Datasets:

HuggingFaceFW

/

fineweb-edu

like 605

Follow

HuggingFaceFW 311

I have interpreted these lines in one way, yet there are a million different possibilities. The author puts the words onto the paper, but the reader’s job is to interpret their own emotion, memory or belief and actually apply it to the poet’s words in order to create an She starts off the poem with the speaker looking at a “photograph” (Trethewey l. 1) of herself when she was four years old. The reader is instantly taken into a personal memory of the narrator and Additionally- like Dickinson, Whitman uses vivid imagery, such as “The play of shine and shade on the trees as the supple boughs wag,” to paint various pictures—whether it be the background of a scene or a feeling his encountering—in a clear, compelling, and creative way. The author’s use of detailed verbiage and robust wording acts to make the reader imagine his thoughts artistically and The opening line which is a description of Cannery Row, includes many metaphors. He says that Cannery Row is a poem, but it means that it is like a poem. We have a lot of describing through the chapters and the plot seems to not be in that big of a role. The narrator in the text is either an all-knowing narrator or a detached narrator. , Dunn’s poem uses this choice to lead the readers to investigate an idea more thoroughly with vivid description, and develop Communication is a necessity to interact with others, but what some people don’t realize is that without communication we would be missing most media and entertainment. Communication is seen in everything we do and watch for example: movies, television, art, and music. The skills of communication are easily used to convey emotions and ideas to broad audiences. The Beatles are arguably the most popular band of the 20th century and their chart toppers conveyed various topics through song. An analysis of The Beatles’ song Yesterday reveals some of the communication skills used: relatability, intrapersonal communication, and self-feedback. “In a country in which popular culture is extremely important, there’s nobody more important than The Beatles.” Steven Stark, a friend of The Beatles once said. The Beatles are not only the biggest band of their time, they are one of the biggest bands of all times. The Beatles did not just sing to sing, they sang to give hope to a generation, they set some of the highest standards in popular culture, they changed music forever, and they still manage to affect our generation today. It can turn ordinary phrases into a new, deepened and more meaningful message. It makes the author 's writing better and gives the reader and new look on the main message. It enhances the poem and evokes the reader which overall, makes the poem enjoyable. It allows the author to convey the desired message through metaphorical and symbolic imagery rather than just words and language. The Beatles influenced everyday life as well as music, allowing them to be one of the most influential music groups on record. Through music the Fab Four were political activists who lead young people to be involved, became the faces of what fashion was supposed to be, and inspired musicians worldwide. The night The Beatles stepped onto “The Ed Sullivan Show” is the night music changed The Beatles and more specifically John Lennon had an immense impact on society throughout the 1960s to the 1980s. The Beatles affected society with their music by bringing about an age where experimentation with drugs, sex and hallucinogens (previously taboo) became the norm. They were also very popular amongst the new hippie counter culture as they too were anti-war and shared continuity with the ideals of the band. They served as examples and leaders not only to the hippies and other youth movements, but also to the youth of society in general. The Beatles and their music redefined the rules of society. It all started in Liverpool in 1960 when four men came together to create the iconic band, The Beatles. The English rock band members consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They were able to create timeless music that still continues to influence artists even years after the end of the group’s time. Not only did they surpassed every limit that was reached before them, they left a mark on the music industry that most artist can only hope they achieve. They changed the way music itself was created and the way it was presented to people listening all over the world. The Beatles Introduction The United States wouldn’t be the same after the British Invasion. The Beatles made a statement in US that young and old could relate to. They had a leading edge on the British invasion which they earned many awards, won 25 grammy’s, and even earned a place in the Rock & Roll hall of fame, making the Beatles one of the best Rock & Roll bands in the 20th century. Ringo Starr’s love for music started in the hospital. When Ringo Starr was young he became very sick with peritonitis. Throughout their era and the decades that followed, The Beatles had a tremendous impact on the music industry. Numerous artists working in a variety of genres, particularly African American popular music, have been tremendously influenced by them. I shall examine, in detail, four Beatles songs, one by each band member, and the ability to observe how they influenced African American popular music in this essay, paying particular attention to the music and lyrics of each song in detail. As well as, how it affected the culture of the music. Moreover, “ The Beatles” made a breakthrough in deferent regions such as music, film, literature, art, and fashion. Even after their career ended The Beatles made a big influence on the lifestyle and culture of several generations. The words of their songs and images passed on influential ideas of love, peace, and imagination and helped in breaking walls in the thoughts of the people, therefore making a big impact on music and human history . (internal preview) Now that we have a brief intro about who "The Beatles" are lets move on to more details. The poem directly represented the time period it was written in. Since others that read it could relate to it, it helped them to open their eyes to all the greed and wrong-doings of their society. The contents of the poem, which mainly had to do with greed and conflict, assisted others to see their own greediness. This allowed others to understand each other more

<urn:uuid:2d2e7c4b-30c0-44d8-a64f-e399a2db31b7>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.ipl.org/essay/Eleanor-Rigby-Analysis-8731DDE181E4C5DC

2024-10-11T12:28:36Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Indonesia is one of the countries with the largest Muslim population in the world, with these advantages it is expected to be a force that is able to produce solutions to real problems that exist. In addition, science is developing so rapidly. This development requires students to be able to apply the knowledge gained. Therefore, Indonesian Young Scientist Association (IYSA) collaborates with Department of Food Science and Technology, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), organizing a competition called the International Young Moslem Inventor Award. IYMIA is expected to be one of the right platforms to integrate science with religious knowledge for students both in Indonesia and abroad. Become a forum for students to evaluate the work they have. help develop scientific thinking skills. Improve the ability to develop creative ideas in the world of science.

