Subs (6) - Build Your Own Track (12) Robotics and animatronics, along with radio controlled hobbies are a great way to get the younger generation (or anyone) interested in science and technology. You Made an RC Out of What? Check out these unusual RCs that gadget geeks like myself have built. About.com Miniatures describes the basic tools for working with miniatures, including scale models such as RCs. Kids Can Build Their Own RC It's always fun when you can combine radio controlled vehicles with another activity that kids love -- and make it educational too. LEGOS, those plastic building blocks that provide endless hours of entertainment make building your own RC a snap. Elenco and Learning Resources also have cool construction sets that allow novice mechanics from 4 to 16 to experience the fun of building their own car without any automotive expertise. Electronic Projects for RC For the true do-it-yourself RC builder, find drawings, parts lists, and descriptions for chargers, circuits, sensors, servos, switches, and many other electronic RC parts to build from scratch. What You Need to Build an RC Submarine Learn about the things you'll need in order to make your own radio controlled submarine. Includes links to RC submarine plans and building tutorials. Lego Baseplate Jigs The Cool Tools blog describes using large Lego baseplates and some building blocks to create jigs or platforms for working with things like RCs. Create a custom fit to hold an airplane, car body, or other parts while gluing or painting, etc. How Does Weight Affect RC Performance? Weight plays a role in overall performance of an RC. Find out how to control your weight and why.

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This WebQuest was designed to meet the 3rd grade TEKS for TEXAS in the Writing 3.1(C) revise selected drafts for varied purposes, including to achieve a sense of audience, precise word choices, and vivid images. Science 3.9(A) observe and identify characteristics among species that allow each to survive and reproduce. Social Studies 3.16(D & E) use various parts of a source, including the table of contents, glossary, and index, as well as keyword computer searches, to locate information;(E) interpret and create visuals including graphs, charts, tables, timelines, illustrations, and maps. Art 3.2(C) produce drawings, paintings, prints, constructions, ceramics, and fiberart, using a variety of art materials appropriately.

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Mystery Tower at the Dippemess Staustufe OffenbachAnfang1883 vereinbarten Preußen, Bayern, Baden und Hessen die Kanalisierung des un... Old coal crane in high-tech power plant Offenbach Main Germany The Omega-House of “Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen” in “Offenbach am Main” is a 7-storey circular buildi... Near the east harbour of Frankfurt am Main the European Central Bank is constructing the new headquar... Overview and History Frankfurt am Main is the most international city in Germany and the largest financial center of Europe. Its long history as a trading center translates in modern times to mean that almost one third of the people in Frankfurt do not have German passports! The city's roots go back to at least 3000 BC. Its location on the Main River in central Europe allowed and encouraged commerce from the very beginning. The root of the name comes from the German "furt" meaning a ford at a shallow river crossing, and "Frank" for a certain Germanic tribe whose name you can probably guess on the first try. Roman ruins date to the 1st century and the district called "Bonames" reflects the early Roman influence on the city. Frankfurt was an important city during the reign of the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne presided over his imperial assembly here, and from Emperor Maximillian II to Emperor Franz II, coronations were held in St. Bartholomew's cathedral. The Frankfurt Fair (Messe) received its imperial charter in the year 1240, which gave permission to hold their annual trade fair. The Stock Exchange began trading in 1585 and, as Bonn was chosen as the political center, they devoted all their energy to financial interactions. The Thirty Years' War came along concurrently with the Bubonic Plague to throw a monkey wrench into Frankfurt's percolating progress; the Napoleonic Wars followed and saw occupation by French troops. Nevertheless Frankfurt remained a free city and was incorporated into the German Confederation as of 1866 AD. It was the seat of the short lived Frankfurt Parliament before losing its independence after the Austro-Prussian War. After WWI it was occupied again by the French, and during during WWII it suffered severe bombing that destroyed the entire medieval historic district. After the end of WWII Frankfurt missed being named the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany by only a few votes. The city has rebuilt its financial strength and now is home to the European Central Bank as well as Europe's tallest office building (the Commerzbank Tower). The Frankfurt airport is the busiest cargo airport in Europe and, counting by the number of international connections, the busiest in the world! To smooth out the trip between the real world and the world inside the airport, Frankfurt has envisioned a seamless network uniting automobile, train, bus and even bicycle. You can get both long-distance and local trains at the two airport train stations. Trip time to the city center is about fifteen minutes on the local trains. By taxi the ride to Frankfurt center will cost about 25 Euro. Public transportation in Frankfurt consists of seven underground lines (U-bahn), nine tram lines (Strassenbahn) and over forty bus lines. In addition to these there are extensive city trains (S-bahn) as well as night buses which operate between one and five AM. A one-day pass for the system costs around five Euros. There's one kind of "crazy driving" city where nobody follows any rules except for "honk your horn a lot". Driving in Frankfurt is the other kind of crazy, where you find nothing but one-way streets and orderly traffic jams, in other words fudging the rules DOES NOT HAPPEN. Taxis or limo's might be a good idea rather than renting a car... Rent a bike for ten Euro per day and watch the city open up around you! People and Culture People in Frankfurt combine opposites in a charming way here, where you can find ancient cider pubs as well as the stock exchange and a skyline full of steel and glass. In the modern direction, Frankfurt claims the originators of trance music! DJ's like Sven Vath, Jam and Spoon and Oliver Lieb started playing a harder version of acid house music here at club Omen, back in the early 90's, and launched what would become a global music force. The city, being so multicultural, also offers every type of restaurant from around the world so don't be afraid to tramp off the beaten path. Grune Sobe is an herb sauce native to Frankfurt which you should try while you are here. To find it, dig around the old Frankfurt in neighborhoods such as Seckbach or Bergen-Enkheim. The best part for english speakers, of course, is that you get to say "swineflesh" when you're ordering a pork dish. One note: supermarkets are uniformly closed on sundays. Good for the restaurants, bad for the home chefs! The airport has the only twenty-four hour supermarket in the city, so don't put off your shopping until the last minute or you will be left hunting for wild greens in the forest. Things to do, Recommendations The highlights of the Frankfurt cultural scene will always include events and installations along the "Museumsufer", a string of eleven major museums along both sides of the Main. Here are some recommendations of other things: The Goethe House, museum of Frankfurt's native son Goethe, who wrote the spine-chilling epic tale of Dr. Faustus. You can find English language productions at the English Theater in Kaiserstraße. For movie hounds, tromp on over to UFA Turm-Palast, a cinema showing English, American & Turkish films in their original languages. Further out from the city center you can explore Kronberg/Königstein - two nice little towns in the Taunus ideal for going for a walk. In Hessenpark, Neu-Anspach you can find an open air museum with plenty of old half-timbered German houses, churches, windmills and a school. In Saalburg, Bad Homburg you can see the remains of a Roman fort and museum. And don't forget to go to the Commerzbank Tower and go up to the top to get a view of the city -- if you're allowed; I haven't tried it. Text by Steve Smith.

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Assemble the Units 1. Layer a print B piece atop a solid black A piece with center marks aligned. Pin the pieces together at the center (see Diagram 1), then at each end. 2. Using slender pins and picking up only a few threads at each position, pin generously in between (see Diagram 2). 3. Sew together the pieces, removing each pin just before your needle reaches it, to make a block unit (see Diagram 3). Press the seam allowance gently toward the print B piece. The pieced unit should measure 4" square, including the seam allowances. 4. Repeat to make a total of 72 block units with assorted print B pieces and solid black A pieces. 5. Repeat step 1 through 3 to make an additional 72 block units using solid black B pieces and assorted print A pieces (see Diagram 4). Continued on Page 4: Assemble the Quilt Center More to check out:

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In which Scrabble dictionary does TINCTING exist? Definitions of TINCTING in dictionaries: - v - to apply a trace of color to There are 8 letters in TINCTING: C G I I N N T T All anagrams that could be made from letters of word TINCTING plus a wildcard: TINCTING? Scrabble words that can be created with letters from word TINCTING 8 letter words 7 letter words 6 letter words 5 letter words 4 letter words 3 letter words 2 letter words Images for TINCTING - Rosarium Philosophorum of the De Alchemia Opuscula by Johann Daniel ... SCRABBLE is the registered trademark of Hasbro and J.W. Spear & Sons Limited. Our scrabble word finder and scrabble cheat word builder is not associated with the Scrabble brand - we merely provide help for players of the official Scrabble game. All intellectual property rights to the game are owned by respective owners in the U.S.A and Canada and the rest of the world. Anagrammer.com is not affiliated with Scrabble. This site is an educational tool and resource for Scrabble & Words With Friends players.

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BeschreibungLearn Thai Alphabet App is intended to help you learn the Thai Alphabet also known as the Thai Script including all 44 consonants, 28 vowels and all the numbers - using visual and audio combined for quick learning and also practice writing them. The application is desinged to ease the process of remember the letters/vowels/numbers and their sounds/class/length and uses sounds and images to help remember. The Application is divided into 3 main parts that are accesible from the tabs at the top of the screen. The 3 main parts are Consonants, Vowels and Numbers. The Consonants are divided into 3 classes each in different color. Each consonant has it's own word/drawing connected to it - and that is the way the Thai people learn it. By clicking a Consonant you will hear the consonant's name and sound and see all its details - you can swipe your finger to the sides and move to the next/previous consonant. The Vowels are divided into 2 groups - short and long - according to their length and the numbers section includes all the necessary numbers to represent all the numbers in Thai Language. At every point in the appliction you can click the menu button and get help. Seo: thai, Thai, Learn Thai, learn thai, thai alphabet, thai script, thai letters, thai consonants, thai vowels, thai numbers, ภาษาไทย, เรียนรู้ภาษาไทย

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Posted On Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 09:57:22 PM In 1868 Europeans first realised that chillies did not, in fact, originate in India. To this day, many are stunned when they encounter this spicy bit of trivia. Romancing the Chilli, by Sunil Jalihal and Sunita Gogate, crowns the spice as a roving ambassador that has brought the world closer. The chilli’s genesis in Mexico is stunning, particularly the Mexican cave settlements showing geo-archaeological remains of 10 varieties of fresh and stored peppers. They were part of the human diet in the Americas since 7,500 BC. Their cultivation in South and Central America indicates their long history. Also it was the African slaves’ preference for chillies that made the North Amerian plantation owners grow them in abundance. The slave trade, therefore, was instrumental in boosting the chilli trade. The book effectively illustrates the chilli’s reception in Asia and Africa. The chilli came to India with the Portuguese who brought it to Goa from their South American conquests around 1498. Interestingly, Europe was rather reluctant to adopt it as ‘anything more than a curiosity or an ornamental plant’. Christopher Columbus was among the first Europeans to encounter the chilli in the Caribbean in 1492. By then, all things red and all things curry had been equated with India by the West. The book sets the record straight, but also validates India’s proud position on the global chilli map. It evokes true national pride to know that India has over 8,00,000 hectares under chilli cultivation. That accounts for 25 percent of the world trade, which measures up to 1.3 million tonnes of chillies every year. But since India eats up most of what it produces, only 5 per cent of Indian chillies are exported. Neighboring China has emerged as a competing exporter. The made-in-China chillies sell well in the US. So much for the ‘chilli-connectedness’ of the contemporary world. However, Romancing the Chilli is not just another coffee table tome directed at a global audience. It has its share of Chillipedia compilations: Anandita, an Assamese woman entered the Guinness World record by eating 51 Bhoot Jholokias (the world’s hottest Ghost Chilli) in two minutes; the Los Angeles police were the first to use the chilli pepper sprays to incapacitate anti-social delinquents; the genetic journey of the chilli is evident in its 3,000 varieties; It’s presence is seen in all ancient culinary cultures (Incas, Olmecs, Toltecs, Mayans) for a span of 2000 years; Chilli’s multi-vitamin detoxicant properties are used as cancer fighters, heart protectors, brain stimulants and antibiotics by the medical fraternity worldwide. But the book is not merely peppered with believe-it-or-not fun-factoids. It makes an effort to understand the myriad ways in which the chilli impacts human life. Its colouring elements add a dash to lipsticks and nail polish. Chilli bombs are used in Africa to ward off elephants from straying into human habitation. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation is working on chilli grenades to deal with rioters. Painkiller balms and sprays use ‘capsaicin’ to deal with shingles and muscle spasm. Popular culture and myths are also dominated by chillies, just as India’s ‘chilli-lemon’ contraptions that ward off evil spirits. Anyone with a sharp tongue is called a mirchi in Mumbai, not to forget the ‘lavangi mirchi’ label for hot women on celluloid. Hindi movies (Mirch Masala) and Hollywood flicks (Woman on Top) fortify the chilli connection. Surprisingly, the book does not mention Ema Datshi, Bhutan’s national chilli dish, which is a potent symbol of pride and a sizzling brew of chilli and cheese. Romancing the Chilli is appreciative of the local avatars of the chilli — its numerous names, its variant colours and the million ways in which it renders itself in the local cuisine. The spice’s adaptability to various soils and its self-pollinating properties are duly celebrated in the book. The reader is made aware of the mirchi’s expansive multicultural identity. For instance, Karnataka’s Byagdi chilli has Hungarian paprika stock origins. Mexican chillies have an acidic flavour that suits the taste buds of most American and Europeans. Chillies like Jwala, Resham Patta and Sanam act as binding factors within Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Some chillies (Birds’ Eye), grown in diverse regions of India, break the north-south divide and unite India with a pungent punch. The book taps the academic interest in chilli variants which are being looked into by Tezpur’s Defence Research Laboratory, China’s Luoyang Chilli Research Institute and New Mexico’s Chilli Pepper Institute. Dr N B Gaddaggimath’s, a PhD in horticultural sciences, has further enriched the book with his insights on 2000-plus chilli stocks. The information of the major chilli festivals in US, UK and India makes the book a ready chilli reckoner with maps, charts and figures. As the book was being completed, a new chilli variety ‘Infinity’ was developed in Lincolnshire, UK which claims to have beaten the Indian Bhoot Jholokia. The romance of the hottest chilli continues. Chilli bombs are used in Africa to ward off elephants from straying into human habitation

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About Learning Dutch with Berlitz Dutch is spoken by the 15 million inhabitants of the Netherlands. It is also spoken across the border in northern Belgium, but there it is generally referred to as Flemish. It is the official language of Suriname, in South America, and of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean. Afrikaans, spoken in South Africa, evolved directly from the Dutch that was brought there by settlers from the Netherlands in the 17th century. Dutch, like English, is one of the Germanic languages, and thus part of the Indo-European family. It stands about midway between English and German and is the closest to English of any of the major languages. Dutch is the English name of the language; in Dutch it is called Nederlands. Long a maritime nation, the Dutch have left their imprint on many languages of the world. Many Dutch nautical terms have been adopted into other languages. Dutch idioms and syntax are still evident in present-day Indonesian. English words of Dutch origin include dock, deck, yacht, easel, freight, furlough, brandy, cookie, cruller, waffle, coleslaw, maelstrom, isinglass, and Santa Claus. Many place names in New York City, such as Brooklyn, Flushing, Harlem, Staten Island, and the Bowery, are reminders of the old Dutch colony of New Amsterdam.

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In the twenty-first century people use energy in a wide variety of ways - to power computers, to light and heat homes, to fly across the world and to manufacture goods. Almost all of this energy comes from fossil fuels. As these fuels begin to run out, what will replace them? This book examines: the pros and cons of nuclear energy geothermal and ambient energy - the energy beneath our feet and all around us the great biofuel debate harnessing energy from the sun, wind and water energy in the future - hydrogen fuel cells and solar power from space.

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Thanks to one of the most productive spacecraft ever built, scientists are far better acquainted with the star that lights our world and gives us life. Built for ESA by European industry, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) went into space on December 2, 1995. The tenth anniversary of SOHO's launch is a time for celebration for the scientists and engineers in Europe and the USA who conceived, created and still operate this unprecedented solar spacecraft - and who have rescued it from oblivion three times. Four months after its flawless launch by a NASA rocket, SOHO was at its special vantage point 1.5 million kilometres away from the sunward side of Earth. There it watches the Sun unblinkingly 24 hours every day, and sends home a stream of images of the ceaseless frenzy in the solar atmosphere. Apart from unmasking the Sun, and teaching us how it works, SOHO's pictures give early warning of storms in space that can affect astronauts, satellites and power and communications systems on Earth. Originally planned for a nominal life of just two years, SOHO has performed so well and delivered such important data that operations are now to set to continue at least until 2007. That corresponds to a full 11-year cycle of magnetic storms on the Sun, and a further extension is under discussion. But the going has not always been easy. All contact was lost with the spacecraft in June 1998. Dramatic efforts by ESA and NASA engineers, supported by Matra Marconi Space (now Astrium) who built SOHO, restored the spacecraft to full operation in November 1998. Shortly afterwards, the spacecraft's last gyroscope failed, but the teams developed new software that controls the spacecraft without a gyroscope. A third crisis occurred in June 2003, when SOHO's main antenna became stuck. Using the secondary antenna and software for intermittent recording, observations continued. "I tip my hat to SOHO's engineering and operations teams, whose skills and dedication let us overcome all these challenges," says Bernhard Fleck, ESA's Project Scientist for SOHO. More than 3200 scientists from around the world have been involved with SOHO, which is a project of international collaboration between ESA and NASA. SOHO's telescopes probe the Sun from deep in its interior and all the way out to Earth's orbit and beyond, where the magnetised solar wind of atomic particles sweeps through interplanetary space. "It's impossible to overstate the importance of SOHO to the worldwide solar science community," said Dr. Joe Gurman, U.S. project scientist for SOHO at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. "In the last ten years, SOHO has revolutionized our ideas about the solar interior and atmosphere and the acceleration of the solar wind." Some of SOHO's major scientific accomplishments include: SOHO data are freely available over the Internet, and people all over the world have used images from the observatory to discover more than 1,000 comets. - Allowing space weather forecasters to play a lead role in the early warning system for space weather and give up to three days notice of Earth-directed disturbances. - Supplying the most detailed and precise measurements beneath the surface of the sun. - Providing the first images of a star's turbulent outer shell (the convection zone) and of the structure of sunspots beneath the solar surface. - Making the sun transparent by creating images of the sun's far side, including stormy regions there that will turn with the sun and threaten the Earth. - Discovering a mechanism that releases more than enough energy to heat the sun's atmosphere (corona) to 100 times its surface temperature. - Discovering that a series of eruptions of ionized gas (coronal mass ejections) from the sun blasts a "highway" through space where solar energetic particles flow. These particles disrupt satellites and are hazardous to astronauts outside the protection of Earth's magnetic field. - Monitoring the sun's energy output (the "total solar irradiance" or "solar constant") as well as variations in the sun's extreme ultraviolet radiation, both of which are important to understand the impact of solar variability on Earth's climate. - Identifying the source regions and acceleration mechanisms of the solar wind, a thin stream of ionized gas that constantly flows from the sun and buffets Earth's magnetosphere.