<urn:uuid:8103ba5d-60cd-469f-8c11-c06974f5f8ef>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.iymia.or.id/

2024-10-11T10:46:34Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

The asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), or garden asparagus is a seasonal vegetable, only available in spring. It is a flowering, perennial plant species that belongs to the genus Asparagus. In the past, the asparagus plant was classified as a lily species, like the related Allium species of onion and garlic. Nowadays the onion-like plants belong to the Amaryllidaceae and asparagus are classified as Asparagaceae. Asparagus officinales is an indigenous plant in most of Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. Commercially it is an interesting vegetable crop and it is extensively cultivated. Asparagus are sold as ‘green asparagus’ and ‘white asparagus’. To produce white asparagus, the shoots are not exposed to the sun (they are covered with soil) and without this exposure, no photosynthesis takes place and thus the shoots remain white.

<urn:uuid:31a3489e-46db-4fbe-b6d7-076785bf2e33>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.koppert.eg/en/crops/outdoor-vegetables/asparagus/

2024-10-11T12:35:05Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Scientific VisualizationDevelop art skills to illustrate, animate, and create | What is Scientific Visualization?Scientific visualization is the communication of science and engineering through art. This includes data representation, graphic design, animation, and drawing that allow for the visual communication of information. Visuals are powerful for sharing complex information across language and educational barriers. With a background in scientific visualization students can take their chosen scientific discipline and combine it with a set of fundamental and advanced art skills. Minor in Scientific VisualizationThe minor in Scientific Visualization is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, the College of Engineering and Science, and the College of Liberal Arts that will educate students in art and science or engineering with special topics courses being an opportunity to merge the two disciplines. The minor is open to students in all disciplines but works best for students pursuing a science or engineering major. Upon completion of the curriculum students will have earned a BS in the science or engineering field of their choice and a minor in Scientific Visualization. As part of the curriculum, students are required to work with the clients in their area of sciences to illustrate concepts, data, and information. Students will also build a portfolio that may include publication of their work in scientific periodicals and textbooks. The minor in Scientific Visualization consists of 21 hours of art-related course material. A student must pass all classes in the curriculum with a C or better. CurriculumThe courses needed for the Scientific Illustration minor are listed in the PDF below.

<urn:uuid:9aaa0daf-3e99-4fc4-aa3f-9109017369f9>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.latechvista.com/scientific-visualization1.html

2024-10-11T12:56:30Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Understanding the basics of computer science is no longer optional for students to be future-ready, as the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital technologies not only for careers, but for everyday life. Computer fundamentals provide the skills and knowledge that equip students with critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities and a versatile skill set that is applicable across various fields. How Do Computer Fundamentals Contribute to Future-Readiness in Students? Computer fundamentals play a crucial role in preparing students for the future by providing them with essential skills that are increasingly demanded in today’s job market. Proficiency in programming languages, understanding of algorithms and familiarity with software tools are not just confined to careers in tech; they are valuable across various industries. For instance, data analysis and management are critical in fields such as healthcare, finance and marketing, where large datasets must be interpreted to make informed decisions. By mastering these computer skills, students are better equipped to enter a workforce that relies heavily on technology, giving them a competitive edge and a broader range of career opportunities. In addition, the problem-solving mindset cultivated through computer science education enables students to approach challenges creatively and innovatively, further enhancing their ability to succeed in an ever-changing technological landscape. Here are some examples of how computer fundamentals help to create more future-ready students: Building Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills Computer fundamentals are based in logic and structured thinking. Learning programming languages, for instance, teaches students how to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts—a skill known as decomposition. This process encourages critical thinking as students must analyze the problem, devise algorithms and implement solutions in a step-by-step manner. Algorithmic thinking, another crucial aspect of computer fundamentals, enhances students’ ability to approach problems methodically. By designing and testing algorithms, students learn to anticipate potential issues and think ahead about possible solutions. These skills are not only vital in computer science but also in everyday decision-making and problem-solving. Enhancing Academic Performance Across Disciplines The principles learned through computer fundamentals stretch beyond technology class and into various academic subjects. For example, the logical structure and precision required in programming can improve mathematical skills. Students often find that their understanding of abstract mathematical concepts, such as functions and variables, is reinforced through coding exercises. In the sciences, computer fundamentals enable students to utilize software tools for data analysis, simulations and modeling. Understanding how to operate these tools allows students to conduct experiments and analyze results more efficiently, leading to deeper insights and more robust scientific conclusions. In humanities and social sciences, skills like data management and statistical analysis are increasingly important, enabling students to handle large datasets and derive meaningful interpretations. Preparing for Professional Success Computer fundamentals are invaluable in professional applications. Almost every industry now relies on technology, and having a firm grasp of computer fundamentals can give students a competitive edge. For instance, knowledge of programming languages such as Python, Java or C++ can open doors to careers in software development, data science, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Even in non-technical fields, the ability to understand and leverage technology is crucial. Marketing professionals, for example, use digital tools for campaign management, data analytics, and social media strategies. Similarly, in finance, understanding algorithms and data analysis tools can significantly enhance decision-making and efficiency. Many companies seek employees who can adapt to new technologies and platforms. A solid foundation in computer fundamentals makes it easier for individuals to learn new software, understand emerging technologies, and stay current with industry trends, making them more valuable and adaptable employees. Fostering Innovation and Creativity Computer science is not just about coding and algorithms; it is also a great way to foster creativity and innovation. Students who are well-versed in computer fundamentals are often better equipped to create new software, design innovative applications, and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. This creative aspect is particularly evident in fields such as game design, multimedia production, and digital art. For instance, creating a video game involves programming, graphic design, storytelling and user experience design—all of which require a deep understanding of computer fundamentals. Similarly, multimedia production—including video editing, animation and sound design—relies heavily on software tools and programming skills. Encouraging Lifelong Learning The field of computer science is constantly evolving, with new technologies and methodologies continuing to emerge. Learning computer fundamentals instills a mindset of continuous learning and curiosity. Students who start with a strong foundation in computer science can make them more likely to pursue advanced studies and stay engaged with ongoing technological advancements. Promoting Collaboration and Communication In addition to technical skills, computer science education often emphasizes teamwork and collaboration. Many programming projects and exercises are designed to be completed in groups, fostering a collaborative environment where students learn to communicate effectively, share ideas and solve problems together. Effective communication is critical in a professional setting, and working on computer science projects helps students develop these skills. They learn to articulate their ideas clearly, provide constructive feedback and collaborate with others to achieve common goals. These experiences are invaluable as students transition into the workforce, where teamwork and effective communication are often key to success. Computer science is important for equipping students with a versatile skill set that prepares them for future success. From enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to fostering creativity and promoting lifelong learning, the benefits of a solid foundation in computer science are far-reaching. Founded in 1999, Learning.com provides educators with solutions to prepare their students with critical digital skills. Our web-based curriculum for grades K-12 engages students as they learn keyboarding, online safety, applied productivity tools, computational thinking, coding and more. Recent discussions in education emphasize the importance of teaching students to think like computer programmers. Computational thinking involves... Computational thinking is a problem-solving process that involves various techniques and thought processes borrowed from computer science. It... The rapidly evolving technological landscape means students must develop robust digital skills to thrive in future careers. Texas recognizes this...

<urn:uuid:99231776-164e-4fe1-857d-e176d504ac3c>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.learning.com/blog/computer-fundamentals-success/page/2/?et_blog

2024-10-11T11:55:14Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

During the Cold War, the G3 was one of the world's pre-eminent battle rifles. Developed in France and Spain after 1945, the rifle was produced by the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch. Adopted by more than 40 countries and produced on licence by many more, it was widely employed during colonial wars in Africa, insurgencies in Latin America and conflicts in the Middle East, but perhaps its widest use was in the Iran-Iraq War. Variants of the G3 have also seen substantial usage among Special Forces including Britain's Special Boat Service and the US Navy SEALs. Semi-automatic versions, especially the HK91 and HK93, remain popular in the United States, and the G3-derived HK11 and HK21 family of light machine guns have also been widely adopted by military and law-enforcement units across the world. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this study examines one of the iconic weapons of the Cold War era. Les avis sur le produit THE G3 BATTLE RIFLE WPN 68

<urn:uuid:0abd95ea-cd35-4bda-b963-dc0838c9257e>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.livre-aviation.com/THE-G3-BATTLE-RIFLE-WPN-68-p-25459-c-5007_4999.html

2024-10-11T12:49:42Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

- Subject: METEORITE INFORMATION Meteorites are rocks from space. Most originate within the Asteroid Belt though a few come from Mars and the Moon. Some may be fragments of comets, though there is no strong evidence to support this view. Thousands of meteorites fall to Earth each year. Most land in the ocean and in sparsely populated areas to become lost forever. But a few – just a few -land in or near towns and cities where they are rapidly recovered to eventually find their way into both public and private collections. Prior to 1969 there were a little over 2,000 known meteorites. A chance discovery in Antarctica, however, led to searches for other specimens with the result that more than 10,000 new meteorites have since been found trapped in the blue ice. Meteorites fall (no pun intended!) into three broad categories. The so-called irons are composed mainly of nickel-iron alloys and, when correctly treated, can reveal a variety of patterns – such as Widmanstatten Lamellae shown in the title illustration of this page. You can usually tell an iron meteorite because of its weight – they are very heavy. The stones are similar in some ways to terrestrial rocks and are often the hardest to distinguish. This is particularly true of the group known as the achondrites, though a second group – the chondrites – often contain small beads, or chondrules the like of which is unknown in Earthly rocks. Finally, the stony-irons are, not surprisingly, a mixture of stone and iron. One stony-iron group in particular – the pallasites – are among the most attractive meteorites to be found, consisting of rich greenish olivine crystals set in an iron matrix. In recent years meteorite collecting has become quite popular. You can learn more about this subject by reading The Meteorite and Tektite Collector’s Handbook

<urn:uuid:538abe4e-86af-41cc-8304-053cf29b7115>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.meteorobs.org/bagnall/metinfo.htm