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The Syrian Flag : color in the Syrian flag refers to a definite meaning or a period as follows: 1. Red Color: The blood of the martyrs. 2. Black Color: The Abbasids. 3. White Color: The Umayyad. 4. The Green: The Rashidun or the Fatimid. 5. The two stars represent the previous union between Egypt and Syria. Syrian flag is also found as a Shield in the middle of the Syrian Eagle's heart which is derived from the Arabic history, which referred to the flag of "Khaled Bin Al Waleed" that was held at when he conquered Damascus in 635 AD. At the bottom of the Shield , there are two wheat spikes to represent the country's first crop and its agricultural nature. The eagle grabs in his claws a stripe that has the words "Syrian Arab Republic" written on it in Kufic (an Arabic type of writing). Syrian National Anthem: "Homat el Diyar" (translated Guardians of the Homeland) is the national anthem of Syria, with lyrics written by "Khalil Mardam Bey" and the music by "Mohammed Flayfel", who also composed the national anthem of the Palestinian National Authority, as well as many other Arab folk songs. was adopted in 1936 and temporarily fell from use when Syria joined the United Arab Republic with Egypt in 1958. It was decided that the national anthem of the UAR would be a combination of the then-Egyptian anthem and "Homat elDiyar" When Syria seceded from the union in 1961, the anthem was completely restored. Translation of Syrian National Anthem: Defenders of our home, Peace be upon you; The proud spirits had refused to subdue. The lion-abode of Arabism, A hallowed sanctuary; The seat of the stars, An inviolable preserve. Our hopes and our hearts, Are entwined with the flag, Which unites our country... Listen Syrian National Anthem...Click Here