2024-10-11T12:48:35Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

There are always risks, but experts agree that these are the benefits. If you are safe and intelligent, sports can improve your overall health. Sport is an adventure in the physical, emotional and mental senses. It's a chance to discover your strengths and determine whether you are a team player or an individual. There are always risks, but experts agree that these are the benefits. If you are safe and intelligent, sports can improve your overall health. One of the greatest benefits of playing sports is learning how to work together as a team. To be a good teammate, you must also be reliable and able to rely on your fellow teammates to get the best outcome. Teamwork fosters accountability and forces you to take responsibility for your actions both on and off the field. You can learn social skills by being part of a team and you have the chance to become a leader. A fine balance Another advantage to playing sports is the ability to be disciplined. Most organized sports require a rigorous training and practice program. You might be a student-athlete until you become a professional athlete. This allows you to balance academics and athletics. You will learn the discipline necessary to keep a strict athletic schedule and still be able to succeed in school. You'll develop the discipline necessary to be a successful student and athlete by playing sports. No matter what your level of fitness, playing sports will help you to improve your overall physical condition. Nearly all sports require some physical activity. You will need to practice the skills required to compete. Running or other cardiovascular endurance training is a common part of most training programs. Strength training and running are also good options. Basketball players train on strength and cardio, while football players focus on speed and agility. Track athletes train on longer runs. You'll find that you can be a part of a group sport team, which will receive guidance from a coach. You might form a close relationship with your coach, or an older member of your team. This could have a positive effect on your life. You have the opportunity to meet caring, skilled and thoughtful mentors that will help you become a better person. For women's health, tips for heart, mind, and body - https://www.mpolska24.pl/blog/for-womens-health-tips-for-heart-mind-and-body If you want to avoid problems such as strokes and heart disease, there is an easy way. Get more fruits and vegetables. Whole grains are better than refined ones. Brown rice is better than white. Switch to whole-wheat pasta Consider lean proteins such as poultry, fish and beans. Reduce your intake of processed foods, sugar, salt, saturated fat, and other unhealthy food. Flexibility is key to eating well, according to Joyce Meng, MD assistant professor at UConn Health's Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center. You can follow a strict diet plan if you prefer. It's okay if you don't like following a strict diet plan. Tricia Montgomery (52), founder of K9 Fit Club knows firsthand the benefits of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Her favorite things are eating healthy food and making small, frequent meals. She says, "I don’t deny myself anything." "I still enjoy dessert, key lime pie, yum!" -- I love frozen gummy bears and moderation is the key. Get regular checkups. Your doctor will keep track of your medical history so that you can stay healthy. If you are at high risk of osteoporosis (a condition that weakens bones), your doctor may recommend more vitamin D and calcium. You may be recommended by your doctor to have screening tests done to monitor your health and detect conditions before they become serious. Be open to communication. Meng said, "If you have any questions, ask your doctor." "Ensure you are satisfied with the information." Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about any medication or procedure. It can be very detrimental to your health. It is impossible to avoid it all, but there are ways you can reduce the effects. Do not take on too many responsibilities. Set limits for yourself and others. It is okay to say no. To relieve stress, try: Talking to a friend or family member. Develop healthy habits You can prevent problems from coming your way tomorrow if you make the right decisions today. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss each day. Limit your alcohol. Limit your alcohol intake to 1 drink per day. Take your medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Get better sleep. Try to sleep for at least 8 hours. Talk to your doctor if you are having trouble sleeping. Keep out of direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wear your seatbelt. Meng suggests that you take time each day to invest in your own health. Montgomery was able to see the benefits. Montgomery says that she has overcome health issues, is happy, and has a positive outlook. She says that her life has been forever transformed.

<urn:uuid:cb48ff7b-772f-4007-84a1-d31bee3871fe>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.mpolska24.pl/post/18138/the-benefits-of-sporting

2024-10-11T11:43:54Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Big History’s potential for it to be a major turning point in modern education will be the focus when educators, scholars and policy makers as well as multimedia and technology innovators come together at the inaugural Big History and the Future of Education conference. Big History is the brainchild of Macquarie’s Professor David Christian, who developed the concept in 1989 as a way to tell the story of the world from the Big Bang to the present, while showing how different disciplines from the sciences and humanities are connected. Originally developed for university students, a version of the course targeted at high school students is now being rolled out across Australia. A primary school program is also under development. Andrew McKenna, Head of Partnerships and Development for the Faculty of Arts, says that one reason for the concept’s popularity both in Australia and internationally is that recently knowledge has become so specialised that people tend to focus only on a single discipline without viewing the information in its broader context. “It’s hard for students to understand how physics, chemistry, history, biology and geography are relevant to them, or how they fit into the big picture. This detail-led approach is one reason students disengage from learning,” he says. “Big History excites people because it connects knowledge, gives them the back story and a vocabulary to understand the world they live in. Once they are engaged, they are then more interested in learning the details.” Special Projects Manager for the Big History Institute Tracy Sullivan is leading the schools rollout, and says there are 36 schools currently trialling Big History across Australia. A further 100 schools have registered their intent to teach the course next year. “The response has been absolutely overwhelming,” she says. “Of the schools that have trialled the course we have had a full retention rate, with students reporting that it has given them an exciting way to connect the knowledge they have learned across different subject areas. “They are inspired because they see the relevance of their studies to their everyday lives.” She says that parents love it so much that they are bringing the idea to their kids’ schools; teachers, principals and education departments are also very enthusiastic about it and are approaching the Big History Institute as well. “Big History can be as complicated or as simple as you want to make it, with a narrative that is just as interesting to students in year one as it is to year nine or university students,” Ms Sullivan says. Andrew McKenna says that private sector organisations and high profile individuals such as Bill Gates have also thrown their support behind the program “Both governments and businesses recognise the importance of breaking down discipline barriers and developing students with an interest in both science and the humanities, rather than simply labelling someone as a ‘maths person’ or an ‘English person’,” he explains. “Organisations see Big History as an on-ramp to learning lots of disciplines that will pay big dividends throughout their education and once these students join the workforce,” McKenna adds. “It also plays a key role in getting them to think beyond the present and how they might contribute to the future.” More information about the conference, which will be held on 5-6 December, can be found on the Big History Institute website. If you missed out on studying Big History at university, Professor Christian and his team have made a version of the course available to the public – get started at the Big History Project site. Teachers or educators interested in teaching big history in their schools can contact Tracy Sullivan at [email protected] What did you like most about studying Big History?

<urn:uuid:0000974e-a16d-467f-983e-70d58299aac6>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.mq.edu.au/macquariematters/big-history-gets-even-bigger/

2024-10-11T11:31:20Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Spanish colonial period in New Orleans spanned just four decades of the late 18th and early 19th centuries but established a far-reaching legacy that still resonates today. The Historic New Orleans Collection’s (THNOC) newest exhibition opening Oct. 20, titled “Spanish New Orleans and the Caribbean / La Nueva Orleans y el Caribe españoles”, will be presented in English and Spanish and restores balance to the assessment of New Orleans as a city with a predominately French heritage. Once under Spanish rule, New Orleans saw infrastructure advancements, economic and population growth, and an enriched cultural life — elevating the city from a poorly managed outpost on the edge of an empire to a highly urbanized colonial capital. Political leaders were well rounded, with backgrounds in science, agriculture and the arts. Alongside Havana, Mexico City, Santo Domingo, Santiago de Cuba and Veracruz, Spanish New Orleans became a New World outpost of the Age of Enlightenment. “The period of Spanish rule witnessed dramatic changes in the size and makeup of Louisiana’s population,” said THNOC curator Alfred Lemmon. “The culture that emerged was as diverse as the varied peoples drawn here by ambition, greed, scientific curiosity or forced migration.” The exhibition features more than 120 objects — including maps, documents, furniture, paintings, books and more — from THNOC’s permanent holdings as well as from several institutions in Spain, Mexico and the United States. The display is the first and only time this selection of objects will be presented together in one space. Items on display also shed light on the lives of marginalized groups in the city during the Spanish era. Church records chronicle marriages between Black and Native American enslaved people, as well as the baptisms of both enslaved Black people and free people of color. Other objects testify to the brutality of the slave trade and show the relationships between local Native American tribes and Spanish colonizers. In a first for THNOC, “Spanish New Orleans and the Caribbean / La Nueva Orleans y el Caribe españoles” will be presented in both English and Spanish. A bilingual exhibition catalog will also be published to commemorate the exhibition. With essays by Lemmon as well as scholars Richard Campanella and Light Townsend Cummins, the book illuminates the far-reaching legacy of Spain’s brief dominion over Louisiana. The hardcover, full-color catalog also features over 75 images of exhibition items and includes an illustrated checklist. “One of the founders of The Historic New Orleans Collection, General L. Kemper Williams, carefully collected materials related to the Spanish Louisiana experience,” Lemmon said. “As subsequent generations of curators continued to build upon General Williams’ interests, two phenomena emerged: the remarkable legacy of Spanish colonial times, and the profound public unfamiliarity with this legacy. As both tribute and corrective, The Historic New Orleans Collection proudly presents this exhibition.” Generous support for this exhibition was provided by THNOC’s 2022 Bienville Society, Baptist Community Ministries, the Louise H. Moffett Family Foundation and Spain Arts & Culture. “Spanish New Orleans and the Caribbean” will be on view on the first level of THNOC’s Tricentennial Wing at 520 Royal St. in the French Quarter from Oct. 20, 2022, through Jan. 22, 2023. Admission is free. Advance reservations are recommended and may be made at my.hnoc.org beginning Thursday, Oct.13, 2022. For more information, visit www.hnoc.org. The following events and activities will take place in conjunction with the bilingual exhibition. Admission is free. Details on these events and more are available at hnoc.org/spanishnola. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, at 7 p.m. “Concert Spirituel: Saint-Domingue and New Orleans,” the 15th installment of “Musical Louisiana: America’s Cultural Heritage” presented by THNOC and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Pedro Memelsdorff. Guest performers will include Hyunkun Cho, Markéta Cukrová, Jean-Christophe Dijoux, Claron McFadden, Belén Vaquero, and Jonathan Woody. St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, from 6-8 p.m. Harpsichord recital featuring John Walthausen THNOC’s Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St. Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at 6 p.m. Spanish Baroque Music of the Americas, concert featuring Mahmoud Chouki and Paul Weber with Krewe de Voix Chamber Choir St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square

<urn:uuid:c11cade1-973f-40de-9602-20f7dcef4904>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.myneworleans.com/rare-artifacts-come-to-new-orleans-for-exhibition-on-spanish-colonial-era/