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The Bretton Woods System The Bretton Woods System of monetary management established the rules for commercial and financial relations among the world's major industrial states in the mid 20th century. The Bretton Woods system was the first example of a fully negotiated monetary order intended to govern monetary relations among independent nation-states. In the first three weeks of July 1944, delegates from 44 nations gathered at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. The delegates met to discuss the postwar recovery of Europe as well as a number of monetary issues, such as unstable exchange rates and protectionist trade policies. During the 1930s, many of the world’s major economies had unstable currency exchange rates. As well, many nations used restrictive trade policies. In the early 1940s, the United States and Great Britain developed proposals for the creation of new international financial institutions that would stabilize exchange rates and boost international trade. There was also a recognized need to organize a recovery of Europe in the hopes of avoiding the problems that arose after the First World War. Advocates of the Bretton Woods system believed that stable exchange rates would avoid the “beggar thy neighbor” policies of the 1930s and benefit economies around the world by expanding international trade. However, over time, exchange rates became uncompetitive because of the infrequent changes in parities. In addition, there were often large destabilizing flows of currency, as speculators bet on the value at which the fixed exchange rate would be re-fixed. There were also concerns that a fixed exchange rate system did not allow countries enough freedom to pursue their own monetary and fiscal policies. CHIEF FEATURES OF THE BRETTON WOODS The chief features of the Bretton Woods system were an obligation for each country to adopt a monetary policy that maintained the exchange rate of its currency within a fixed value—plus or minus one percent—in terms of gold and the ability of the IMF to bridge temporary imbalances of payments. In the face of increasing financial strain, the system collapsed in 1971, after the United States unilaterally terminated convertibility of the dollars to gold. This action caused considerable financial stress in the world economy and created the unique situation whereby the United States dollar became the "reserve currency" for the states which had signed the agreement. The Bretton Woods Agreement was also aimed at preventing currency competition and promoting monetary co-operation among nations. Under the Bretton Woods system, the IMF member countries agreed to a system of exchange rates that could be adjusted within defined parities with the U.S. dollar or, with the agreement of the IMF, changed to correct a fundamental disequilibrium in the balance of payments. The per value system remained in use from 1946 until the early 1970s. BRETTON WOODS INSTITUTIONS The delegates at Bretton Woods reached an agreement known as the Bretton Woods Agreement to establish a postwar international monetary system of convertible currencies, fixed exchange rates and free trade. To facilitate these objectives, the agreement created two international institutions: the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank). The intention was to provide economic aid for reconstruction of postwar Europe. An initial loan of $250 million to France in 1947 was the World Bank’s first act. The International Trade Organization that had been planned in the Bretton Woods Agreement could not be realized in the form initially envisaged—the U.S. Congress would not endorse it. Instead, it was created later, in 1947, in the form of the General Agreement on Tarrifs and Trade, which was signed by the U.S. and 23 other countries including Canada. The GATT would later become known as the World Trade Organization. In recent years, the two international institutions created at Bretton Woods the World Bank and the IMF have faced a major challenge in helping debtor nations to get back on stable financial footing. The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e.g. bridges, roads, schools, etc.) with the stated goal of reducing poverty. The World Bank was originally established to support reconstruction in Europe after World War II, but has since reframed its mission and expanded its operations both geographically and substantively. Today, the Bank's mission is to reduce poverty. It has over 184 member countries and provides over $20 billion annually for activities ranging from agriculture to trade policy, from health and education to energy and mining. The World Bank provides funding for bricks-and-mortar projects, as well to promote economic and policy prescriptions it believes will promote economic growth. For example, part of the over $300 million the Bank is currently providing the West African country of Niger funds health programs addressing HIV/AIDS and irrigation. However, the Bank also promotes more controversial projects in the country, like privatization of state enterprises. The Bank provides loans, grants and technical assistance to countries and the private sector to reduce poverty in developing and transition countries. Its five agencies are: • International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) On behalf of 182 member nations provides loans and other forms of development assistance to middle income countries and the more creditworthy nation. • International Development Association (IDA) On behalf of 161 member countries, specialize in funding loans aimed toward poverty reduction in developing nations. • International Finance Corporation (IFC) On behalf of 174 member countries promotes private sector investment in developing countries by committing its own funds, brokering loans from private source, and offering advice to private firms. • Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) On behalf of 153 member countries, promotes foreign direct investment in developing nations by offering political risk insurance to lenders and investors. • International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) On behalf of 132 member countries, provides conciliation and arbitration facilities for settling investment disputes arising between foreign investors and developing countries The term "World Bank" generally refers to the IBRD and IDA, whereas the World Bank Group is used to refer to the institutions collectively. WORLD BANK REPORT ON GLOBAL ECONOMY 2009 World Bank forecasted a dismal picture of the global economy in 2009, with growth weakening to a meager 0.9 percent and trade volume falling by 2.1 percent, falling for the first time since 1982. According to the report, developing countries' economies would likely expand at an annual pace of 4.5 percent while wealthier, developed economies are expected to contract 0.1 percent. The report forecasts that the Middle East and North Africa region would grow at a rate of 3.9 percent much lower than 5.8 percent it had grown in 2007 and 2008 expectations. According to Justin Lin, the chief economists of the World Bank, the global economy is at a crossroads, transitioning from a sustained period of very strong developing country-led growth to one of substantial uncertainty as a financial crisis rooted in high-income countries has shaken financial markets worldwide PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: The increased volatility, the impact on developing countries has been relatively minor to date. Risk premiums have escalated, but remain relatively low in a historic context, and capital inflows remain plentiful, although bank lending has dropped off. Aggregate growth in developing countries continues to be strong, reflecting improved fundamentals in many countries, sizable revenues from commodity exports, and continued access to international finance at moderately higher cost. Their strong gross domestic product (GDP) growth is partially offsetting weaker U.S. domestic demand, which is now expected to remain subdued well into 2008. Despite the resilience demonstrated by the global economy, risks exist and increased volatility has made several developing countries more vulnerable to financial disturbance, especially those with large current account deficits, pegged exchange rates, or domestic banking sectors that have borrowed heavily in international markets. WORLD BANK’S WORKING IN PAKISTAN The World Bank does not work alone, but in cooperation with various groups including, communities, civil society, government, and donor agencies. The joint effort of these groups is required to significantly reduce poverty. The World Bank provides technical expertise and funding in areas such as health, education, public administration, environmental protection, agriculture, and basic infrastructure. HOW ARE PRIORITIES SELECTED? Working with the government and civil society, the World Bank has developed an action plan known as the Pakistan Country Assistance Strategy which describes what kind of support and how much could be provided to the country beginning June, 2002 and covering a period two years . The strategy was designed to directly support the government's Povery Reduction Strategy and focuses on three key areas: 1) strengthening economic stability and government effectiveness; 2) strengthening the investment climate; 3) supporting pro-poor and pro-gender equity policies. STUDIES AND REPORTS The World Bank also produces studies and reports based upon its own analysis of a given issue. Topics of research come from the Bank's Country Assistance Strategy. This research is intended to provide an unbiased perspective on a range of specific development challenges. Additional studies include reviews of economic policies (Country Economic Memoranda), fiscal spending (Public Expenditure Review), environmental reviews (Environmental Action Plan), and other specific topics. Further discussion of development issues is promoted though workshops and other events. These events bring together groups such as government, media, and civil society organizations to discuss how best to move forward on a given issue. Pakistan develops its own projects with World Bank financing and technical support. The project cycle outlines the process of identifying, financing, implementing, and evaluating projects. Various financing options are available based upon the type of assistance needed. Loans or credits (interest-free loans) for these projects are then submitted for approval to the Executive Directors, the World Bank's decision-making body which represents all member countries. It is important to note that the implementation of projects is managed by the government itself. The government designates an office, referred to as the Implementing Agency, which is responsible for aspects such as procurement and selection of consultants and day to day work, monitoring and evaluation. Operational Policies set guidelines to ensure that projects meet the World Bank's own criteria such as social and environmental standards. Project evaluations are conducted to capture and share lessons for future reference. RECENT EXTENSION OF LOAN TO PAKISTAN Pakistan has received a $500 million loan from the World Bank to help stabilize the economy. The loan is interest-free and for 35 years, said the State Bank of Pakistan official.The loan from the World Bank will help contain the current account deficit, which in the year ended June 30, 2008, ballooned to more than $14 billion, putting immense pressure on the country's forex reserves. According to the World Bank, Pakistan has experienced severe external and internal shocks in the past year and is confronting a very difficult macroeconomic situation. The rise in international oil and food prices sharply inflated the country's import bill and the subsequent slowdown in the global economy dampened demand for Pakistan's exports.Also, political turmoil and uncertainty affected investor confidence which, together with macroeconomic imbalances, led to capital outflows, the World Bank said in a press release March 27. According to bank’s representative, “The World Bank is committed to supporting Pakistan in line with its vision for equitable progress and rapid development. We are committed to working with the government during this difficult time, protecting the most vulnerable groups and carrying out critical reforms that will set the basis for higher, inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” The projects of World Bank will support the immediate challenges in education, health, safety nets and community-led development, while laying the foundation for investment in infrastructure to foster long-term growth and job creation. WORLD BANK EVALUATION REPORT The World Bank has recently completed an evaluation of its interventions in Pakistan over a ten-year period (1993-2003). Its conclusion is that Pakistan performed poorly in a number of areas, including poverty, education, social sector performance, agriculture and natural resource management, rural development, power sector, taxes, public sector management and governance. INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 185 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. The IMF plays three major roles in the global monetary system. The Fund • surveys and monitors economic and financial developments, • lends funds to countries with balance-of-payment difficulties, and • provides technical assistance and training for countries requesting it. The IMF describes itself as "an organization of 185 countries (Montenegro being the 185th, as of January 18, 2007), working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty". With the exception of Taiwan, North Korea, Cuba, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Tuvalu, and Nauru, all UN member states participate directly in the IMF. Most are represented by other member states on a 24-member Executive Board but all member countries belong to the IMF's Board of Governors. Any country may apply for membership to the IMF. The application will be considered first by the IMF's Executive Board. After its consideration, the Executive Board will submit a report to the Board of Governors of the IMF with recommendations in the form of a "Membership Resolution." These recommendations cover the amount of quota in the IMF, the form of payment of the subscription, and other customary terms and conditions of membership. After the Board of Governors has adopted the "Membership Resolution," the applicant state needs to take the legal steps required under its own law to enable it to sign the IMF's Articles of Agreement and to fulfill the obligations of IMF membership. Similarly, any member country can withdraw from the Fund, although that is rare. A member's quota in the IMF determines the amount of its subscription, its voting weight, its access to IMF financing, and its allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The United States has exclusive veto power. A member state cannot unilaterally increase its quota — increases must be approved by the Executive Board and are linked to formulas that include many variables such as the size of a country in the world economy. The IMF's influence in the global economy steadily increased as it accumulated more members. The number of IMF member countries has more than quadrupled from the 44 states involved in its establishment, reflecting in particular the attainment of political independence by many developing countries and more recently the collapse of the Soviet bloc. The expansion of the IMF's membership, together with the changes in the world economy, have required the IMF to adapt in a variety of ways to continue serving its purposes effectively. In 2008, faced with a shortfall in revenue, the International Monetary Fund's executive board agreed to sell part of the IMF's gold reserves. On April 27, 2008, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn welcomed the board's decision April 7, 2008 to propose a new framework for the fund, designed to close a projected $400 million budget deficit over the next few years. The budget proposal includes sharp spending cuts of $100 million until 2011 that will include up to 380 staff dismissals. At the 2009 G-20 London summit, it was decided that the IMF budget will be tripled to $1 trillion, to better meet the needs of the global community amidst the late 2000s recession. ASSISTANCE AND REFORMS The primary mission of the IMF is to provide financial assistance to countries that experience serious financial and economic difficulties using funds deposited with the IMF from the institution's 185 member countries. Member states with balance of payments problems, which often arise from these difficulties, may request loans to help fill gaps between what countries earn and/or are able to borrow from other official lenders and what countries must spend to operate, including to cover the cost of importing basic goods and services. In return, countries are usually required to launch certain reforms, which have often been dubbed the "Washington Consensus". These reforms are generally required because countries with fixed exchange rate policies can engage in fiscal, monetary, and political practices which may lead to the crisis itself. For example, nations with severe budget deficits, rampant inflation, strict price controls, or significantly over-valued or under-valued currencies run the risk of facing balance of payment crises. Thus, the structural adjustment programs are at least ostensibly intended to ensure that the IMF is actually helping to prevent financial crises rather than merely funding financial recklessness. “WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK” BY IMF As was feared, the international financial crisis continued to worsen during H1-FY09 with devastating impact on the world economy. Most of the large economies face recession, with corollary negative impact on developing economies. With billions of dollars gone into various stimulus packages, policy makers are still not sure about the full extent of the losses. IMF has now raised its estimate of the potential losses in U.S. originated credit assets held by banks and others from US$ 1.4 trillion in October 2008 to US$ 2.2 trillion. In its January 2009 update to World Economic Outlook, IMF is now forecasting that the global recession will be much deeper and more protracted than previously envisaged. It may be pointed out that this is the 3rd downward revision in the world economic outlook by the IMF in the last four months. Global growth is now expected to fall to 0.5 percent in 2009, with advanced economies expected to suffer their severest recession since World War II. Collectively, advanced economies are expected to contract by 2.0 percent in 2009, which is the first annual contraction in the post-war period. Emerging economies are expected to slow sharply, growing by 3.3 percent in 2009. The IMF has also revised downward its economic growth forecast for China in 2009 by almost 2 percentage points to 6.7 per cent. RECENT IMF LOAN EXTENSION TO PAKISTAN According to the Wall Street Journal, the IMF, after an annual review of the country’s economy, said it expected tight domestic credit and dim private external financing prospects to constrain Pakistan’s growth. Pakistan’s economy grew 5.8 per cent between June 2007 and June 2008, the IMF said in its report. The IMF came to the country’s aid last fall with a $7.6 billion loan package and is encouraging other entities to provide additional assistance. The IMF’s loan programme is aimed at restoring financial stability, while protecting the poor. Additional external aid is necessary “to strengthen the economy and to provide scope for greater development and social spending,” the IMF said, describing an upcoming donor meeting as “an important opportunity.” The International Monetary Fund's executive board approved a disbursement of $847.1 million of a loan to Pakistan, as the country's growth outlook worsened. The additional access to funds follows the first review of the $7.6 billion, 23-month standby facility the IMF granted Pakistan in November, bringing the total disbursements under the program to $3.9 billion THE INVASION OF STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENTS IN PAKISTAN While no country, rich or poor, has escaped the impact of neoliberal structural adjustments in the age of globalization, let us keep our focus on Pakistan's dilemma of development. For the technocratic development elite of Pakistan, long used to complying with the conditionalities of World Bank/IMF loans, the implementation of structural reforms was simply the next step to be followed in the process of development planning. Perhaps they did not have much of an option as the country was brought to heavy dependence on foreign economic assistance. By 1980 Pakistan had become the 10th largest recipient of the World Bank/IMF loans. The first of the loans under the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) was approved in 1982 when General Zia had established his military rule. But after receiving the first tranche of the SAP loan the General's economic managers decided not to proceed with the rest, perhaps anticipating with some foresight that the enforcement of required adjustments will hurt the common people, making the General more unpopular than he already was. In any case the country had once again become the front line state in the American supported Islamic jehad against the Soviet communists, and as such was being well supplied with economic aid directly by the US and its allies. The crunch of SAP loans came after Zia's demise in 1990s and during the alternating civilian governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. The outgoing Zia regime had almost doubled the country's foreign debt liabilities which stood at $15.5 billion in the year 1990-91, creating greater dependency on SAP loans. When Sharif replaced Benazir's first short-lived government, he launched the first substantial package of structural adjustments to the economy in earnest. Controls on foreign exchange were lifted, first batch of state assets were privatized, business and industry was deregulated, and public expenditures on social programs were curtailed. Pleased with this performance, the World Bank/IMF released an average of $400 million in SAP loans over the 3 years of Sharif's first government. When in 1993 Moen Qureshi was brought in from the World Bank to serve as interim Prime Minister he implemented another round of structural adjustments, including 10 percent devaluation of currency, increase in prices of petroleum and electricity, dismantling of price controls on flour and cooking oil, and further reduction in Tarriffs. Whatever these reforms may gave accomplished for the health of the economy, for common people they spelled more misery of inflation and rising costs of basic necessities. But more was yet to come. After Qureshi's departure and return of Benazir to the Prime Minister's office a new World Bank/IMF Extended Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAf) loan of $1.5 billion was signed up to be disbursed in installments. To meet the conditions of this loan privatization was stepped up, a new regressive General Sales Tax was imposed on 268 items, import duties were further reduced and later in October, 1995, the rupee as devalued by another 7 percent. What the Benazir government failed to do was to meet the other important condition of the ESAP loan, the cutting of the budget deficit from 5.6 % of the GNP to 4.0 %, while over 80 percent of the budget revenues were tied up in debt servicing and defense expenditure. As a result the ESAF loan was suspended after payment of the first tranche. It took long and intense negotiations in Washington before the World Bank/IMF authorities agreed to replace the ESAF concessional loan with a $600 million standby loan at 5.0 percent rate of interest. While the people of Pakistan were smarting under the cumulative burden of these structural adjustments, the Benazir government was dismissed by presidential dictate, and she was forced to contest fresh elections against her main political rival Nawaz Sharif in 1997. But the traditional working class supporters of the PPP having endured the bitter medicine of structural adjustments lost interest in voting and Nawaz Sharif walked away with an easy victory based on a small turnout of voters. Back in office, Sharif continued on the path of structural reforms, claiming a heavy electoral mandate. Then in May 1998 when the people of Pakistan were waiting for the structural reforms to work their magic, and the economy was going from bad to worse with GDP increase rate stalled at about a jittery 4 % average, India exploded a nuclear device for the second time as a test of its atomic weaponry. And in reaction the Sharif government followed suit by detonating its own nuclear contraption against a spate of warnings issued by the United States and other G-8 countries. United States and Japan, the two major aid donors immediately imposed sanctions on both India and Pakistan which came as a blessing in disguise for Sharif government's economic woes. Blaming the economic crisis of Pakistan on these sanctions, and taking advantage of the nationalist xenophobia generated by the nuclear tests, his government declared emergency in Pakistan on May 28 and froze $11 billion in foreign currency bank accounts held by local and expatriate Pakistanis. But this move was hardly enough to save the day for Nawaz Sharif, as the economy kept teetering on default. In America there was already talk about Pakistan's future as a "failed state." The US could have made, in the words of Henry Kissinger, a horrible example of Pakistan, but in December 1998, after a meeting with Nawaz Sharif in Washington President Clinton decided to rest the matter after obtaining assurances from the Prime Minister to observe non-proliferation and negotiate peace with India. As an incentive to compliance, Clinton also promised his support of an IMF bailout package to Pakistan. In fact IMF has had little problem with its aid operations in Pakistan as the country's development planners have rarely declined to comply with the conditionalities of its loans, the latest of the series euphemistically called structural reforms. The real problem that IMF and the Bank were having in 1990s was the mounting discontent with their development strategies blamed for enriching the rich and impoverishing the poor. By the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Breton Woods institutions this discontent had turned into a loud and widespread campaign under the rallying cry of "Fifty Years Is Enough." STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENTS WITH POVERTY REDUCTION? Faced with these protestations, the Washington twins were compelled to do something about their image without changing their ideological commitment to neoliberal globalization. The IMF came up with the novel idea of integrating poverty reduction with its structural adjustment agenda. In September, 1999 it changed the name of its Extended Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) to Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF). This reformulated lending procedure was ready when a month later the Nawaz Sharif government was swept aside by yet another military coup. The economic managers of the new administration under the leadership of a new finance minister, no stranger to the financial world of Washington, had little problem producing Pakistan's first comprehensive Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) required to qualify for the PRGF loan. The strategy paper met quick approval of the IMF Executive Board on December 6, 2001, resulting in a new round of concessional lending in tranche. This brings us to the latest phase of Pakistan's development planning. The picture of how Pakistan's PRSP has worked in practice as a policy document controlled by IMF (although "owned" by Pakistan) emerges from three years of its implementation closely monitored by the Fund staff through no less than nine documented reviews. Economic growth as measured by the rate of increase in GNP remains the number one concern, but is yet to move up to the celebrated high figures of the Ayub and Zia eras. The main instrumentality of growth remains the relentless implementation of structural adjustments based on the "Washington Consensus." That means privatization which is proceeding well although IMF would like to see more progress in the sale of major state assets, investment environment for both foreign and local capital is improving, the reduction of budgetary deficit and public debt is on target, customs and tariff reforms to lower the costs of doing business in Pakistan are well under way, tax concessions and subsidies are being eliminated, poverty reduction expenditures are rising, and above all macroeconomic situation looks very good. The foreign currency reserves have also increased sharply, which may not have as much to do with structural adjustments as with the windfall from America's Operation Enduring Freedom and a rebounding of remittances generated from the sweat and labor of expatriate workers. There are of course other sociologically interesting objectives embedded in IMF's new poverty reduction discourse, such as devolution of power, participation of the civil society, empowerment of the poor, the challenge of inclusion, good governance, and transparency. But these potent phrases strike one like mantras flowing out of a sorcerer's bag than having much to do with the real life situation of Pakistanis living in poverty. INCOMPATIBILITY OF STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENTS AND POVERTY REDUCTION What is more telling about Pakistan's economic performance under the PRGF arrangement, monitored closely by the Fund staff, is the lack of any significant reduction in poverty. In its ninth and final review under the PRGF arrangement, the IMF Board, while praising Pakistan's "strong recovery from the economic crisis of the 1990s," goes on to conclude that the country "continues to face major challenge ... to achieve significant and lasting reduction in poverty." In other words Pakistan's perennial dilemma of development remains unresolved. On their part, Pakistan authorities have decided not to proceed with the last and final tranche of the PRGF amid affirmations from both sides of continued cooperation in matters of economic development. The fact of the matter which does not receive mention by either side is that the neoliberal globalization agenda which the IMF and the Bank have been extending to Pakistan since 1980s in the form of structural adjustments has practically foreclosed the possibility of any significant reduction in poverty. Why is it so? The answer to this question lies in the common observation that the overwhelming majority of poor in the world, including one third of the people of Pakistan who live below the national poverty line, are workers, employed, unemployed, or underemployed, including their dependents and many women whose work remains unrecognized and un-waged. It therefore stands to logic that any effective program of reducing poverty must be directed at improving the position of workers in the labor market and the work place. Yet most of the structural adjustments - the diminished role of the state, free market fundamentalism, privatization, deregulation, flexibility of labor - which operate at the heart of neoliberalism accomplish the opposite, creating the structural conditions which make it virtually impossible for workers to climb out of poverty In the ongoing process of restructuring the world economy on neoliberal lines the position of capital and its cross-border mobility has been enhanced tremendously. The role of the state as a key player in promoting distributive justice has been undermined and subordinated to the so called free market. Labor and working classes have turned out to be the biggest losers, bearing the burden of "competitive austerity." There are some revealing figures about what this restructuring of relations between capital, state and labor has accomplished world-wide. In the United States, the organic core of liberalized global capitalism , the income gap between the top fifth and the bottom fifth of households was narrowing before 1973, but between 1973 - 1996 this gap increased by 50 %. In 1950 one third of American waged and salaried workers belonged to trade unions but in 1995 this figure dropped to only 14.2 percent; just in one decade of neoliberal ascendency between 1985-1995 union membership in the U.S. declined by 21.1 % and in U.K. by 27.7 % . During roughly the same period of globalization child poverty increased by one third in America and by one half in Britain. The affluent worker of the America of 1950s and 1960s is now displaced by the flexible worker who lacks a job for life, is adjustable with respect to wages and hours of work, lacks collective bargaining and union protection. The flexible worker is often a single mom or single dad and if married needs a working spouse to make ends meet or keep up with the American standards of consumption. Gone are also, I might add, those thriving farming communities that were to be seen around the State University I attended from 1958 to 1961. Last time I visited my American Alma Mater before 9/11 those prosperous farming settlements had either disappeared from sight or reduced to ghost towns. But those farms were still green and growing bountiful genetically altered crops now owned by agribusiness corporations. Obviously, what goes under "Washington Consensus" has failed the working people of America. It can hardly be expected to work for the toiling people of Pakistan whose position has never been enviable and is certainly much too vulnerable to be left to the mercy of the unregulated market. From what one can glean from the available data on Pakistan, union membership in the country has continued to decline from 850,517 in 1985 to 296,257 in 1999; the proportion of employees covered by collective bargaining has declined from 1.44 % in 1990 to 0.91 % in 1999; and the wage costs as proportion of total production in Pakistan stood at the abysmally low figure of 6.0 % in 1999. Clearly, the development project that was initiated in the 1950s with a focus on eradicating poverty and inequality from Pakistan got lost somewhere in the labyrinth of development "fashions" and econometric modeling learned assiduously by our scholars in the Ivy League universities of America and IMF/World Bank seminars. The question that I want to leave here is whether it is possible to revive that original development project defined, at least rhetorically, around normative preoccupation with poverty alleviation and equality? It seems to me that there are a few favorable conditions at the moment which raise that possibility. First of all, inevitable as the hegemonic sweep of neoliberal globalization may appear, its agenda is under attack both from within and without. From within, there are emerging warnings that capitalism in its neoliberal articulation is headed towards depression economics and an internal crisis with its purely market calculations. From without the system it is under frontal challenge by world-wide social movements such as the World Social Forum and many environmental and feminist initiatives. Foreign debt is the main lever used by donor countries and multilateral aid organizations to break resistance to the imposition of external economic agendas and development policies. Pakistan authorities have made this year a $1.1 billion repayment of foreign debt, which is an encouraging sign if the intent of this move is to break out of the vicious circle of loans and debts. More encouraging in this respect is the re-energized India-Pakistan peace movement which can lead to decrease in heavy defense spending and therefore less reliance on foreign debt accompanied by policy constraints. Yet another hopeful development is the reactivated interaction being witnessed in the context of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, SAARC. Cooperation among South Asian countries, where an estimated 40 percent of the world's poor live, is the key to building an environment in which indigenous policies can be designed to solve South Asian problems in the context of South Asian realities. One must remember that Pakistan is historically, geographically, culturally and temperamentally part of the South Asian subcontinent and will remain so no matter what kind of national ethos the "petro-wahabis" are trying to impose on the country. Pakistan stands a better chance of setting its own priorities of development in cooperation and concerted action with its South Asian neighbors, India in particular, than trying to resist alone the agenda of globalization set elsewhere. But first it has to be seen whether there is a will and a consensus among the countries of South Asia to bring poverty reduction to the center stage of development planning. CRITICISM OF BRETTON WOODS INSTITUTIONS "The interests of the IMF represent the big international interests that seem to be established and concentrated in Wall Street." — Che Guevara, Marxist revolutionary, 1959 Two criticisms from economists have been that financial aid is always bound to so-called "Conditionalities", including Structural Adjustment Programs. It is claimed that conditionalities (economic performance targets established as a precondition for IMF loans) retard social stability and hence inhibit the stated goals of the IMF, while Structural Adjustment Programs lead to an increase in poverty in recipient countries. One of the main SAP conditions placed on troubled countries is that the governments sell up as much of their national assets as they can, normally to western corporations at heavily discounted prices. That said, the IMF sometimes advocates "austerity programmes," increasing taxes even when the economy is weak, in order to generate government revenue and balance budget deficits, which is Keynesian policy. Countries are often advised to lower their corporate tax rate. These policies were criticised by Joseph E. Stiglitz, in his book Globalization and Its Discontents. He argued that by converting to a more Monetarist approach, the fund no longer had a valid purpose, as it was designed to provide funds for countries to carry out Keynesian reflations, and that the IMF "was not participating in a conspiracy, but it was reflecting the interests and ideology of the Western financial community." The impact of structural adjustment policies on developing countries has been one of the most significant criticisms of the World Bank too. The oil crisis in the late 1970s, the second in a decade, plunged many developing countries into economic crisis. The World Bank responded with structural adjustment loans which distributed aid to ailing countries while enforcing policy changes meant to mitigate domestic inflation and fiscal imbalance. Some of these policies included encouraging production, investment and labor-intensive manufacturing, changing real exchange rates and altering the distribution of government resources. EX ANTE VERSUS EX POST CONDITIONALITY It is common for IMF officials to initially place only very general conditions on the loan they extended. They tend to switch to high conditionality only after a borrower nation has already enacted policies that violate the original low-conditionality arrangements. By that point, of course, the IMF has already failed to avoid the moral hazard problem. Critics argue that IMF secrecy and its tendency to impose high conditionality only when pressed to, effectively amounts to firm conditionality only on an ex post or after-the – fact ,basis. They contended that this after-the-fact, discretionary approach to establishing conditions under which the IMF lends, which they call ex post conditionality, undermines the IMF’s credibility both with actual borrowers and with prospective borrowers. This lack of credibility, they argue, increases the likelihood for moral hazard problems while also widening the scope of the adverse selection problem by attracting borrower nations that are most likely to try to take advantage of vague conditions of a policy of low conditionality. • IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH In 2008, a study by analysts from Cambridge and Yale universities published on the open-access Public Library of Science concluded that strict conditions on the international loans by the IMF resulted in thousands of deaths in Eastern Europe by tuberculosis as public health care had to be weakened. In the 21 countries which the IMF had given loans, tuberculosis deaths rose by 16.6 %. • CRITICISM FROM FREE-MARKET ADVOCATES Typically the IMF and its supporters advocate a monetarist approach. As such, adherents of supply-side economics generally find themselves in open disagreement with the IMF. The IMF frequently advocates currency devaluation, criticized by proponents of supply-side economics as inflationary. Secondly they link higher taxes under "austerity programmes" with economic contraction. Currency devaluation is recommended by the IMF to the governments of poor nations with struggling economies. Some economists claim these IMF policies are destructive to economic prosperity. Complaints are also directed toward International Monetary Fund gold reserve being undervalued. At its inception in 1945, the IMF pegged gold at US$35 per Troy ounce of gold. In 1973 the Nixon administration lifted the fixed asset value of gold in favor of a world market price. Hence the fixed exchange rates of currencies tied to gold were switched to a floating rate, also based on market price and exchange. This largely came about because Petrodollars outside the United States were more than could be backed by the gold at Fort Knox under the fixed exchange rate system. The fixed rate system only served to limit the amount of assistance the organisation could use to help debt-ridden countries. Current IMF rules prohibit members from linking their currencies to gold. • WESTERN RECIPES OF "DEVELOPMENT" First criticism is that the highly homogenized and Western recipes of "development" held by the Bank. To the World Bank, different nations and regions are indistinguishable, and ready to receive the "uniform remedy of development". To attain even small portions of success, Western approaches to life are adopted and traditional economic structures and values are abandoned. A second assumption is that poor countries cannot modernize without money and advice from abroad. One of the strongest criticisms of the World Bank has been the way in which it is governed. While the World Bank represents 184 countries, it is run by a small number of economically powerful countries. These countries choose the leadership and senior management of the World Bank and as such, their interests are dominant within the bank • DUAL ROLES The World Bank has dual roles that are often contradictory: that of a political organization and that of an action-oriented organization. As a political organization, the World Bank must meet the demands of donor and borrowing governments, private capital markets as well as other international organizations. As an action-oriented organization, it must fulfill the role of a neutral organization specialized in delivering development aid, technical assistance, and loans. These dual roles are often inconsistent with one another. The World Bank’s obligations to donor countries and private capital markets have caused it to adopt policies and programs that endorse liberal economic theory which dictates that poverty is best alleviated by the implementation of market-oriented policies. In the 1990s the World Bank and the IMF forged the Washington Consensus. The Washington Consensus placed too much emphasis on the growth of GDP and not enough on the sustainability of that growth; economically, socially, politically and environmentally, or on questioning whether or not this growth actually contributed to increased living standards Some critics of the World Bank believe that the institution was not started in order to reduce poverty but rather to support United States' business interests, and argue that the bank has actually increased poverty and been detrimental to the environment, public health, and cultural diversity. Some critics also claim that the World Bank has consistently pushed a neoliberal agenda, imposing policies on developing countries which have been damaging, destructive and anti-developmental. • KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION The World Bank has been critiqued for the manner in which it engages in “the production, accumulation, circulation, and functioning” of knowledge. The Bank’s process in the production of knowledge has become integral to the funding and justification of large capital projects . The Bank relies on “a growing network of translocal scientists, technocrats, NGOs, and empowered citizens to help generate data and construct discursive strategies”. Its capacity to produce authoritative knowledge is a response to intense scrutiny of Bank projects resulting from the successes of growing anti-Bank and alternative-development movements “Development has relied exclusively on one knowledge system, namely, the modern Western one. The dominance of this knowledge system has dictated the marginalization and disqualification of non-Western knowledge systems” It has been remarked, that in these alternative knowledge systems researchers and activists might find alternative rationales to guide interventionist action away from Western (Bank) produced ways of thinking. Knowledge production has become an asset to the Bank and “it is generated and used in highly strategic ways” to provide justifications for development. • ADVERSE SELECTION IMF officials do not publicly announce the terms of institution’s lending agreements with specific nations. This means that it is solely up to the IMF to monitor which borrower nations are wisely using fund donated by other countries. Often private investors can discern that a country has failed to abide by its agreement with the IMF only when the IMF under takes an action such withholding a scheduled loan installment. Swift adverse market reactions following such IMF moves can place borrower nations in even worse financial straits, making it even more difficult for the borrower to meet the terms of its original agreement with IMF. Thus, the IMF’s policy of keeping loan agreements secret can undermine its efforts to protect members’ funds for its use. PROSPECTS OF BRETTON WOODS IN 21ST CENTURY: DOES THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ARCHITECTURE NEED A REDESIGH? The experiences with the crises in the 1990s engendered a number of economists and policymaker to offer proposals for restructuring the IMF and the World Bank. Multinational institutions have confronted two types of criticism in recent years. One use of critics believes that these institutions are correctly designed and structured but contends nevertheless that these institutions could do a much better job of heading off official crises before they occur. Another group, however, criticized the operation of and in some cases evens the existence of multinational financial institutions. According to this latter group, at a minimum the international financial architecture requires some retuning and it may even require a redesign. CAN POLICYMAKERS PREDICT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CRISES? To be able to limit or even prevent, international financial crises, policy makers must have a good idea about their underlying causes. However there are different perspectives concerning the main causes of crises. Let’s consider each in turn to discuss what guidance they provide about factors that might help national and supranational authorities determine when they should intervene to try to reduce the like crises. ECONOMIC IMBALANCES AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CRISIS The traditional view of financial crises focuses on economic fundamentals, which are underlying factors such as the nation’s current and likely future economic prospects and its monetary and foiscal policies. According to this view, on inconsistency between the value of the exchange rate corresponding to a nation’s economic fundamental and an officially targets exchange rate value can engender a financial crises. if foreign exchange traders perceive that the financial value of a nation’s currency is higher than its true value in private foreign exchange markets based on the economic fundamentals, then there naturally will be a tendency for traders to sell their holdings of assets denominated in that currency to avoid losses. By unloading these assets, traders who are averse to risk will reduce their losses if it should happen that the government or central bank run out of foreign currency reserves used to purchase the currency and maintain the official exchange rate. Further, speculators may seek to profit from their anticipation of an imminent exhaustion of official foreign exchange reserves by selling assets denominated in the nation’s currency in an effort to push the Govt. or central bank into giving up on supporting the exchange rate at its officially targeted level. At the same they can bet on a collapse of the official exchange arte via post positions they take in market for futures, options and wasp. This type of behavior is called a speculative attack on a nation’s official exchange rate. If a speculative attack is successful, then speculators potentially can earn significant profit from taking these positions. SELF-FULFILLING EXPECTATIONS AND CONTAGION EFFECTS A 2nd perspective focuses on the potential role of self fulfilling anticipation and contagion effect that can bring about an international financial crises even when underlying economic fundamentals are consistent with an officially pegged exchange rate or when Govt and central banks otherwise have sufficient foreign exchange reserves, given a slight misalignment of the government’s exchange rate target. According to this view, all that is needed to induce a speculative attack is relatively widespread perception by traders that a nation’s policymakers face relatively high internal cost, perhaps because of resulting political difficulties, from maintaining the official exchange arte. STRUCTURAL MORAL HAZARD PROBLEMS Finally a third perspective focuses on flows within the structure of a nation’s financial system as the major factors that lay the groundwork for a crises situation. Crises conditions exist when governmental policies create a situation of rampant moral hazard problem. For instance, a nation’s government might require its banks to make loan to specific firms or industries, and because these firms and industries know that they will receive credit no matter how they use the funds, they commit them to risky undertaking. many observer of the financial crises in Malaysia and Indonesia during the late 1990s have argued that such moral hazard problems existed in those nations. ultimately, the risks taken on by those who receive government-directed credit generate actual losses and failures/ these observers conclude, which sets off a crises situation. Others who emphasized the potential for moral hazard problems to generate financial crises also contend that the policies of multinational institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank also can contribute to financial crises. CRISIS PREDICTION AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS Each of these perspectives indicates different factors that might help in predicting financial crises. According to the view that emphasizes the importance of imbalance in economic fundamentals, variables such as exports, imports, foreign exchange reserves, real income, monetary aggregates, exchange rates and interest rates might all be useful indicators of the potential for a crisis. For instance, if a country’s trade balance quickly worsens and its foreign exchange reserves rapidly decline, then a crisis may be in the offing. The perspective emphasizing moral hazard problems, however, indicates that such changes in economic fundamentals are likely to occur when a crisis is already progress. Hence variation in economic fundamentals will not necessarily help predict crisis far enough in advance to help prevent them. The view that self-fulfilling expectation can induce crisis offer an even more pessimistic view about the usefulness of economic fundamentals as crisis indicators. According to these views, it may be difficult to find a close relation between fundamentals and crises, because crises may sometimes take place with out a previous significant change in fundamentals. However there are different views on how to determine that a crisis has occurred. Crisis defiantly exists when a nation’s currency experiences a nominal depreciation of at least 25% within a year that follows a depreciation of at least 10% the previous year. And some other economists consider a crisis to have occurred when such an index exceeds a threshold that depends on the normal, historical pattern of variations that the index has exhibited in prior years. In such studies, economists seek to determine whether they can identify any variables that serve as financial crisis indicator or the factors that typically precede such crisis and thereby aid in predicting them. Indicator is ratings of the countries’ debt. These rating may reflect moral hazard problems. Other authors find that credit rating do not help predict financial crisis. This could be because moral hazard problems are not a key causal factor in crisis. But it is also possible that rating agencies such as Moody’s do not have sufficient information to accurately assess the scope of moral hazard and its implications for the true creditworthiness of international borrowers. The objective of studies searching for financial crises indicators is to develop an early warning system, or a mechanism for monitoring financial and economic data for signals of trouble that might eventually evolve into a crisis. There is some optimism inside and outside the IMF and World Bank that economist may ultimately develop a reliable early warning system. RETHINKING ECONOMIC INSTITIONS AND POLICIES The strongest critics of multinational institutions contend that there is little evidence that these institutions have developed the capability to head off financial crises before they occur. According to critics the World’s nations should consider making fundamental reforms in the structure of these institutions. RETHINKING LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT LENDING Not all lending by supranational institutions is related to crisis situations. Both IMF and World Bank also make longer-term loans intended to foster growing standard of living in many of world’s poorer nations. Since the early 1990s one of the main themes of development economist has been that markets work better at promoting growth when a developing nation has more effective institutions, such as basic property rights, well-run legal systems, and uncorrupt govt.agencies. considerable evidences indicates that countries where property rights are not well enforced, the rule of law is weak, and governments are corrupt tend to grow more slowly, even if they otherwise permit markets to function without regulatory hindrances. Further more, bringing about structural reforms consistent with achieving a higher long-term growth rate requires nations to develop strategies for making reforms last. This requires building a consensus for reforms and sometimes may entail compensating those who lose when reform is enacted. A number of economist have suggested that the IMF and World Bank should adopt strict policies against countries with institutional structures that fail to promote individual property rights, law enforcement, and anti corruption efforts. This would they argue, give countries an incentive to shape up their institutional structures. PROPOSALS TO RESTRUCTURE THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ARCHITECTURE Most proposals for altering the international financial architecture focus on multi national policymaking related to financial crises. A few of these are summarized and given below. They range from relatively, minor changes in existing institutions and procedures to replacement of existing multinational institutions with new institutions NATIONAL PROPOSALS AND DESCRIPTION • Canada proposal for emergency standstill clause: under this proposal, countries would establish rules for restricting capital outflows that threaten international financial stability. • France proposal for an IMF council composed of national finance minister: the proposal would upgrade an “interim committee” of national finance ministers to the status of the ultimate governing and decision-making body for the international monetary funds. • United Kingdom proposal for a standing committee for global financial regulation: this proposed committee would encompass the IMF, World Bank and bank for international settlements and would establish and implement international standards for financial regulation and economic policymaking. PRIVATE PROPOSAL AND DESCRIPTION • Calomiris-meltzer proposals for strict international lending rules: although these economists proposals are different in certain respects, they share the idea that current multinational institutions might be replaced with a single institution that makes only short-=term loan to illiquid countries. • Garten’s proposal for a global central bank: this envision a new multinational institution overseen by the G-7 and rotating emerging economy members that would engage in open market operations using funds raised from members and international taxes. • Soros’s proposal for an international investor’s insurance agency: under this proposal, nations would create a public corporation that would insure investors against debt defaults up to a specific ceiling level. • IMF proposal for internal reforms: This entails among other things, requiring borrowers to provide more in depth financial information, to adopt better accounting standards and to release more IMF data and information to the public. • G-7 proposal for a large role for private-sector lenders: this extends the IMF proposal by calling for greater private-sector involvement in providing funds to distressed nations and providing incentives for private lender to be willing to participate. • G-22 proposals for greater accountability, stronger financial systems and crisis containment: the IMF would require preparing a “transparency report” for each nation receiving an IMF loan. Nations requesting loans would have to follow common financial and accounting principles and international loan contracts would contain flexible-payment provisions simplifying loan renegotiations in the event that crises take place. The Bretton Woods institutions created for postwar recovery of Europe as well as a number of monetary issues, such as unstable exchange rates and protectionist trade policies now serve the interests of the big players of international economic scenario. Also it is criticized that instead of betterment and economic growth of developing countries, they are aggravating the problems of LDCs pushing them in vicious circles of poverty, unemployment, inflation and economic crisis. Hence, the concerned masses call for effective reforms of these institutions so that the hegemony if big players may be abolished. But such prospects seem bleak as these economic powers who have the control over the reigns of these institutes would not allow for such reforms.