2024-10-11T13:02:33Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Space exploration is the best way to learn more about our place and our history in the Universe. Side benefits of the space program are new technologies, inventions and industries as well as opportunities for international cooperation. December and January present a rich opportunity to explore how different cultural traditions celebrate the winter holidays. Branch out from snowmen, reindeer, and candy canes by learning about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. Born in rural Kenya and educated in the United States, Wangari Maathai was the first woman in East Africa to earn a doctoral degree, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and is the founder of the Green Belt Movement. Her incredible story is the subject of several picture book biographies for children. The 28 days of February will never be enough to highlight the full depth and breadth of black history in the United States and around the world. Picture books are an ideal (and beautiful) way, however, to address the gaps in our knowledge of the contributions of African Americans to History writ large. The announcement of the Caldecott, Newbery, and other recipients of the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards is a cause for celebration! Did your favorites win? Or what books will now be on your reading list? Check out our round-up (with links to our collection) below There are a bevy of picture book biographies about musicians, artists, and singers from all genres! Add some rock, jazz, folk, swing, blues, and hip hop to your reading this summer for Summer Challenge! Published on March 13, Junot Díaz´s long awaited first book for children is a love letter to the children-both young and old- who carry in themselves the memories of the places that have shaped them and their communities.

<urn:uuid:5176b052-b5f3-404e-a554-08d135391e34>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.nashvillearchives.org/blog/section/reader-books-beginning-readers

2024-10-11T11:19:41Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

It’s been a horrific start of 2020. Out-of-control bushfires caused so much destruction affecting people and nature across Australia. Fortunately, the bushfires eventually went out — thanks to rainfall and the amazing efforts of firefighters and volunteers. During Australia's 2019/2020 bushfire emergency, it’s been incredible to see the outpouring of support. Communities have come together to make a difference during this difficult time. Australia’s bushfires is estimated to have burnt 10 million hectares. That's more than the 2019 Amazon fires and 2018 California wildfires combined. Early studies found fires burnt through more than 80% of the known habitat of 49 threatened species. And at least 50% of the habitat of another 65 threatened species have been affected. They include: Long-footed Potoroo, Kangaroo Island Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Kangaroo Island Dunnart, Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, Greater Glider, Koala, Eastern Ground Parrot and Eastern Bristlebird. Australia already has the highest rate of mammal extinction in the world. We need to make sure these fires don’t push more species over the brink. And we urgently need to rethink about how we care for our beautiful country by putting a long-term plan in place. They can’t afford to wait—and neither can we $75 could support conservation on 150 hectares of habitat for the Nabarlek. Make a generous gift today and together, we can help protect the habitat of lesser known species like the tiny doe-eyed Nabarlek. million hectares burnt billion animals killed habitat burnt of 49 threatened species habitat burnt 65 threatened species Species affected by the bushfires Time to be bold Beyond the immediate impacts on wildlife and their habitat, the fires have highlighted the fragility of our landscapes and need for long-term investment in the resilience of our environment. The scale of the recovery, restoration and resilience is enormous. Balancing the many needs of people and nature isn’t easy. But we need to start somewhere. Our team of dedicated specialists have met with Government officials including Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley. Our focus is on long-term, landscape-scale change. Right now, business as usual is just not good enough. We’ve taken a bold step, and developed a world-leading initiative. Reinventing Conservation in Australia With a disaster of this mammoth scale, exacerbated by prolonged drought and floods, no single entity can manage recovery and restoration efforts on their own. Coordinated and effective restoration and long-term thinking is the answer to successful conservation at scale and building resilience. That’s why we’ve brought together experts across sectors from agriculture, conservation, Indigenous land management, forestry, business and finance, science and philanthropy, to commit to a bold plan to protect the future of Australia’s natural environment. Together, we’ve developed a market-based approach, that includes grants, to deliver funding from private investors, government and philanthropy to restore private and public land with the aim to: - Fast-track the rescue, recovery and restoration of bushfire damaged areas - Build economic and environmental resilience of farms, forests and Indigenous lands by investing in biodiversity and ecosystem health - Ensure long-term investment to protect threatened species and significantly improve the health and extent of their natural habitat We’re working with credible, knowledgeable and committed partners in government, community, science and research, but we’re not stopping there. For the plan to be successful and enduring, the plan needs to be supported through government policy. We’re working tirelessly to make this world-first recovery funding package scientifically sound, impactful, large-scale, and long-term. The outcome for Australia will be a stronger, more resilient and prosperous environment for the benefit of people and nature. This is an ambitious plan. With your support and that of our partners, we’re making good progress, but this is just the beginning. Without an urgent and ambitious strategy for change, we will only experience more loss. With your help, we can still save our unique and endangered wildlife and their homes before they disappear forever. Help Nature Recover from Bushfire Devastation Your generous gift will help support long-term conservation efforts so the forests can heal, threatened species can recover, and people and nature can thrive.

<urn:uuid:b2c2c6ce-c9ce-4859-bb2e-2e911d6d4915>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.natureaustralia.org.au/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/bushfire-recovery/

2024-10-11T11:19:51Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Fluoroscopy has many uses in modern medicine, expanding beyond standard x-rays films. While these procedures have clinical benefits, they are not without risks, particularly related to radiation exposure. A major focus of this course is on the risks and average doses patients and clinicians incur when undergoing fluoroscopy procedures. The overall goal and purpose of radiation safety and dose management is to conduct individual radiation risk assessment for each patient, providing the patient involved with an opportunity to give informed consent relating to their radiation risk. Studies indicate that improved clinician education can help to limit radiation dose and associated complications. - HISTORY OF FLUOROSCOPY - DEFINITION OF TERMS - AN OVERVIEW OF FLUOROSCOPY - CLINICAL USE OF FLUOROSCOPY - OVERVIEW OF RADIATION EXPOSURE - RADIATION DOSE MEASUREMENT AND DOCUMENTATION - TENETS OF RADIATION SAFETY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE - SPECIAL POPULATIONS - CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INFORMED CONSENT - Works Cited - Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations Citations This course is designed for physicians, nurses, radiology technicians, surgical technicians, and all healthcare staff involved in ensuring safe clinical use of fluoroscopy. The purpose of this course is to provide healthcare providers with an understanding of the challenges encountered when using fluoroscopy in clinical practice and the tenets of safe fluoroscopy use in clinical practice. Upon completion of this course, you should be able to: - Outline the history of fluoroscopy. - Define terms used in discussion of fluoroscopy. - Describe the components of a standard fluoroscopy unit. - Discuss the use of contrast media in obtaining fluoroscopy images. - Identify limitations of fluoroscopy in diagnostic and interventional radiology. - Analyze the various uses of fluoroscopy in diagnostic and interventional radiology. - Evaluate key issues in radiation exposure and potential deterministic and stochastic effects. - Outline the various ways that patient and staff radiation doses are measured and documented. - Identify tenets of radiation safety when working with fluoroscopy. - Describe radiation safety issues for special populations, including pregnant women and children. Berthina Coleman, RN, MD, is a registered nurse and resident who has worked extensively in various healthcare fields. She obtained her Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from Grambling State University in 2006. She then went on to pursue further education, graduating with a Medical Degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2014. Dr. Coleman consistently worked as a nurse during her medical training process, holding several leadership positions. She firmly believes that the nursing perspective is critical in providing the best care to an ever-changing patient population. Contributing faculty, Berthina Coleman, RN, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned. John M. Leonard, MD Jane C. Norman, RN, MSN, CNE, PhD Shannon E. Smith, MHSC, CST, CSFA The division planners have disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned. The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned. The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare. Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice. It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners. Supported browsers for Windows include Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 and up, Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and up, Opera 9.0 and up, and Google Chrome. Supported browsers for Macintosh include Safari, Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and up, Opera 9.0 and up, and Google Chrome. Other operating systems and browsers that include complete implementations of ECMAScript edition 3 and CSS 2.0 may work, but are not supported. Supported browsers must utilize the TLS encryption protocol v1.1 or v1.2 in order to connect to pages that require a secured HTTPS connection. TLS v1.0 is not supported. The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages. Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically. #90471: Safe Clinical Use of Fluoroscopy Fluoroscopy is a radiography technique used to produce real-time images using continuous x-rays transmitted through a tissue of interest onto an image receptor. Image receptors can either be an image intensifier or a flat-panel detector. The main focus of this type of radiography is to image tissues or objects that are constantly moving. Fluoroscopy is usually used for several minutes with the intent to save only some of the images. In general, the last image on a fluoroscopy loop can be saved; on some new machines, several parts of the loop can be saved. The total fluoroscopy time should always be recorded for each procedure. It is important to note that the total fluoroscopy time does not include the time used for fluorography, which is documented separately . Fluoroscopy can be traced back to 1895, when Wilhelm Röntgen noticed a barium platinocyanide screen fluorescing due to exposure to what he would later define as x-rays. The first fluoroscopes were invented several months after Röntgen's discovery of x-rays. Early fluoroscopes were simple boxes made of cardboard that were open at one end (the narrow end) for the eyes of the observer. The other, wider end was closed with a thin cardboard piece coated on the inside with a layer of fluorescent metal salt. The resultant images obtained from these old "fluoroscopes" were very faint. In an effort to produce enhanced images, Thomas Edison discovered that calcium tungstate screens produced brighter images. Edison is also credited with creating and designing the first commercially available fluoroscope sometime prior to 1900 . Any discussion about fluoroscopy and the radiation safety concerns that are irrefutably involved with its use necessitates a basic understanding of certain terms and concepts. The following basic glossary provides a framework for this discussion. Absorbed dose: The energy imparted into a tissue by ionizing radiation at a specific point, as measured in grays (Gy). When assessing the dose or risk of radiation to patients in general, the quantity calculated and documented is usually the mean absorbed dose. The unit of absorbed dose is expressed in joules per kilogram (J/kg) . The absorbed dose in air is referred to as the air kerma. Air kerma: The energy obtained from an x-ray beam per unit mass of air in a volume of irradiated air. Air kerma is also measured in Gy and is the dose delivered to a specific volume of air . As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA): An important principle in the protection of the general public and staff members occupationally exposed to radiation. However, the protection of patients has been recognized as requiring a different approach, given that the primary goal is a good clinical outcome. A minimal patient dose is not necessarily in