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The European Commission (EC) has proposed to limit the amount of food crops that can be used for making biofuels in the European Union. The move comes after several studies have shown that not all biofuels are equal in greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Renewable Energy Directive, 10 percent of all transport fuels were to be renewably sourced by 2020. The related Fuel Quality Directive set a greenhouse gas reduction target of 6 percent by 2020 for fuels used in transport. When these goals were set, the contribution from biofuels was expected to be fairly high. The European Commission wants to limit the use of food crops as a source of biofuel, and instead promote non-food sources, such as this Miscanthus, or elephant grass, grown in the UK, as a biofuel feedstock. (Source: Wikimedia Commons/David Wright) The percentage of food-based biofuels allowed to contribute to that 10 percent will now be limited to 5 percent of the total, which is the current consumption rate, up until 2020. After that year, the EC wants to give financial incentives only to those biofuels that aren't produced from food and feed crops, and that lead to "substantial" greenhouse gas savings. The EC's reasons for the changes are "to stimulate the development of alternative, so-called second generation biofuels from non-food feedstock, like waste or straw, which emit substantially less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels and do not directly interfere with global food production," according to a press release. Some recent studies indicate that certain biofuels may actually add as much to greenhouse gas emissions as the fossil fuels they are designed to replace. The EC says this became clear when the studies accounted for changes in indirect land use. Those changes can happen when the production of biofuel from a food crop forces a shift in the production of human food or animal feed crops to land that has not been previously cleared for agricultural use, such as forests. The proposal calls for several changes. It requires that, when assessing a biofuel's greenhouse gas performance, in order for it to be counted toward the targets and receive support, its estimated global land conversion impacts, or Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC), must now be included in reports by fuel suppliers and member states. The proposal also increases the greenhouse gas savings threshold for new installations to a minimum of 60 percent. Currently, biofuels must emit at least 35 percent less greenhouse gases than the fossil fuels they replace; increasing to 50 percent in 2017. This change is designed to improve biofuel production process efficiency and discourage more investments in existing installations with low greenhouse gas performance.

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In February 2003, the Governing Council of UNEP adopted a long-term strategy for engaging young people in environmental activities and in the work of UNEP. The strategy was entitled the Tunza Youth Strategy. The word “TUNZA” means “to treat with care or affection” in Kiswahili (a sub-regional language of Eastern Africa). The overall Tunza Concept, therefore, is built around this theme. It is an initiative that is meant to develop activities in the areas of capacity building, environmental awareness, and information exchange, with a vision to foster a generation of environmentally conscious citizens, capable of positive action. THE 19TH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S PAINTING COMPETITION ON THE ENVIRONMENT UNEP has launched the 19th International children's painting competition. The Competition is organized annually by the UNEP and the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation. It has been held since 1991 and has more than 2.4 million entries from children in over 100 countries. The theme for 2010 competition is Biodiversity: Connecting with Nature and it will focus on our beautiful earth, full of different life forms and what can we do to protect it. The children’s paintings will focus on concrete actions to preserve biodiversity such as tree planting, marine and animal conservation, restoration of coral reefs etc The selection process will be in two stages; the regional selection which will be done by UNEP Regional Offices and their partners, and the global selection which will be done by UNEP and its partners, Foundation for Global peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation. UPCOMING DAYS OF ACTION WORLD WATER DAY International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

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Proteins are probably the most important class of biochemical molecules, although of course lipids and carbohydrates are also essential for life. Proteins are the basis for the major structural components of animal and human tissue. Proteins are natural polymer molecules consisting of amino acid units. The number of amino acids in proteins may range from two to several thousand. See Amino Primary Protein Structure: The primary protein structure is defined as the specific sequence of amino acids in the protein. In order to function properly, peptides and proteins must have the correct sequence of amino acids. In the section on peptide bonds, it was shown that a dipeptide consisting of two different amino acids could have two different sequences as in the example gly - ala or ala - gly. Remember that as written left to right in gly-ala, the glycine has the "free" amine terminal end and alanine has the "free" carboxyl acid terminal end. If three different amino acids (gly, ala, leu) are used to make a tripeptide, how many different sequences are possible? There are six possible sequences: gly - ala - leu; gly - leu - ala; ala - gly - leu; ala - leu - gly; leu - ala - gly; leu - gly - ala. Review example: gly-ala-leu - Chime in new window In the protein hormone insulin, 51 amino acids are found. Using 51 amino acids there are 1.55 x 1066 different possible sequences. Many other proteins contain many more amino acids then insulin, but only the correct precise sequence is produced by the body. The procedure used to synthesize the correct sequence of amino acids in proteins is guided by the genetics of DNA and RNA.

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RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Biologists at the University of California, Riverside have found that voluntary activity, such as daily exercise, is a highly heritable trait that can be passed down genetically to successive generations. Working on mice in the lab, they found that activity level can be enhanced with "selective breeding" – the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Their experiments showed that mice that were bred to be high runners produced high-running offspring, indicating that the offspring had inherited the trait for activity. "Our findings have implications for human health," said Theodore Garland Jr., a professor of biology, whose laboratory conducted the multi-year research. "Down the road people could be treated pharmacologically for low activity levels through drugs that targeted specific genes that promote activity. Pharmacological interventions in the future could make it more pleasurable for people to engage in voluntary exercise. Such interventions could also make it less comfortable for people to sit still for long periods of time." In humans, activity levels vary widely from couch-potato-style inactivity to highly active athletic endeavors. "We have a huge epidemic of obesity in Western society, and yet we have little understanding of what determines variation among individuals for voluntary exercise levels," Garland said. Study results appear online Sept. 1 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The researchers began their experiments in 1993 with 224 mice whose levels of genetic variation bore similarity to those seen in wild mouse populations. The researchers randomly divided the base population of mice into eight separate lines – four lines bred for high levels of daily running, with the remaining four used as controls – and measured how much distance the mice voluntarily ran per day on wheels attached to their cages. With a thousand mice born every generation and four generations of mice each year, the researchers were able to breed highly active mice in the four high-runner lines by selecting the highest running males and females from every generation to be the parents of the next generation. In the control lines, breeders were chosen with no selection imposed, meaning that the mice either changed or did not change over time purely as a result of random genetic drift. By studying the differences among the replicate lines, the researchers found that mice in the four high-runner lines ran 2.5-3-fold more revolutions per day as compared with mice in the four control lines. They also found that female and male mice evolved differently: females increased their daily running distance almost entirely by speed; males, on the other hand, increased speed but they also ran more minutes per day. The study is an example of an "experimental evolution" approach applied rigorously to a problem of biomedical relevance. Although this approach is common with microbial systems and fruit flies, it has rarely been applied to vertebrates due to their longer generation times and greater costs of maintenance. The results of such studies can inform biologists about fundamental evolutionary processes as well as "how organisms work" in a way that may lead to new therapeutic strategies. "This study of experimental evolution confirms some previous observations and raises new questions," said Douglas Futuyma, a distinguished professor of ecology and evolution at Stony Brook University, New York, who was not involved in the research. "It shows that 'there are many ways to skin a cat': different ways in which a species may evolve a similar adaptive characteristic – running activity, in this case. Garland and coauthors go further by beginning to explore the detailed ways in which an adaptive feature, such as muscle size or metabolic rate, may be realized and by showing sex differences in the response to selection. It would be fascinating to know, and challenging to find out, if any one of these different responses is adaptively better than others." Garland was joined in the research by Scott Kelly, Jessica Malisch, Erik Kolb, Robert Hannon, Brooke Keeney, Shana Van Cleave and Kevin Middleton, all of whom work in his lab. The study was supported primarily by a grant to Garland from the National Science Foundation. Details of the experimental set-up The mice run on wheels attached to their cages. Wheel running is a completely voluntary behavior for the mice. They can sit in their cages and not run at all. If they do run, they can get off the wheels at any time. For the experiments, each mouse was given access to the wheels for only six days of their lives. A computer recorded every minute how much distance (revolutions) the mice ran for the six days. The researchers selected breeders depending on how much distance the mice ran on days 5 and 6. About Theodore Garland Jr. Garland received his doctoral degree in biological sciences from UC Irvine. Before joining UCR in 2001, he was a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is trained in comparative physiology and evolutionary biology, as well as quantitative genetics with emphasis on exercise physiology. He is co-editor of Experimental evolution: concepts, methods, and applications of selection experiments (University of California Press, 2009). On the editorial boards of several scientific journals, he is the author/coauthor of nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications. The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment of about 18,000 is expected to grow to 21,000 students by 2020. The campus is planning a medical school and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of more than $1 billion. A broadcast studio with fiber cable to the AT&T Hollywood hub is available for live or taped interviews. To learn more, call (951) UCR-NEWS. 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.

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Fiscal austerity may be forcing some countries to cut spending on foreign aid, but this isn’t the case everywhere. In fact, Brazil has actually tripled its official aid budget over the last two years, and according to the Guardian, the South American country is quickly becoming a leader in aid to the developing world. Brazilian generosity is helping to offset falling donations from other countries, says The Economist. A study by Oxfam that appeared in Newsweek found that between 2008 and 2009, foreign aid from wealthy nations decreased by $3.5 billion. But a table in The Economist shows that through a combination of programs and loans to developing countries, Brazil’s 2010 contributions could total around $4 billion, though this figure includes involvement by private contractors. And Brazil's status as a country that can empathize with developing nations gives it an advantage when designing aid programs. For example, The Economist points out that Brazil can help other countries design successful tropical agricultural programs because they've already done it themselves. The same goes for providing low-cost HIV/AIDS treatment or setting up cash transfer schemes that work. Brazil tends to finance social programs or agriculture projects around the world, but Africa seems to be a particular focus. The Economist mentions Haiti as an example, where the Brazilian government runs a program that gives families free meals if they take their kids to school. In Angola, Brazilian contractors are building the water supply. And in Mali, Brazilian researchers run an experimental cotton farm. These efforts are even more remarkable when you consider that Brazil is still a recipient of international aid. But if that's the case, should Brazil really be donating all this money? According to both The Economist and The Guardian, Brazil has actually benefited from increasing its foreign aid. The Guardian states that the economic ties Brazil has built with developing countries helped it escape the worst of the financial crisis, while The Economist suggests that foreign aid could boost Brazil's credibility with other nations. But no matter what, Brazil's commitment to helping poor countries in the global south might pay big dividends in the future.

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Making Apple and Potato Stamps Apple and Potato stamps are an easy way to have fun and create some beautiful art. This project requires relatively few supplies, but will require supervision for younger children. You will need: Fresh apples and/or large potatoes (each apple or potato will make two stamps) Start by washing your potatoes and apples well. The first part of this project is the creation of the stamps, which requires the use of a sharp knife. It is important for younger children to be well supervised at this point, it may even be a good idea for an adult to do the steps that involve using a knife. Step one is to cut the apples and potatoes in half. Make sure the cuts are nice and clean, as any mistakes will be apparent when the apple and potato halves are used as stamps. At this point you can leave the apples halves whole and use them just as apple shaped stamps. You can also use the halves to create more complex stamps. In order to create a more complex stamp, you start by drawing the outline of the shape into the center of the apple or potato half. Once the outline is clearly drawn in, use the knife to cut the outline into the apple or potato, the cut should be about a quarter of an inch deep. After the outline is cut, carefully carve away the outer edge of the apple or potato away from the outline cut. Make these cuts from the outside in, until you reach the cut of the outline. You will want to cut away about a quarter inch of the apple or potato, leaving just the shape that you drew into the apple or potato as a stamp. When your stamp is made, pour a small layer of paint into a plate. Spread the paint throughout the base of the plate. You can dip the stamp or apple half into the layer of paint, or you can use a paint brush to apply the paint to the stamp. Then, place the stamp paint side down onto the object you are decorating. You can use these stamps to decorate clothing, create pictures or anything else that could use some decoration and absorbs paint. When you are planning your project, make sure that you decide what type of object you want to decorate and also make sure you have the correct type of paint for that object.

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University of Minnesota and University of Michigan, University of Michigan, University of Illionois at Chicago The GeoWall project offers 3D scientific visualization tools to aid in the understanding of spatial relationships. The site provides details on the hardware specifications and software requirements for building and using projection systems which visualize the structure and dynamics of the Earth in stereo. The site also features various earth science data sets and links to web pages offering a number of practical applications and current uses of geowall, including lessons and laboratory activities. This description of a site outside SERC has not been vetted by SERC staff and may be incomplete or incorrect. If you have information we can use to flesh out or correct this record let us know. Part of the Cutting Edge collection. The NAGT/DLESE On the Cutting Edge project helps geoscience faculty stay up-to-date with both geoscience research and teaching methods.

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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. Air Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations: Current Knowledge, Future Needs devising a regulatory and management strategy that recognizes and accommodates this variability, combined with a measurement plan that collects sufficient information to address concerns and direct future efforts. This approach will vary with the substance and with the concern. For example, potential effects on human health will generally be inferred from short-term (e.g., hourly or daily) local concentrations (and compositions in the case of particulate matter), whereas effects on climate change will be inferred from regional or national annual emission inventories. In an ideal world, the data would be accurate and precise, broad in coverage of both substances and AFO types and operations, based on sound sampling plans, timely, detailed (addressing geography, time intervals, climatic conditions, etc.), well documented, in a readily accessible form, and inexpensive. Meeting all of these desirable features will undoubtedly lead to conflicts, so compromises must be made. Facing the need for defensible information on air emissions from AFOs in a timely manner is a major challenge for EPA and USDA. Neither has yet addressed the need for this information in defining high-priority research programs. Neither has asked for nor secured the level of funding required to provide the necessary information. Each has pursued its regulatory and farm management programs under the assumption that the best currently available information can be used to implement its program goals. The committee believes that the scope and complexity of the information needed by these agencies, as well as the potential environmental impacts of air emissions from AFOs, require a concentrated, focused, and well-funded research effort. Such an effort is described in this report. STRUCTURE OF THE FINAL REPORT Chapter 2 describes in broad terms the economics and operating practices of the animal feeding industry and its major sectors (dairy, beef cattle, swine, and poultry). This chapter, along with Chapter 6 on government regulations and programs, sets the stage for the other chapters, which address more directly air emissions and the scientific bases for estimating their rates, concentration, and distribution. Chapter 3 describes the kinds of air emissions produced by animal feeding operations and their potential impacts on the environment and human health. Chapter 4 examines the state of the science for measuring air emissions, including measurement principles and techniques suited to various on- and off-farm situations. Chapter 5 describes approaches for estimating air emissions from AFOs, including an evaluation of a process-based (mass balance) approach for

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Endeavour's Engines Fired Before First Launch 20 Years Ago It's déjà vu for NASA this spring as the much-anticipated SpaceX launch for NASA's second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services, or COTS, demonstration flight approaches from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Twenty years ago, a similar launch campaign was under way in Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center for space shuttle Endeavour's first launch. " 'Test as you fly, fly as you test' mentally has always been good to us. Test is the best control or mitigation for hazardous conditions that could impact the mission," said Jorge Rivera, Vehicle Integration and Operation chief engineer. "Subsystems that tested fine in isolation may interface with each other in a different way, which could create a bigger problem." Endeavour was commissioned to replace shuttle Challenger, destroyed in an accident in 1986. Construction began in 1987, and it rolled out of the assembly plant in Palmdale, Calif., in April 1991. One of the most important milestones leading up to the first launch of any new spacecraft is a test to validate the overall performance of its main propulsion system. In the case of the shuttle, the test was known as a Flight Readiness Firing, or FRF. "On every FRF that we conducted, we learned something new about the vehicle which made our process and flight hardware better,” said Rivera, who was deputy shuttle processing chief engineer at the close of the Space Shuttle Program. "It’s definitely a good practice in reducing the risk of the actual flight." The fueled test involved igniting the shuttle's main engines during a launch countdown to verify their performance while operating under the extremes of cryogenic conditions. The FRF was the first opportunity for the engines to perform in a clustered flight configuration although each had been test fired individually before they were delivered to Kennedy. The FRF countdown was terminated after 22 seconds. The primary differences between the test and a launch-day countdown were that the two solid rocket boosters were not ignited and no flight crew was on board. When an FRF was completed, any problems with the ground support equipment were identified, as well, and the launch team had experienced a full-scale dress rehearsal. During Endeavour's FRF on April 6, 1992, before its first flight, irregularities were detected in two of the three new engines' high-pressure oxidizer turbopumps during the 22-second firing. A buildup of pressure in one of the engine's pump preburner was detected just after it was shut down, and a slightly elevated frequency in vibration in the ball-bearing cage was recorded in another. Although the irregularities would not have been a safety concern if the FRF had been an actual launch, all three of Endeavour's main engines were replaced with ones that had previously flown. The precautionary measure caused no impact to the launch date. Thanks to the FRF, Endeavour's maiden launch took place when all of its systems were "go," at 7:40 p.m. EDT on May 7, 1992. On April 30 of this week, Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, one of NASA's commercial partners, conducted a two-second static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket's nine Merlin engines in preparation for the upcoming COTS launch. On the first attempt, the exercise was aborted 47 seconds before engine burn because an unspecified technical parameter was set improperly. The problem was addressed, and the test was successfully completed a little more than an hour later. The data collected will be analyzed before the demonstration flight later this month. "I'm glad that our commercial partners are following the same customary engine firing test before committing a new vehicle to launch," Rivera said. "I'm sure that is going to be the case for SpaceX, as well." That analysis is invaluable to prevent costly delays and even the loss of the vehicle, Rivera said. The data collected during the engine firing before Challenger's first flight is a case in point. Challenger's main engines were the first qualified to perform at 104 percent of their rated power level. When an unusually high level of hydrogen was detected in Challenger's engine compartment during its FRF on Dec. 18, 1982, a second FRF was conducted a few weeks later to provide more data to pinpoint the problem. During post-FRF troubleshooting, technicians found a crack in the main combustion chamber of one engine. Examinations of the other engines found that some had similar cracks in a 1/2-inch line that carried hydrogen gas into a small augmented spark igniter chamber located in the center of the engines' injector. Chaffing of the line was seen in all the engines that had been run for long durations. All three of Challenger's engines were removed and repaired in the Vehicle Assembly Building before its carefully monitored liftoff April 4, 1983. The future holds more variations on the tried-and-true propulsion tests as NASA and its commercial partners get ready to fire up their engines. NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center

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Drawing from the painting by Leonardo, artist unknown "Finding the Lost da Vinci" airs Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 9 PM ET on National Geographic Channel Leonardo da Vinci is perhaps one of the most famous—and mysterious—figures of the Renaissance. Extraordinarily gifted by all accounts, only 16 of his works have survived the test of time. But armed with new information, a team of scientists is poised to add a new painting to that short list and solve the 500-year-old mystery of the legendary "The Battle of Anghiari"—and National Geographic is along for the journey. In the public eye for a scant half-century, "The Battle of Anghiari" drew admirers who scarcely noticed the Mona Lisa and came to Florence to copy it. An epic tangle of horses and men, it represented something totally new in art. The battle is captured at a critical moment, the action at its peak—muscles are taut, eyes wild, weapons seconds from smashing down. But only 50 years later, another Renaissance master, Giorgio Vasari, was brought in to remodel the town hall housing the painting and replace the Leonardo. Legend has it that he simply entombed the painting within the walls of the Palazzo Vecchio, as it was. The problem? No one knows where that was. Armed with thermal scans, LIDAR imaging, architectural diagrams, and 36 years of accumulated research, Maurizio Seracini is spearheading a new effort to pinpoint the lost masterpiece. He'll have a tight deadline of only seven days, so his team will work around the clock to make sure everything is in place. Joining his team to document this groundbreaking investigation is National Geographic photographer Dave Yoder, who has been following this story for four years. As Seracini and his team work their instruments, Yoder takes us from Florence to Milan, Munich, and Oxford on the trail of coveted copies-including one that is linked to Leonardo's original draft, and one whose whereabouts are unknown, lost to the public eye since 1938. Arriving back in Florence, the team is in place and the scaffold rises. The media onslaught begins, and the bureaucrats aren't following the party line. A battle of wills plays out in the Italian press. Will we, won't we, how will we, where will we, and when? Two days after the project is set to commence, we're still locked at a standstill. But finally the permits are in place and the team is deployed, with only five days left. But there's another surprise for the team—they won't be working in their carefully preselected locations. To look for the lost painting, Seracini's team needs to go through the existing Vasari masterpiece, which presents huge challenges. After weeks of careful planning, Seracini's team has to adapt to a new plan on the fly. The scaffold is up. The teams are in place. The equipment is primed. A restorer carefully works away a piece of paint and plaster—a previous restoration patch that does no damage to anything by Vasari. And with the whining crescendo of the drill, the investigation is under way. Five days. Six holes. We're looking for a needle in a haystack—and we just might find it. Protecting the Vasari Restorers find existing gaps in the Vasari mural that can be used to search for "The Battle of Anghiari." Behind the Science The team gathers visible, LIDAR, and radar data and now must place them in a virtual environment. Incision instruments, sampling tools, and methods for the sample extraction were designed for this project. Il Leonardo Perduto Tra scienza e alta tecnologia, le immagini che raccontano momento per momento la ricerca de la Battaglia di Anghiari. Breve intervista a Dave Yoder, autore delle immagini Il capolavoro di Leonardo è nascosto dietro l'affresco del Vasari nel Salone dei Cinquecento a Firenze? Dietro le quinte della trentennale ricerca della "Battaglia di Anghiari"

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Advance Your Own Music Production Knowledge & Skills... Do you want to learn how to produce music? Music production schools can offer you a foundation for your music producer career. You'll discover you have a range of courses available to you both offline and online. You'll find however that good courses are often quite expensive and you may not have the funds available to attend these schools right now. You shouldn't let this stop you! You'll find some ideas below which you can use right away to cultivate your music production skills. Learn everything you can about producing music... You can teach yourself a lot about production when you use the leverage made available to you by the Internet. There are many areas you want to cover to become a good music producer such as music theory, music tech, recording and even music business topics. Your effort is more than made up for by the pleasure you get when you make your own music or produce music for other artists. So, what do you need to learn about? You'll find you need at least a basic music theroy knowledge to produce your music. A good way to learn music is to learn to play an instrument. This isn't vital though it will make a difference to your understanding of music which you can then apply to production. You can learn to play guitar, which is one of the most popular instruments, with free guitar lessons online. You'll also find some great free guitar lessons on YouTube. The piano or keyboard is also used a lot in computer music production because of the versatile ways you can use it as a controller when you make your music with MIDI, so this is another instrument many musicians choose to learn. Lynne May offers you free online keyboard lessons and further music lessons you can start with today without needing to pay a sweet cent. You also want to learn about writing music, recording music, mixing music and the production process with the help of production tutorial sites, articles and tips you'll find on the Web. You can visit online producer forums to ask questions about specific topics you want help with. You should be able to find forums which focus on the exact type of music you want to produce. I have also collected some great resources which you can use to make your own music online here. You can always do a good course at a music college or school and you should consider this option should you have the time and money. Otherwise, you should start with self-taught music making and progress as you have time. You can in this way set a foundation for your music career as you will learn what's needed to produce high quality music. You can never say you know it all when it comes to producing music because the technology and music scenes change all the time. It's an art just to be able to keep up with such rapid change! Musicians and producers, even the best ones, constantly learn new things to stay on top of their genre and make fresh music for their audience. Remember, your music production ability is your responsibility, and your progress will depend on how much time and energy you put in to your craft. So, take it easy, but take it! More music production information: 11 Music Production Tips for Beginners... How To Position Sounds In The Stereo Image When... Back to RenegadeProducer.com Home Page

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At the southernmost tip of Mumbai, the buzz and bustle of India’s financial capital gives way to the quiet of green lawns and the gentle lapping of the Arabian Sea around the imposing edifice of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). Here, it is not the rise and fall of stock prices that furrows the brows of people you bump into, but the unsolved mysteries of our universe. Conversations in the cafeteria revolve around the string theory, the Big Bang, or how to get sub-atomic particles to accelerate and collide meaningfully. India’s leading research institute in the fields of natural science, mathematics and theoretical computer science, TIFR is where the likes of Nobel laureates Stephen Hawking and John Nash drop in for a lecture or two; where scientists work to build parts of the world’s largest particle accelerator; where neutrinos are detected, and the human genome is unravelled. This thriving laboratory for scientific ideas was the brainchild of Homi J Bhabha, nuclear physicist and the father of India’s atomic energy programme. Back in 1945, when TIFR came into existence, pre-independence India’s scientific achievements were far ahead of its industrial successes. Yet, Mr Bhabha felt strongly that India needed a place where the nation’s bright minds could focus on pure science and research. This would strengthen the nation’s scientific infrastructure and boost its image as a modern state. Mr Bhabha found a valuable ally in JRD Tata, who shared his vision and helped him to realise his dream. On JRD’s instigation, Mr Bhabha wrote to the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust requesting financial assistance for setting up TIFR, where he talked about “creating a school of physics comparable to the best anywhere in the world”. The funds for this worthy endeavour were made available and an institution was born. TIFR’s first forays were into the fields of cosmic rays, nuclear emulsion and electron magnetism, and soon thereafter, computer science. The institute became the base for India’s atomic energy programme and, ten years after it was set up, the institute formally came under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. What makes TIFR unique is that it was born as a privately-funded research institute, then became a government-funded organisation (even today more than 90 per cent of its funding comes from the Department of Atomic Energy), and now has morphed into an educational body by becoming a deemed university offering master’s and doctoral programmes. Since its early days, TIFR with its focus on experimental and cutting-edge research has created its own diaspora of trend-setting initiatives. India’s first digital computer was crafted at TIFR, back in 1957. TIFR has set up new centres for radio astrophysics, theoretical sciences, and applicable mathematics. In the words of former director Prof S Bhattacharya, “TIFR, more than any other Indian institution or industry, has spawned a variety of vital organisations.” TIFR was born at the time that the nation was born; the country’s struggle to find its feet and attain a measure of self-reliance was mirrored to some extent within this campus. But very soon thereafter, the institute’s prime objectives changed. “In science, you cannot stop once you have crossed the indigenous hurdle; you also have to get to a given point before everybody else. Frontier science is about being the discoverer,” explains Prof Bhattacharya. More importantly, the institute offers its people the opportunity to work in the most conducive work environment possible. The TIFR campus boasts some truly excellent infrastructure, the finest equipment with the latest technology, a fully computerised library and, equally significant, good housing facilities for the students and faculty. In recent years, TIFR has taken upon itself a new responsibility — that of attracting the country’s young minds to careers in the basic sciences, instead of losing them to institutions such as the IITs or even campuses overseas. Since 2003, TIFR offers not just doctoral programmes, but also masters and integrated programmes, giving bright youngsters the opportunity to study science at a premium institution. The year 2009 is a milestone year for TIFR. Not only is it the birth centenary of Homi Bhabha, it also marks the establishment of its second campus in Hyderabad. “This 200-acre campus will be an institution of international repute, committed to meeting the challenges of a changing world,” says Prof Barma. In the over 50 years that have lapsed since its inception, TIFR has truly exceeded its founder’s expectations. The institute’s achievements and position on the global scientific map are clear and visible, prominent among them being the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope, at Khodad, near Pune, which is one of its kind and the best in the world for what it does. Another significant achievement that attracted worldwide attention is the discovery by TIFR scientists of a new class of superconductors. Today, TIFR represents the best and foremost of India’s talent in the new dimensions of science, maths and technology that will eventually define and describe the shape that our world will take tomorrow.

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The Chinese in America A Narrative History A major history of the Chinese American experiencefrom the bestselling author of The Rape of Nanking In an epic story that spans 150 years and continues to the present day, Iris Chang tells of a people’s search for a better life—the determination of the Chinese to forge an identity and a destiny in a strange land and, often against great obstacles, to find success. She chronicles the many accomplishments in America of Chinese immigrants and their descendents: building the infrastructure of their adopted country, fighting racist and exclusionary laws, walking the racial tightrope between black and white, contributing to major scientific and technological advances, expanding the literary canon, and influencing the way we think about racial and ethnic groups. Interweaving political, social, economic, and cultural history, as well as the stories of individuals, Chang offers a bracing view not only of what it means to be Chinese American, but also of what it is to be American. The story of the Chinese in America is the story of a journey, from one of the world's oldest civilizations to one of its newest. The United States was still a very young country when the Chinese began arriving in significant numbers, and the wide-ranging contributions of these immigrants to the building of their adopted country have made it what it is today. An epic story that spans one and a half centuries, the Chinese American experience still comprises only a fraction of the Chinese diaspora. One hundred fifty years is a mere breath by the standards of Chinese civilization, which measures history by millennia. And three million Chinese Americans are only a small portion of a Chinese overseas community that is at least 36 million strong. This book essentially tells two stories. The first explains why at certain times in China's history certain Chinese made the very hard and frightening decision to leave the country of their ancestors and the company of their own people to make a new life for themselves in the United States. For the story of the emigration of the Chinese to America is, like many other immigration stories, a push-pull story. People do not casually leave an inherited way of life. Events must be extreme enough at home to compel them to go and alluring enough elsewhere for them to override an almost tribal instinct to stay among their own. The second story examines what happened to these Chinese émigrés once they got here. Did they struggle to find their place in the United States? Did they succeed? And if so, how much more difficult was their struggle because of the racism and xenophobia of other Americans? What were the dominant patterns of assimilation? It would be expected that the first-arriving generations of Chinese, like the first generations of other immigrant groups, would resist the assimilation of their children. But to what degree, and how successfully? This book will also dispel the still pervasive myth that the Chinese all came to America in one wave, at one time. Ask most Americans and even quite a few Americans of Chinese descent when the Chinese came to the United States, and many will tell you of the mid-nineteenth-century Chinese laborers who came to California to chase their dreams on Gold Mountain and ended up laying track for the transcontinental railroad. More than one hundred thousand Chinese laborers, most from a single province, indeed came to America to make their fortunes in the 1849-era California gold rush. But conditions in China were so bad politically, socially, and economically that these émigrés to California represented just a small part of the single biggest migration out of that country in history. Many who left China at this time went to Southeast Asia or elsewhere. Those who chose America were relying on stories that there was enough gold in California to make them all rich quickly, rich enough to allow them to return home as successes, and the decision to leave their ancestral homeland was made bearable only by the promise they made themselves: that no matter what, they would one day return. But most stayed, enduring prejudice and discrimination, and working hard to earn a living, and their heritage is the many crowded Chinatowns dotting America from San Francisco to New York. Of their descendants, however, very few are still laborers or living in Chinatowns; many are not even recognizably Chinese because, like other immigrant groups, their ancestors intermarried. If we restrict the definition of Chinese American to only full-blooded Asians with an ancestral heritage linking them to China, we would exclude the many, many mixed-race descendants of Chinese immigrants. This is just the beginning of the story. In terms of sheer numbers, the majority of Chinese in America probably have no forty-niner ancestors; they are, as I am, either part of later waves or children of those who arrived here more than a century after the gold rush. Life in China had changed dramatically over those one hundred years and sent a second, very different wave of immigrants. After the 1949 Communist revolution, many bureaucrats, professionals, and successful businessmen realized that their futures were not in China. They packed their belongings, often in extreme haste, and left the land of their ancestors. My own parents and grandparents belonged to this group of refugees. For some the destination was America, for others it was Hong Kong, but for most people, such as my family, the next stop would be Taiwan. These émigrés were devoted anti-Communists who longed to return to their homeland. Indeed, many Nationalist legislators considered themselves the official ruling body of China, now forced by wartime expediency to occupy a temporary capital on an offshore island. However, their children were different. For many young Chinese in Taiwan in the 1950s and 1960s, nothing was more prestigious or coveted than a scholarship to a top American university. The Nationalist government in Taiwan imposed a restriction on those who wanted to study in the United States-they had to be fluent in English. Thus making up the second major wave of Chinese coming to America were not just the anti-Communist elites but their most intellectually capable and scientifically directed children. Like many of their peers, my parents came to the United States on scholarships, obtained their doctoral degrees, and later became professors. And across the country, their friends-doctors, scientists, engineers, and academics-shared the same memories and experiences: a forced exile from the mainland as children, first in Taiwan and then in the United States. Most of these newest émigrés did not find their way to the old Chinatowns, other than as tourists, but instead settled in the cities and suburbs around universities and research centers. Because they saw themselves as intellectuals rather than refugees, they were concerned less about preserving their Chinese heritage than with casting their lot with modern America, and eventual American citizenship. It is in connection with these immigrants, not surprisingly, that the term "model minority" first appeared. The term refers to an image of the Chinese as working hard, asking for little, and never complaining. It is a term that many Chinese now have mixed feelings about. Not all of those who arrived here during the mid-twentieth-century second wave were part of this success story, however. Many entered not as students but as political refugees, and often they did end up in American Chinatowns, only to be exploited as cheap labor in factories and restaurants. The arrival of these two disparate contingents in the 1950s and 1960s created a bipolar Chinese community in America, sharply divided by wealth, education, and class. The story does not end here either. A third wave entered the United States during the last two decades of the twentieth century. Interestingly, this large wave encompassed Chinese of all socioeconomic groups and backgrounds, who arrived as Sino-American relations thawed and as the People's Republic of China (PRC) began its rocky transition from a pariah communist state to a tenuously connected capitalist one. Although the three waves came at different times and for different reasons, as Chinese Americans they shared certain common experiences. In the course of writing this book, I discovered that the Chinese in general brought distinctive cultural traits to America-such as reverence for education, hard work, thriftiness, entrepreneurship, and family loyalty-which helped many achieve rapid success in their adopted country. Many Chinese Americans, for example, have served an important "middleman minority" role in the United States by working in occupations in which they act as intermediaries between producers and consumers. As economist Thomas Sowell has noted, middleman minorities typically arrive in their host countries with education, skills, or a set of propitious attitudes about work, such as business frugality and the willingness to take risks. Some slave away in lowly menial jobs to raise capital, then swiftly become merchants, retailers, labor contractors, and money-lenders. Their descendants usually thrive in the professions, such as medicine, law, engineering, or finance. But as with other middleman minorities, the Chinese diaspora generally found it easier to achieve economic and professional success than to acquire actual political power in their adopted countries. Thus the Chinese became, in the words of historian Alexander Saxton, "the indispensable enemy": a people both needed and deeply feared. Throughout history, both the U.S. government and industry have sought to exploit Chinese labor-either as raw muscle or as brain power-but resisted accepting the Chinese as fellow Americans. The established white elite and the white working class in the United States have viewed the Chinese as perpetual foreigners, a people to be imported or expelled whenever convenient to do one or the other. During an economic depression in the nineteenth century, white laborers killed Chinese competitors and lobbied politicians to pass the Chinese Exclusion Act. Later, in the twentieth century, the United States recruited Chinese scientists and engineers to strengthen American defense during the Cold War, only to harbor suspicions later that some Chinese might be passing nuclear secrets to the PRC. The great irony of the Chinese American experience has been that success can be as dangerous as failure: whenever the ethnic Chinese visibly excelled-whether as menial laborers, scholars, or businessmen-efforts arose simultaneously to depict their contributions not as a boon to white America but as a threat. The mass media have projected contradictory images that either dehumanize or demonize the Chinese, with the implicit message that the Chinese represent either a servile class to be exploited, or an enemy force to be destroyed. This has created identity issues for generations of American-born Chinese: a sense of feeling different, or alien, in their own country; of being subjected to greater scrutiny and judged by higher standards than the general populace. Another important theme has been the struggle of Chinese Americans for justice. A long history of political activism belies the myth that Chinese Americans have stood by and suffered abuse as silent, passive victims. Instead, from the very beginning, they fought racial discrimination in the courts, thereby creating a solid foundation of civil rights law in this country, often to the benefit of other minorities. But with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, large-scale Chinese immigration ceased entirely for eighty years, and at one point the ethnic Chinese population in the United States dwindled to only a few tens of thousands of people. Only new legislation in the middle of the twentieth century permitted the second and third waves of Chinese immigrants to arrive, forcing these newcomers to start almost from scratch as they built their own political coalitions. But build them they did. The stories in this book reveal the ever precarious status of the Chinese community in America. It has historically been linked to the complex web of international politics, and more recently to the relationship between two of the world's great powers, the United States and China. When Sino-American relations are excellent, the Chinese Americans benefit as goodwill ambassadors and role models, serving as cultural and economic bridges between the two countries; but when Sino-American relations deteriorate, the Chinese Americans have been vilified as enemies, traitors, and spies-not just in the United States, but in mainland China. To describe the vulnerability of his people, one Chinese American aptly called them "an egg between two big plates." Throughout history, some Chinese immigrants and even their American-born children adopted the naïve and misguided notion that if things turned sour for them in the United States, they could always "go back to China." But as some would learn the hard way, to do so could be dangerous: during the Korean War and the Cultural Revolution, a number of returning Chinese were persecuted in mainland China because of their former association with the United States. Ronald Takaki, an ethnic studies professor at the University of California at Berkeley, once called the Chinese and other Asian Americans "strangers from a different shore." I propose to take this a step further. At various times in history, the Chinese Americans have been treated like strangers on both shores-a people regarded by two nations as too Chinese to be American, and too American to be Chinese. When I was in junior high school in the early 1980s, a white classmate once asked me, in a friendly, direct manner, "If America and China went to war, which side would you be on?" I had spent all of my twelve years in a university town in Illinois and had never visited either mainland China or Taiwan. Before I could even answer the first question, she continued, "Would you leave and fight for China? Or try to support China from the U.S.?" All I could think of at that moment was how disastrous such a scenario would be for the Chinese American population, who would no doubt find themselves hated by both sides. I don't remember my exact response, only that I mumbled something along the lines that, if possible, I would try to work for some kind of peace between the two countries. Her question, innocently put, captures the crux of the problem facing the ethnic Chinese today in America. Even though many are U.S. citizens whose families have been here for generations, while others are more recent immigrants who have devoted the best years of their lives to this country with citizenship as their goal, none can truly get past the distinction of race or entirely shake the perception of being seen as foreigners in their own land. Not until many years later did I learn that this very question has been posed to numerous prominent ethnic Chinese throughout American history, ranging from a brilliant aeronautics professor to a political candidate for Congress. Indeed, the attitudes and assumptions behind this question would later drive much of the anti-Chinese antagonism I have had to describe to make this book an honest chronicle of the Chinese experience in the United States. My classmate unwittingly planted the seed in my psyche that grew into this book. But it was not until the mid-1990s, when my husband and I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, that I really became interested in the history and complexity of the Chinese American population. I learned about a nonprofit organization that would later be known as the Global Alliance for Preserving the History of World War II in Asia, whose mission was to educate the world about the unrecognized wartime horrors committed by Japan in the Pacific theater. For the first time in my life, I met Chinese Americans who were not simply academics or scientific professionals, but committed activists, driven by idealism I had seen only in organizations such as Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union. These Chinese Americans, working with leaders of other ethnic groups, were outspoken on a wide range of human rights abuses around the globe. Learning from them led me to write The Rape of Nanking, about the rape and massacre of hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians in the former capital of China. As I toured the United States and Canada giving talks on the subject, I encountered vibrant Chinese American communities that I had not even known existed. The people I met ranged from descendants of transcontinental railroad workers to new immigrants studying here on scholarships, from illiterate factory workers to Nobel laureates at leading universities, from elderly survivors of Japanese wartime atrocities to baby girls adopted by white parents. I had the privilege of talking with several Chinese Americans whose work had transformed entire industries or intellectual disciplines, such as David Henry Hwang, the Tony Award-winning playwright of M. Butterfly; David Ho, a preeminent medical researcher whose antiviral drugs have helped thousands of AIDS victims; and David Chu, head of the Nautica fashion empire. Soon I learned that all across the United States, Chinese American groups were busy organizing to talk about themselves, their history, and their future, and to make their presence heard in American society. The Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles was preparing a huge exhibit about the Chinese in America. A new museum of Chinese American history was scheduled to open also in Los Angeles. The Chinese community in San Francisco was lobbying for better preservation of the poetry written on the walls of Angel Island, where newly arrived Chinese immigrants were detained and interrogated during the early decades of the twentieth century. Chinese American researchers were demanding full access to the immigration case files stored in the National Archives in San Bruno, California. And new ethnic magazines geared toward younger Chinese and Asian Americans, such as A, Monolid, Face, and Jade, proliferated. It seemed to me there was a big, exciting story to be told. At first, I feared the subject might too broad, but I couldn't let go of the idea of exploring the history of my people. Moreover, I believed I had a personal obligation to write an honest history of Chinese America, to dispel the offensive stereotypes that had long permeated the U.S. news and entertainment media. Saturday morning cartoons flattened the Chinese into buck-toothed, pigtailed caricatures, with slanted dashes for eyes. Elementary school libraries were still carrying racist, out-of-date textbooks, with images and descriptions of the Chinese eating meals of fermented snails with long, clawlike fingernails. Hollywood films depicted Chinese men as bowing sycophants, spies, or crime kingpins; Chinese women as sex toys or prostitutes. The lack of strong Chinese American role models in popular culture-or even of realistic images of Chinese Americans as diverse and multifaceted human beings-bothered me deeply. People tend to perform at a level society expects of them, not their actual potential, and I imagined there must have been many young Americans of Asian descent who suffered a crisis of confidence as a result of coming to see themselves as they thought others saw them. But worse, I also knew that, based on my knowledge of the literature on genocide, atrocities are more likely to occur if the perpetrators do not see their victims as real people. The first, essential, step toward getting a population to visit torture and mass murder on a group is to dehumanize the group, to reduce them to alien things. This is what those books, films, and television programs were doing; they were far from depicting the kinds of fascinating, complex, accomplished people I knew. There is nothing inherently alien about the Chinese American experience. In the end, the Chinese shared the same problems as all other immigrants-universal problems that recognized no borders: The eternal struggle to make a living and provide their children with food, shelter, and a good education. The exhaustion of striving to sustain cherished values in a changing world. The loss of a place once called home. And yes, the initial reluctance of all people in a new land to drop their cultural habits and risk new associations-only to discover, years later, that they have already done so. If the Chinese American story is a journey, then the writing of this book has been a journey for me as well: one that has taken me deep into a voluminous body of records, including oral histories, autobiographies, Chinese-language newspapers, diaries, court transcripts, immigrations records, and more, all showing the vast range of experiences of a people that have truly helped shape America. Ultimately, in this book, I try to show the Chinese Americans as they really were and are: real, and diverse, flesh-and-blood individuals in search of a dream. All I ask of the reader is to look past ethnicity and see the shared humanity within us all. Note on usage and spelling Most names of places and other Chinese terms in this book are spelled according to the Hanyu Pinyin system. Exceptions have been made for certain Cantonese terms, or the more familiar Wade-Giles term by which a person, place, organization, event, etc., may be known. In the Chinese system of naming, the family name precedes the person's given name. This practice has been followed except for those individuals who have adopted the Western system (given name followed by family name) or are better known by the Western version of their names. The Old Country: Imperial China in the Nineteenth Century A journey of a thousand miles begins where you are standing," says an old Chinese proverb. And so the story of the first wave of Chinese emigration to the United States properly begins not in nineteenth-century America but rather in the world these immigrants left behind. Perhaps no country exudes a greater air of mystery to Westerners than China. It is remote (from the West, at least), and it is vast. The territory of China today (almost 3.7 million square miles) comprises the third largest country in the world. Though it only just surpasses the size of the continental United States, its diversity is breathtaking. Its borders stretch from the mountains of Siberian Russia to the Himalayas of India, from the densely populated coastal lands that border the Yellow, East China, and South China Seas to the almost uninhabitable Gobi Desert of north-central China, then farther west to the isolated plateaus of Central Asia. China's true grandeur, however, is not vested in its size or distance, but in its age-five thousand years of continuous civilization and intact practices and traditions. The Chinese state is considered by many historians to be the oldest functioning organization on earth. It is also the world's most populous country. China is home to more than one billion people-fully one-fifth of humanity. In the mid-nineteenth century China was still an imperial state, ruled by the surviving members of the Qing dynasty. The Qing, originally from Manchuria, a region north of China, had held power for two hundred years, but that power was waning. Monumental changes were about to take place that would transform not only the lives of people inside China, but also their entire relationship to the world beyond China's borders. Westerners of the time, when they thought of China, imagined a genteel and exotic land filled with quaint pagodas, curved stone bridges, and lotus blossoms-images popularized by the paintings and poetry and observations of the handful of writers, missionaries, travelers, and merchants who had come there. But few outsiders who traveled in China could understand the language or the culture around them. While most noted-accurately-that it was a culture in whose bedrock was respect for social, economic, and family traditions-the culture that also invented paper and printing, rocketry and gunpowder, and introduced to the West exquisite foods, silks, and spices-the real China was far more complicated. Few visitors were able to travel the length and breadth of the country, so they failed to grasp how dramatically the geography itself shifted, and along with it, cultural customs that were often in great conflict from region to region. Within the boundaries of this one nation were divisions as dramatic as you would find crossing border after border in Europe. In western China, a remote area encompassing more than half of the nation's territory, in a shifting landscape of deserts, rugged mountains, and grassy valleys, lived some of the many ethnic minorities of China, most notably the Mongols and the Tibetans. In the desert were scattered oasis cities on what was once called the Silk Road, along which Marco Polo traveled in the thirteenth century to find marvels so dazzling, so magnificent, that when he put together a record of his travels Europeans thought it all a creation of his imagination. Over the steppes, nomads roamed about on horseback, or tended sheep, a fiercely independent, rugged people, skilled at hunting and warfare. In the southwest corner was Tibet itself, with its villages and towers of stone, desolate and hauntingly beautiful structures, built into the sides of cliffs. Tibetans crossed some of the local gorges by rope bridge-nothing more than a single plaited cable of bamboo. (Snapping a wood cylinder around the sagging rope, a Tibetan traveler would slide halfway across the abyss with his or her feet dangling, then shimmy hand over hand up to the other side.) Very few people or sights here would fit the silk-and-pagoda stereotypes that so many Westerners held (and hold). In fact, some inhabitants would have distinctly southern European or Arabic features and wear Middle Eastern garments and jewelry. Moving west to east, a visitor could follow one of two rivers: the famous Yangtze River of south China, or the Yellow River of the north, both flowing from the highlands of Tibet to the sea. The significance to Chinese civilization of these two rivers rivals that of the Nile to Egypt; the area between them was the heart of China, a region of fertile farmland, fed with silt, webbed together by lakes, rivers, and canals. Millions of Chinese depended on the rivers for their survival, but one of them, the Yellow River, was known as China's "sorrow" for its unpredictable floods of yellow, muddy water that all too frequently surged beyond the river's course, swirling through or even drowning entire villages. Dominating the north-central area of China was the Gobi Desert, and to the northeast Manchuria and the Great Khingan Range. Some of the vast, flat stretches of land were covered with wheat and millet; other areas were overcultivated into desert. In the winter, icy gusts buffeted the plains, and many farmers chose to live in earth-walled villages, or in caves deep within the steep cliffs of mountains. Not so farther south. Here the air turned humid and balmy, and the fields, flooded with water and webbed by stone pathways, sparkled in the sun like shards of mirror. Spread throughout these fields was the classic beauty of the Chinese countryside: the bamboo and willow groves, the silver lacework of canals between towns. Farmers tended lush mulberry groves used for the cultivation of silkworms, and in the nearby villages teams of women boiled cocoons in vats of water, spinning long, delicate threads to be woven into lustrous fabrics. There were graceful pavilions, monasteries, and curved dragon bridges, teahouses nestled in wooded, mist-shrouded hills, spas built over natural hot springs, with people soaking in the water-all the trappings of a sophisticated society. Yet over all these diverse regions, each with its own ethnic tradition and history, ruled one all-controlling, coherent authority, maintained by one of the oldest bureaucracies on earth. One significant element of this formal cohesion was language. Out of a welter of dialects in China, only one written language had emerged. About the time that Hannibal crossed the Alps in Europe, the first emperor of China mandated an official script of three thousand characters, and these pictographs (which, unlike the letters of Western alphabets, are not phonetic) became the basis of the modern Chinese vocabulary. This universal set of characters made it possible for an official to travel from one end of China to the other, bearing official documents that could be read by all educated people in each region, even if they spoke different tongues. A centralized state using such a uniform written language could exercise effective control over a diverse population speaking very different dialects, despite the fact that most people seldom traveled far from their home villages and had little personal interaction with the rulers and their officials. Also aiding the institutionalization of the Chinese civil service was a system of imperial examinations exploited by the Qing dynasty in the seventeenth century. As China moved into modern times, this bureaucracy managed to exercise at least some control over three very different populations: the China of the inland, the China of the elite, and the China of the coast. Inland China in the mid-nineteenth century was filled with dirt-poor families. At that time, most people in China, 80 to 90 percent of them, lived in the countryside as peasants, serving as the nation's raw muscle. Their costumes rarely varied-in south and central China the men wore baggy cotton trousers, sandals of leather or grass, and broad-brimmed hats to protect their faces from the sun. Their lives followed an endless cycle dictated by the seasons: pushing plows behind water buffalo to break the soil and prepare the seed bed; planting rice seedlings by hand in ankle-deep water, stepping backward as they progressed from row to neat row; scything the rice stalks at harvest, then threshing them over a hard earth floor-in short, lives spent, generation after generation, in nonstop, backbreaking labor. The work was mind-numbing, but ingenuity was often evident, as when peasant farmers devised a complex system of irrigation to flood or drain the fields. They built special equipment, water wheels and water mills, to harness the forces of nature. In the countryside you might see a peasant pedaling away on a treadmill field pump, as if putting in time on a modern stationary exercise bicycle. Foreigners who visited China in the mid-nineteenth century marveled at the ingenuity of these contraptions, and at the remarkable economies they helped produce. No group in China worked harder for so little than the peasants. In the typical rural village, people slept on mats on dirt floors, their heads resting on bamboo pillows or wooden stools. They ate a spare but nutritious diet: rice and vegetables, supplemented by fish and fowl, which they cooked over a wok-shaped boiler. An armload of fuel warmed and fed a dozen people. Hardly anything was wasted; even their night soil would later be used to fertilize the fields. In times of famine, people had little more than a bit of rice to sustain them. To survive hard times, some ate tree bark or even clay. Rice was by no means the only crop the peasants grew, but it evolved into China's main food staple because of its nutritional value and ability to sustain a huge population. Rice could be harvested more frequently than wheat, and its system of cultivation far predated historical Chinese civilization. Most lived and died without gaining more than a dim comprehension of the world beyond their own village. If a peasant traveled, it was usually only over dirt roads to a nearby market town to purchase or sell goods. Along the way, he might encounter his countrymen bumping along on horseback, by wheelbarrow, or on foot. A common sight during his journey would be the baggage porter accompanying a wealthier traveler or merchant. With bamboo poles balanced over their shoulders, weighed down on both ends with other people's luggage, these men served the public as beasts of burden. At night, they stayed in hostels that resembled stables in their crudeness, where they washed themselves with filthy communal rags and collapsed into sleep on an earthen floor. Few peasants would ever see any member of the class who actually ruled their lives, as they often lived thousands of miles away. In mid-nineteenth-century China, the center of power could be found in the capital city of Beijing-the nerve center of the nation, in the far north of the country-where a handful of bureaucrats and their civil servants could alter the destinies of large parts of the population with the stroke of a pen. Everywhere in the city stood silent monuments to power. Surrounded by acres of marble, darkened by the shadow of three domes, the Temple of Heaven humbled the visitor who came into its presence. But far more intimidating was the Forbidden City, the ancient home to generations of emperors. Constructed in the fifteenth century, this city within a city has earned its place in the pantheon of the world's great architectural masterpieces. Within the Forbidden City was a Chinese vision of paradise on earth. A breathtaking array of art-dragons of marble, lions of bronze, gilded gargoyles carved into balustrades-guarded a gigantic maze of palaces and pavilions, gardens and halls. A series of arches stretched from the edges of Beijing to this imperial labyrinth, and everything in the Forbidden City complex, right down to the last courtyard, converged upon the imperial throne, reflecting the belief that the entire world radiated out from the royal seat of China and its emperor: the son of heaven, the core of the universe. North of Beijing was the Great Wall of China, the longest structure on earth. The Great Wall took many generations to build, and its purpose was simple: to protect the Han, who were the dominant ethnic population, from foreign incursion. For more than a thousand miles, it wound a serpentine path from east to west over mountains and the Mongolian plateau, a concrete expression of the Chinese resolve to repel all outsiders. Han rulers-the Ming dynasty-had controlled the empire for three centuries, during which time the wall had successfully kept out the barbarians from the north. But in 1644, nomads from Manchuria-the Manchus-fought their way past the barrier and conquered the Han people. The new Manchu rulers might have been seen as barbarians by the Han, but they were swift, effective, and savvy conquerors, and they seized Beijing for their own. Moving into the Forbidden City, they established their own ruling line, the Qing dynasty, and declared their own capital in Beijing. They quickly adopted the habits of the previous Chinese ruling class and exploited its infrastructure, its vast system of laws and bureaucrats, though they added their own refinements to the system. To enforce the subjugation of the Han people, they mandated that all Han men wear long, braided queues as a badge of their humiliation (to shave one's head was considered a sign of treason). Eager to guard their status as a privileged class, they outlawed intermarriage between Han and the Manchu. They also forbade Han migration to Manchuria, for as a minority population they wanted their own region within China to which they could safely retreat in case they were ever ousted from power. But the most effective weapon in the Manchu arsenal was the imperial examination system, which used civil service tests as a mechanism of social order, forcing all aspiring officials to write essays on ancient Chinese literature and philosophy. Three tiers of examinations-local, provincial, and national-determined entrance into and promotion through the Chinese civil service bureaucracy. These tests created the illusion of meritocracy, of a system in which power and prestige were achieved not through lineage but through individual hard work and the rigors of learning. The examination process itself as well as its subject matter, converging with the Chinese respect for tradition and the Confucian emphasis on education, contributed to the development and maintenance of the culture's reverence for education. Children were told that "ministers and generals are not born in office"-they had to earn their way to the top. Like many motivational stories told to children, however, this one was not entirely true. Only certain groups were allowed to take the tests (women were entirely excluded from the process), and elite families had resources to hire the best tutors to prepare their sons for the examinations, giving wealthy test takers an enormous advantage over the sons of the poor. Most Chinese villages had special schools and tutors for the children of prosperous peasants and landlords. In addition, as designed, defined, and dictated by the Manchus, the examination system had the nefarious result of creating a society in which the Han constantly competed against each other for favor with their rulers. More significantly, the system suppressed rebellion until the nineteenth century. The memorization and mastery of Chinese classics served as a safe outlet for the nation's most ambitious, talented young men, encouraging them to direct their youthful energies into scholastic competition rather than openly questioning and challenging the system. The imperial exams soon became more potent than any military force, as the people themselves embraced this instrument of their own oppression. Further, the system bred a sense of entitlement that turned the most talented sons of the Han Chinese, who should have been their leaders, into agents of the oppressor group. The very purpose of Qing hierarchy was to divorce the most talented from the masses from which they came. Passing the first test transformed a young man into a local magistrate, and even at the lowest level of government, he would enjoy the prerogatives of lifetime job security and exemption from torture, as he ascended to a world that severed him from his people. Once an official was in the system, it was impossible to get him out. The system gave him no incentive to serve the commonweal, because most of his tasks could be relegated to clerks who would interface with the suffering masses. The imperial exam system encouraged officials to think of their current position as merely one step on the ladder to the next, and to spend their days dreaming of passing the next exam. Meanwhile, such men often ruled their districts like totalitarian despots. Virtually no redress could be taken against any official who broke the law, because he was the law. A Chinese magistrate could, with no threat of retaliation, accuse a peasant of banditry, throw him in jail, take his property, and even execute him if he proved a troublesome prisoner. If he lusted after a girl in the village, he could coerce her father to surrender her to him as one of his concubines. So absolute was his power that a Chinese man once told a Western observer, "I would rather be mayor in China than President of the United States." “A thought-provoking overview of how the Chinese have been an integral part of American history... An exemplary achievement.” (Christian Science Monitor) “Richly detailed... I know of no better introduction to this multilayered and emotionally charged story.” (Jonathan D. Spence) “Comprehensive, beautifully written, filled with deft and passionate analysis—the definitive book on Chinese American history for a new generation. Iris Chang places today’s Chinese Americans brilliantly into 150 years of U.S. history.” (David Henry Hwang, Tony Award–winning playwright) To keep up-to-date, input your email address, and we will contact you on publication Please alert me via email when:

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What is WRNS’s Philosophy and Curriculum? Winton Road Nursery School provides time and materials for the child to learn through experimentation, manipulation, and observation. Children’s understanding of their immediate world is enlarged through concrete experiences that give meaning to concepts of size, shape, distance, and time. Exploration of everyday phenomena stimulates children to ask questions, think for themselves, and try out new ideas. Children are encouraged to express themselves creatively through song and dance, art media, and dramatic play. They develops skill using the body effectively in rhythmic response to music; in coordinating use of small muscles to cut, paste, and draw; and in role-playing. Acceptable means of expressing aggression may also be channeled through these outlets. Climbing and balancing equipment are provided for the development and coordination of large muscles. Time is devoted to hopping, skipping, jumping, and exercising in general. Emergent writing skills (i.e., drawing and scribbling, “pretend writing,” and copying familiar letters or words) are encouraged through art and creative expression. Early literacy skills are developed through exposure to oral language and phonological awareness activities such as rhyming, story time, and independent book-reading. Cognition is developed through everyday play experiences (i.e., matching or sorting by color/shape/function, identifying opposites, understanding basic time concepts, sequencing stories, and fantasy play). Language skills are fostered through play with toys and materials as well as conversations with peers and adults, as children incorporate new words into their expanding vocabularies, learn new songs introduced at circle time, and use social phrases. Foundations are laid for good social relationships as children learn that there are individual differences between people and that these differences are respected. Friendships with other children and adults are encouraged. Qualities of kindness and concern for all living things are developed. Children are encouraged to develop methods to help themselves. In becoming responsible and capably independent, children learn to feel secure in separating from their parent(s). The goal of the nursery school curriculum is to help children see themselves as worthwhile and separate people. To achieve this goal, the whole curriculum is greater than the sum of its parts.

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Adjective Conjugation Chart http://www.as.ua.edu......gation.htm| Remember to drop the final い of adjectives before you add the conjugations (except for plain old です, which isn't exactly a conjugation per se). To make the forms in the chart below casual, drop です off. Like noun conjugations, there are two alternatives for the negative forms. The first alternative ends in ~ Adjective Flashcards http://www.flashcard......iew/379838| Japanese Adjectives - Export these flashcards to Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel! See below or read the exporting help. Adjective Lesson http://homepage3.nif......son-e7.htm| The word "omoshiroi(interesting)"in "Nihongo wa omoshiroi (Japanese is interesting ", and "benri da" in "Konpyuuta wa benri da (Computers are convenient)" which express the state or situation of things, are called adjectives. Adjectives & Nouns http://www.gu.edu.au......tives.html| Adjectives and Nouns explained in an undefinable way in which no description is needed. Adjectives Explained http://www.mindsprin......tives.html| There are two classes of objects that act as what we call adjectives in English. They are classed as -i adjectives and -na adjectives. The first group are genuine Japanese words and the second are Adjectives Flashcards http://www.langexpre......ctives.htm| Learn Japanese Adjectives and Adverbs On-the-Go with our amazing flash cards. Speak, read, write Japanese Adjectives and Adverbs by using our unique English to Japanese Adjectives and Adverbs reference materials. Adverbs & Gobi http://www.guidetoja......dgobi.html| Well, the two are not related to each other but I have decided to group them in one lesson because we will be covering only the two most common gobi for now and it is too short to be a separate lesson in itself. AJALT Learning Supplements http://www.ajalt.org/sfyj/| Numbers, Counters, Adjectives, Verbs, Money, Time Comparatives & Superlatives http://www.zanthan.c......01925.html| Diary of a Japanese Student. Explains comparatives and superlatives in detail. The comparative structures allow one to compare one thing in relation to another. For example, "My cat is cuter than your cat," or, "He is braver than anyone I know!" In English, comparative sentences are easy to pick out because they all use the conjunction than. Cornell Univ Japanese Lessons http://lrc.cornell.edu/japanese/| Cornell University, Department of Asian Studies, Japanese Program, Kawasaki Japanese Learning Materials Explanation of Adjectives http://animeworld.co......on3-2.html| It's high time we learned to describe things using words other than nouns--everybody's favorite, the adjective. Japanese adjectives aren't horribly tricky, but they're a bit different from English, so brace yourself. Flashcard Exchange - Adjectives http://www.flashcard......iew/232995| About 50 adjectives to be exchanged and used as flashcards. The purpose of this course is to give the student a fundamental understanding of the Japanese language and to be able to converse on a limited level with someone in the Japanese language. There is no prerequisite for this course. Georgia's Irasshai TV Show http://188.8.131.52......homepg.htm| With a total of 136 award-winning, highly-interactive video lessons, a tailor-made textbook, native-speaking Japanese telephone teachers, a state-of-the-art assessment system, and a lively website, Irasshai is designed to meet the needs of high school or college students wanting for-credit Japanese courses as well as the needs of businessmen and women who desire to acquire language and culture skills in Japanese. Great Adjective Explanation http://www.griffith.......tives.html| Japanese adjectives have conjugation systems. Just like Japanese verbs, they change form depending on their roles in the sentence; negative root to create negation, verbal conjunction root to modify verbals; nominal conjunction root to modify nouns, etc. Great List of Grammar Structures http://www.nafai.org......jpphrases/| 3.8 Easy/difficult, advantageous, substantial 3.9 Start and finish doing, completion 3.10 Movement (te kuru, te iku) 3.11 From now on, begin to (te iku, te kuru) 3.15 Facts, things generally accepted as 4 Conjunctional phrases 4.1 Reason and cause 4.2 In order to, for, to, so that 4.4 Even, even though, although 4.5 Limiting (Without, because not, not...but, but, instead of) Handbook of Adjectives http://www.amazon.co......oding=utf8| Amazon.com: Books: The Handbook of Japanese Adjectives and Adverbs by Taeko Kamiya. iKnow Online Learning http://www.smart.fm| Possibly the greatest online learning took for quickly grasping Japanese kanji, vocab, and grammar. AND it is FREE. Japanese 1-2-3 http://www.japanese123.com/| Learn Japanese. Study kanji, grammar, and advanced Nihongo! - This is a great site with so many lessons in many varied forms. I have learned a lot from it.

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1. The right to life enunciated in article 6 of the Covenant has been dealt with in all State reports. It is the supreme right from which no derogation is permitted even in time of public emergency which threatens the life of the nation (art. 4). However, the Committee has noted that quite often the information given concerning article 6 was limited to only one or other aspect of this right. It is a right which should not be interpreted narrowly. 2. The Committee observes that war and other acts of mass violence continue to be a scourge of humanity and take the lives of thousands of innocent human beings every year. Under the Charter of the United Nations the threat or use of force by any State against another State, except in exercise of the inherent right of self-defence, is already prohibited. The Committee considers that States have the supreme duty to prevent wars, acts of genocide and other acts of mass violence causing arbitrary loss of life. Every effort they make to avert the danger of war, especially thermonuclear war, and to strengthen international peace and security would constitute the most important condition and guarantee for the safeguarding of the right to life. In this respect, the Committee notes, in particular, a connection between article 6 and article 20, which states that the law shall prohibit any propaganda for war (para. 1) or incitement to violence (para. 2) as therein described. 3. The protection against arbitrary deprivation of life which is explicitly required by the third sentence of article 6 (1) is of paramount importance. The Committee considers that States parties should take measures not only to prevent and punish deprivation of life by criminal acts, but also to prevent arbitrary killing by their own security forces. The deprivation of life by the authorities of the State is a matter of the utmost gravity. Therefore, the law must strictly control and limit the circumstances in which a person may be deprived of his life by such authorities. 4. States parties should also take specific and effective measures to prevent the disappearance of individuals, something which unfortunately has become all too frequent and leads too often to arbitrary deprivation of life. Furthermore, States should establish effective facilities and procedures to investigate thoroughly cases of missing and disappeared persons in circumstances which may involve a violation of the right to life. 5. Moreover, the Committee has noted that the right to life has been too often narrowly interpreted. The expression "inherent right to life" cannot properly be understood in a restrictive manner, and the protection of this right requires that States adopt positive measures. In this connection, the Committee considers that it would be desirable for States parties to take all possible measures to reduce infant mortality and to increase life expectancy, especially in adopting measures to eliminate malnutrition and epidemics. 6. While it follows from article 6 (2) to (6) that States parties are not obliged to abolish the death penalty totally they are obliged to limit its use and, in particular, to abolish it for other than the "most serious crimes". Accordingly, they ought to consider reviewing their criminal laws in this light and, in any event, are obliged to restrict the application of the death penalty to the "most serious crimes". The article also refers generally to abolition in terms which strongly suggest (paras. 2 (2) and (6)) that abolition is desirable. The Committee concludes that all measures of abolition should be considered as progress in the enjoyment of the right to life within the meaning of article 40, and should as such be reported to the Committee. The Committee notes that a number of States have already abolished the death penalty or suspended its application. Nevertheless, States' reports show that progress made towards abolishing or limiting the application of the death penalty is quite inadequate. 7. The Committee is of the opinion that the expression "most serious crimes" must be read restrictively to mean that the death penalty should be a quite exceptional measure. It also follows from the express terms of article 6 that it can only be imposed in accordance with the law in force at the time of the commission of the crime and not contrary to the Covenant. The procedural guarantees therein prescribed must be observed, including the right to a fair hearing by an independent tribunal, the presumption of innocence, the minimum guarantees for the defence, and the right to review by a higher tribunal. These rights are applicable in addition to the particular right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence.

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Legend has it that the name came from the red color of water that got into the river when the Red River flooded. It sounds plausible. Levees now keep the Red from flowing into the Vermilion, but in earlier times the two were connected through a series of waterways. But that's not the only theory about how the river got its name. According to a 1976 article by Albert Gaude, who was then curator of natural science at the Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium, there are three major theories about the name. According to the first one, settlers who came up Bayou Vermilion saw Red River soil deposits on either side of the bayou as far downstream as the community of Long Bridge (where the Breaux Bridge highway crosses the Vermilion Bayou). This soil ranges from a brown to a bright red color, especially when it is wet. As the color vermilion is defined as "a vivid red to reddish orange," Gaude says "it would seem apt for the early discoverers to name this stream for its brightly colored banks." He notes that the early spelling of the river's name was Vermillion, as it would be spelled in French, but that the English spelling, Vermilion, was later adopted. In some Spanish documents the stream is called Rio Bermellon, and it is described as running from the "pubelo of St. Landri' through "atacapas country" down to the Bahia de Bermellon (Vermilion Bay). A second theory for the river's name concerns the tiny Azolla caroliniana fern, sometimes called mosquito fern, which grows on the surface of sluggish streams in the South. Under a canopy of trees, it can form dense sheets of vegetation that cover the surface of the stream, but, Gaude notes, "when the sun's rays reach the surface of the water with full intensity, these dense green mats turn to a uniform 'autumnal red' color." These sheets can be regularly seen along several stretches of the river. The last theory involves the Attakapas, probably the earliest settlers of the area, who sometimes used a reddish ochre as body paint. But when Europeans came to the area, they brought a new powder called "Vermilion" which was made from cinnabar and was a much-brighter red. They traded this powder with the Attakapas in exchange for furs and other goods. Gaude suggests that the river could have gotten its name because of the unusually heavy trading in the red powder. We know that there were several Attakapas villages on the river that might have provided fertile trading ground. You can contact Jim Bradshaw at firstname.lastname@example.org or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

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Thursday, November 22, 2007 Victorio was chosen by Mangas Coloradas as his follower as Chief of the Warm Springs Apache band. Victorio was a terrific strategist and horrendous opponent. Victorio and his people lived under terrible conditions in the reservation in San Carlos, Arizona. After numerous appeals to the government that they should be returned to their homeland (Ojo Caliente in the Black Range, NM) was turned down, they escaped in 1879 and wreaked havoc throughout the southwest on their way to Mexico. Colonel Grierson and the 10th Cavalry attempted to prevent Victorio's return to the U.S., and particularly his reaching New Mexico where he could cause additional problems with the Apaches still on the reservations. The soldiers outpaced Victorio to the water holes in Rattlesnake Springs (Sierra Diablo Mountains), and after two unsuccessful attempts to reach water, the indians had to retreat into Mexico. At a waterhole at Tres Castillos on Oct. 14th 1880 Victorio and his people were surprised by Mexican troops and during the fight many of the Apaches were killed. When Victorio and a handful of his men realized that escape was not possible they decided to take their own life. After Victorio's death his uncle, the 80 year old Nana, took charge of the group.

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Online Curriculum Guide for Faces of the Holocaust A print version of this guide (made possible by a grant from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District) is available from the Education Resource Center at Wright State University – contact us at 937-775-2878 On the next pages (see the dropdown menu at upper right under Resources/Exhibits and Education) you will find brief summaries of the fifteen interviews in the Faces of the Holocaust video series, with the number of minutes each one runs. These were taped between 1985 and 1995, and some of the interview subjects have since passed away or moved out of the Dayton area. The Dayton area has been home to a surprising number of Holocaust survivors. Some came here to work for the Air Force, others because they had relatives here, some because of business opportunities and a few entirely by chance. Many of the people featured in Faces of the Holocaust still live in the area, others have moved elsewhere after retirement, and some have died. While many Europeans under the Nazi occupation supported or turned a blind eye to the persecution of Jews, many others listened to their consciences and tried to help even at the risk of their own lives and the lives of their families. Many of these selfless people have been identified over the years by the Israeli government and honored with the title “Righteous among the Nations” or “Righteous Gentile.” Many others who sacrificed to help their neighbors will never be known. This term is often used for soldiers who were present at the liberation of death camps and concentration camps, mostly during April of 1945. Some actively assisted in the rescue of inmates and others just observed, but their testimony is always valuable. Some also rescued survivors of the “death marches” at the end of the war.

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Some say the "Kingdom of Heaven" refers to the a physical/political kingdom on earth while the "Kingdom of God" is the spiritual, coming reign of Christ. Arguments against the two being the same often come down to hair splitting and misinterpretation of verses. For example, the site listed above relies on a single verse in an attempt to say they are different. In Luke 17:21, Jesus says "the kingdom of God is within you" (KJV). They then argue that since Matthew 11:12 says the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and is taken by force that the two cannot be the same (who can take the kingdom from within you?). The site only addresses where the terms are used interchangeably to blow them off by saying "they will be the same in the future." However, it can be seen that Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God refer to the same thing. "Kingdom of Heaven" is found 31 times, only in the Gospel of Matthew. "Kingdom of God" is found 62 times in ten books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, and 2 Thessalonians). When the parallel accounts in the synoptic gospels are compared, whenever Matthew uses Kingdom of Heaven, the other will use Kingdom of God. Given the Jewish nature of Matthew's Gospel (Matthew never explains Jewish customs and traces the genealogy of Christ to Abraham where Luke, written for a gentile audience, continues back to Adam) and the Jewish habit of circumlocution in references to God*, "Kingdom of Heaven" would be preferable for the author and his intended audience. *See especially the note about ultra-orthodox Jews never pronouncing the names. Compare the following verses (all taken from the NET Bible): Matthew 11:11 “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. Luke 7:28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.” Matthew 13:11 He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not. Mark 4:11 He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables, Luke 8:10 He said, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand. Matthew 13:24 He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. Mark 4:26; He also said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. Matthew 13:31 He gave them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. Mark 4:30, 31 He also asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it? It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, Luke 13:18, 19; Thus Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. Matthew 13:33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.” Luke 13:20, 21; Again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.” Matthew 18:3 and said, “I tell you the truth, 1 unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Mark 10:15 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17; I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” In each instance, Matthew used the phrase “kingdom of heaven” while Mark and/or Luke used “kingdom of God.” The obvious conclusion is that the two phrases refer to the same thing. Within Matthew, the terms are used interchangeably on occasion. After the rich young ruler has left, Jesus says to the disciples, 19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 19:24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” Clearly, even Matthew considers the terms parallel.

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Partial Pressure and Kp In a mixture of two or more gases, each component gas contributes to the total pressure of the system. For example, the earth's atmosphere is made up of (by mole percent) 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, .9% argon, .03% carbon dioxide, and other trace gases. Each gas contributed to the total pressure of 1 atm in accordance with its percent: for example, 78% of the 1 atm total pressure is .78 atm; argon contributes only .009 atm to the mixture. The pressure each gas contributes to the total mixture is called its partial pressure; the rule governing them is Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures, which states that the total pressure is the sum of the pressures of the component gases. Furthermore, through a proof using the Ideal Gas Law, we can show that the pressure of each component gas is directly proportional to its mole fraction. The mole fraction (symbol: X) is simply the number of moles of the sample gas over the total number of moles. For example, if a box of normal air contains 5 moles of gas and 3.9 moles of nitrogen, the mole fraction of nitrogen would be XN2 = 3.9 mol / 5 mol= 0.78. If the total pressure in the box is 1.5 atm, the partial pressure of nitrogen is 0.78 * 1.5 atm = 1.17 atm. Since partial pressure is directly related to the number of moles present, a gas' partial pressure can be substituted for its concentration in an equilibrium constant. In this case, the subscript "p" is applied to the equilibrium constant, K, indicating the use of partial pressure instead of concentration in moles per liter. Other than the use of partial pressures in place of molarity, there is no difference in the use of Kp from the other equilibrium constants we have already discussed.

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by George Heymann | @techeadlines Google has started a new page on Google Plus to share their vision of what its augmented reality glasses could be. They are soliciting suggestions from users on what they would like to see from Project Glass. “We think technology should work for you—to be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don’t. A group of us from Google[x] started Project Glass to build this kind of technology, one that helps you explore and share your world, putting you back in the moment. We’re sharing this information now because we want to start a conversation and learn from your valuable input. So we took a few design photos to show what this technology could look like and created a video to demonstrate what it might enable you to do.” Video after the break. Read the rest of this entry » Filed under: Android, General technology, Google, Media, Services, Augmented reality, eyeglasses, feature, featured, glasses, Google, Google Plus, Google Project Gass, google virtual reality glasses, New York Times, Project Glass, technology, turn by turn directions, UI, User interface, video chat, Virtual reality, Virtual reality glasses January 18, 2012 • 11:07 am $3 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will fund development by Eric Klopfer MIT Education Arcade With a new $3 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the MIT Education Arcade is about to design, build and research a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) to help high school students learn math and biology. In contrast to the way that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are currently taught in secondary schools — which often results in students becoming disengaged and disinterested in the subjects at an early age — educational games such as the one to be developed give students the chance to explore STEM topics in a way that deepens their knowledge while also developing 21st-century skills. Read the rest of this entry » Filed under: Gaming, Services, Software, 3 million dollar grant, Associate Professor, Augmented reality, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Common Core, Common Core standards, Education, education arcade, education program, Eric Klopfer, Filament Games, game to help teach math and science, High school, Math, mit, MIT education arcade, MMOG, Next generation science, StarLogo TNG, STEM, Washington, Washington D.C. by George Heymann Blackberry no sooner made its official Blackberry Bold 9900 announcement and then T-mobile tweeted that it would be carrying the device. The 9900 will be T-mobile’s first 4G capable Blackberry. It is rumored to be available on T-Mobile in the June/July timeframe. The Blackberry Bold 9900/9930 will be a touch screen device with a 1.2 GHz processor, 8 GB of onboard memory, expandable to 32GB, HSPA+ 14.4 capable, 5 megapixel camera with flash, 720p HD video recording, dual-band WiFi, a built-in compass (magnetometer) and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology featuring the new Blackberry 7 OS. Press release after the break Filed under: Blackberry, Hardware, 4G, Augmented reality, BlackBerry, Blackberry Bold 9900, Blackberry Bold 9930, Evolution-Data Optimized, Evolved HSPA, Hertz, High-definition video, HSPA+, Research In Motion, T-Mobile, Touchscreen, Wi-Fi

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By Zeke Barlow The black abalone that were once thick in the waters off the California coast earned a dubious distinction today when biologists took the final steps in putting the mollusk on the Endangered Species List. ... The wording in the listing of the abalone brings up how global warming may affect the endangered species if ocean temperatures were to rise. ... The abalone, which were once found in great numbers off the Channel Islands, suffered a one-two punch that led to their rapid decline and population crash in the 1990s, said Melissa Neuman, a fisheries biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service, which published the listing in the Federal Register today. After 30 days, the listing becomes official. Years of fishing greatly reduced the population numbers, but it was the “whithering syndrome” that was first found on Santa Cruz Island that dealt the devastating blow to the species, she said. The disease, which spread rapidly among the population, prevents it from digesting food and the abalone in turn starts to absorb its own body mass, including its foot which attaches it to rocks and reefs. They are now found in only a few places off the islands and off the mainland to the north. Recent surveys off Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands found about 320 in three places, said Kate Faulkner, chief of resources management of the Channel Islands National Park.

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Australian Bureau of Statistics 4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, 1998 Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/06/1998 |Page tools: Print Page Print All RSS Search this Product| Population Growth: Growth and distribution of Indigenous people DISTRIBUTION OF THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION, 1996 Source: Unpublished data, 1996 Census of Population and Housing; Experimental Estimates of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population (cat. no. 3230.0). Size and distribution At 30 June 1996, there were an estimated 386,000 Indigenous people in Australia (2.1% of the total population). More than two thirds lived in New South Wales (28%), Queensland (27%) and Western Australia (15%). Indigenous people comprised only a small proportion of the population in each of the States and Territories (3.2% or less), except the Northern Territory. There, the 51,900 Indigenous people represented more than one quarter (29%) of the total population. According to 1996 Census counts, Indigenous people were generally less likely to live in major urban areas than the total population (30% compared to 63%) and more likely to live in more remote non-urban communities. However, their likelihood of living in major urban areas varied between States. This partly reflects the different settlement patterns of the total population in each State. (a) Includes augmented estimates for the years 1911 to 1966. Torres Strait Islanders were considered to be non-Aboriginal for the 1947, 1954 and 1961 Censuses. Asterisk denotes census years. Source: Smith, L. R., 1980, The Aboriginal Population of Australia; Unpublished data, 1981–1996 Censuses of Population and Housing. The 1996 Census count of Indigenous people was substantially (55%) higher than the number counted in the 1986 Census. This growth compares with an increase of 12% in the number of non-Indigenous people in Australia. The large population increase over the last decade has been part of a longer trend that started after the 1967 Constitutional Referendum repealed the requirement that Aboriginal 'natives' (persons with more than 50% Aboriginal 'blood') be excluded from population counts. The number of Indigenous people counted in the censuses between 1911 and 1966, augmented by estimates of traditional Aboriginal people who had been excluded, ranged between 80,000 and 100,000. Since the 1967 Constitutional Referendum the Indigenous population has more than trebled in size, while the non-Indigenous population counts grew by not quite half (47%). Components of growth Ongoing difficulties in measuring the main components of population change (births and deaths) among Indigenous people do not allow accurate statements to be made about the actual contribution of natural increase (ie births minus deaths) to the observed levels of growth. However, calculations obtained in the process of producing experimental estimates of the Indigenous population show that natural increase (allowing for children born to non-Indigenous women with Indigenous male partners) has accounted for about one third of the 33% growth observed between the 1991 and 1996 censuses.2 The other major source of growth comes from changes in the willingness of people to record their Indigenous status on the census form.3 The most likely group in the community to change their identification is the large and increasing number of people with mixed origins (i.e. Indigenous and non-Indigenous ancestry). It is possible that many of these people would have identified themselves as non-Indigenous (or perhaps not answered the census question) when policies of assimilation prevailed. However, with increasing action to enhance the status and rights of Indigenous people in the community, it is likely that their desire to identify with the Indigenous community has increased. Legislative and administrative changes reflecting improvements to Indigenous status and rights over the last few decades have included the enactment of the Racial Discrimination Act of 1975, the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in 1989 and in 1991 the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.4 They have also included changes in census collection strategies. These have included census awareness campaigns directed specifically at Indigenous people, together with the involvement of Indigenous people and organisations in census collection activities.5 Identification within Indigenous families It is not possible from recent censuses to identify the number of Indigenous people with mixed origins or to provide direct evidence of the extent to which there have been changes in willingness to report Indigenous origin. However, some insights into both of these issues can be obtained by looking at families involving mixed marriages (those in which one partner identifies as being Indigenous) and how children in those families are identified by their parents. In 1996, close to two thirds (62%) of Indigenous families comprising a couple with children (aged under 15) had only one parent who was Indigenous, an increase from 51% in the 1986 Census. As might be expected the proportion where only one parent was Indigenous was higher in major urban areas (81%) than in other urban areas (63%) and rural areas (42%) where traditional communities are more likely to predominate. In 1996, the majority of mixed couple families (86%) had one or more children identified as Indigenous in the census. Ten years earlier, the likelihood that children in these families were identified as being Indigenous was lower (75%). Thus, in addition to the growing number of families of mixed origins, there is an increased likelihood of a child of mixed origin being identified as Indigenous. The higher representation of mixed origin families in major urban areas helps to account for the greater increase in numbers of people identified as Indigenous in those areas. Between 1986 and 1996, increases in the counts of Indigenous people were greatest in major urban areas (93%). Increases were less marked in other urban areas (56%) and in rural areas (27%). In all areas, increases were much larger for counts of the Indigenous population than the total population. The influence of inter-regional migration on the high levels of urban growth appears not to have been so important, with most Indigenous people moving within the same local area (see Australian Social Trends 1994, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). 1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1997, Population Distribution, Indigenous Australians, cat. no. 4705.0, ABS, Canberra. 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1998, Experimental Estimates of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population, 30 June 1991 - 30 June 1996, cat. no. 3230.0, ABS, Canberra. 3 Taylor, John, 1997, 'The contemporary demography of Indigenous Australians', Journal of the Australian Population Association, Vol. 14, No. 1, ANU, Canberra. 4 Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, January 1993, Making Things Right: Reconciliation after the High Court's decision on Native Title, Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, Canberra. 5 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1997, 1996 Census of Population and Housing: Nature and Content of the Census, cat. no. 2008.0, ABS, Canberra. This page last updated 23 March 2006 Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us.

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Some gardening tips?? * Plants are naturally drawn towards sunlight making their leaves and stems bend over. Turn plants a quarter of a turn every few days. * Plants that are grown in temperatures lower than those recommended for them suffer. Look for leaves around the outside – they would be the first to suffer. * A combination of high temperature, low humidity and dry compost causes plants to wilt rapidly and foliage to shrivel. * Falling leaves indicates rapidly changing temperature especially if compost is too dry or too wet. * Water is vital for plants growth. Plants absorb water through their roots and release it into the atmosphere through their leaves. * Tapping a side of a clay pot is one way to judge if compost inside is dry. A ringing note indicates that it needs water and a dull note indicates that no water is needed. * Wilting of plant indicates too much and too little water. Plants seldom recover when water is not given. Healthy leaves and stem indicates sufficient water. * To save an excessively watered plant, remove the soil ball from pot, keeping the plant inside, use an absorbent kitchen towel to soak up excess water, leave the soil ball until it dries a bit and pot up the plant into fresh compost and a clean pot. * Lightly misting leaves with clean water aids plant recovery. Do not mist plants with hairy and soft leaves as it leaves unsightly marks. * Dry and brittle leaf edges, brown edges on yellow and wilting leaves, old leaves falling of, flowers that fade quickly etc indicate that compost is too dry. Thanks for reading Thanx for the info ..... really appreciating :) I would like to add one thing that if your plant has some problem, take it to a nursery near by, they would be able to diagnose your plant well and give you a good tip to keep your plant, fit. Hence you will get experience and could be able to guide others in a good way also. thanks for the tips if your plant has some problem, take it to a nursery near by, they would be able to diagnose your plant well and give you a good tip to keep your plant, fit. Garden ornaments can add a great value to your gardens. Garden ornaments appear in different shapes, colors and material. You can decorate your garden to serve the purpose of relaxation and for better family time. Garden ornaments add resonance to the garden. Usually the ornaments for a garden are made with materials like wood, resin, and metal, concrete, stone. When designing gardens, plants are thoughtfully chosen to provide necessary color, shape and form. Thanks. Last edited by TheExpertVGL; 02-11-2012 at 02:12 AM. Organic gardening tips for creating a garden that's exploding with life, beauty ... Some design tips that are important to come out with a garden that really works. Last edited by Ayden Terrence; 05-21-2012 at 09:35 PM.

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Skip to content Skip to navigation menu 24 August 2007 Cardiff scientists exploring the safe storage of hydrogen to power vehicles as an environmentally friendly alternative to petrol have made a promising new discovery. Having already developed an organic polymer capable of storing 1.7 per cent hydrogen by weight, Professors Neil McKeown from the School of Chemistry together with Peter Budd of the University of Manchester and David Book from the University of Birmingham can now report the creation of an organic polymer able to store around three per cent hydrogen by weight. The figure is almost double the amount of hydrogen the group’s preliminary polymers could store last year, and offers hope of producing an organic polymer in the future capable of storing enough hydrogen to successfully power a vehicle. Commenting on the development, Professor McKeown said: "We are excited to report this recent discovery by our research team of a polymer which can hold around three per cent hydrogen by weight. Although we still have a long way to go, it is clear that we are moving in the right direction, especially as we also have a number of promising new polymers to test. " In order to make hydrogen a viable alternative to petrol, a material which can store hydrogen at a weight of over six per cent is required. This figure is estimated by the American Department of Energy as the minimum required to make a fuel tank for hydrogen to power a vehicle for 300 miles. "In order to obtain a polymer that can store useful quantities of hydrogen we need to make a much more porous material," said Professor McKeown, "but one in which the holes are very small so as to fit snugly the small hydrogen molecules." Professor McKeown and his team are investigating a number of promising methods to enhance pororosity as they attempt to build on their current success and produce a material that can store and release hydrogen safely and effectively. They are also collaborating with Professor Kenneth Harris within the School of Chemistry to develop other types of hydrogen storage materials. Cardiff is the lead University in the research project, which is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The EU: What’s in it for Wales? New treatment for eczema trialled New drugs in development for treatment of osteoarthritis This is an externally hosted beta service offered by Google.

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