the patient's best interest and may even be harmful in the sense that using lower radiation doses may be less diagnostically or therapeutically successful. The goal in patient care should be to give the optimal dose to allow clinical goals to be safely met. Biologic variation: Individuals differ significantly in terms of the amount of radiation required to produce a deterministic effect and in the extent of damage caused by the same radiation dose. There are several factors contributing to biologic variation in radiation dose, including the patient's age, underlying disease, and idiopathic etiology. In addition, different skin types and different parts of the body vary in sensitivity to radiation . C-arm fluoroscopy system: A system comprised of a coupled x-ray tube and image receptor. Typically, a C-arm fluoroscopy system has the ability to rotate along two planes: the craniocaudal direction and the left-to-right direction. Most C-arm fluoroscopy systems have an isocenter that is the identifiable center of rotation. The object placed at the isocenter will remain centered in the beam even as the C-arm rotates in all directions. Some C-arms have a fixed distance between the source and the image receptor while others have variable distances between the source and the image receptor. It is important to recognize that radiation protection strategies for each type of C-arm system will vary . Effective dose: The sum of the products of the dose in an organ and the tissue weighting factor for that organ. Is often used to denote radiogenic risk. Techniques used for estimating effective dose rely on a computer-model body and statistical simulations of radiation exposure. All estimates of effective dose should take into account biologic tissue variation. The stochastic radiation risk to an average member of an irradiated population is expressed in Sieverts (Sv). When calculating effective dose, it is important to include adjustments for age and sex . Equivalent dose: A measurement used for radiation protection purposes that takes into account the different probability of effects that occur with the same absorbed dose delivered by radiations with different radiation weighting factors. Equivalent dose is measured in Sv. Fluoroscopic image: A single recorded image obtained by using an image intensifier or digital flat panel as the image receptor. A digital angiographic loop consists of a series of fluorographic images. Fluorographic time: Total time of fluoroscopy used during an imaging or interventional procedure, with the exception of fluorographic procedures. Hounsfield units: A single computed tomography (CT) image generated by the scanner is divided into many tiny blocks of different shades of black and white, known as pixels. The actual gray scale of each pixel on a CT depends on the amount of radiation absorbed at that point, which is termed an attenuation value. Attenuation values are expressed in Hounsfield units (HU). The HU scale assigns air a value of −1,000 HU and dense bone a value of +1,000 HU. Water is assigned 0 HU. Interventional reference point: Identified on isocentric fluoroscopy systems, this refers to the point located about 15 cm from the isocenter of the central x-ray beam in the direction of the focal spot (close to the patient's entrance skin surface). In cases in which non-isocentric geometries are used, it is the responsibility of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to define the location of the interventional reference point . The interventional reference point is also called the patient entrance reference point . Isocentric fluoroscopy system: An imaging system in which there is a specific point in space through which the central ray of an x-ray will pass regardless of the orientation of the beam. This point is defined as the isocenter. When an image is placed at the isocenter of this type of fluoroscopic system, the image will not move across the field of view if the imaging system is rotated in any direction . Kinetic energy released in matter (kerma): The amount of energy (measured in Gy) transferred from the x-ray beam into charged particles in the tissue of interest. This is the energy extracted from an x-ray beam per unit mass of a specified tissue in a small irradiated volume of material or tissue (e.g., bone, fat, muscle). For diagnostic x-ray procedures, this is equivalent to absorbed dose in the specified medium . Kerma-area product: The estimate of the absorbed radiation dose to air across the entire beam emitted from the x-ray tube. It is an integration of both the air kerma and the kerma and is used to determine the total amount of radiation delivered to the patient, as expressed in Gy cm2. The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements' symbol for kerma-area product is PKA. The kerma-area product is usually estimated without including scatter radiation. Previously, this was referred to as the dose-area product. It can be measured with a dosimeter or calculated by the fluoroscope . Peak skin dose: The highest dose to any portion of a patient's skin during any part of a radiologic procedure. The peak skin dose includes both the dose delivered by the primary x-ray beam as well as the dose delivered from scatter. Qualified medical physicist: A professional who has completed education and training and has been granted certification in one or more medical physics subfields (e.g., nuclear, therapeutic, diagnostic). Reference point air kerma: The air kerma accumulated at a specific point in space relative to the interventional reference point on the fluoroscopic gantry during a procedure. Measurements of reference point air kerma do not include radiation scatter from the patient. It is sometimes called the cumulative dose, the reference dose, or the cumulative air kerma . Also referred to as the cumulative dose. Significant radiation dose: An established threshold used to initiate or trigger multiple-dose management actions. It is important to recognize that there is no assumption that doses less than the significant radiation dose threshold are safe or that doses greater than the significant radiation dose level will always have deleterious effects. Instead, this level should prompt providers to take certain actions when the dose is reached. Threshold dose: The minimum radiation dose at which a specified deterministic effect can occur. It will vary greatly in each individual due to biologic variation. In addition, the threshold dose for different anatomic sites on the same individual will vary. For example, the threshold dose for skin on the eyelid is much different than the radiation threshold dose for the sole of the foot. Radiography is one of the most commonly used modalities in imaging. It is basically defined as the use of x-rays to generate images. There are multiple terms commonly used to refer to plain films, including x-rays, radiographs, and conventional radiographs. Traditionally, x-ray has been used to describe the images generated, but in reality, x-rays are the beams used to generate the images . Conventional radiographs are created by passing an x-ray beam through a patient and using an x-ray plate to capture the attenuated x-ray beam. The image produced is created by the different densities in the human body and how they lessen (attenuate) the x-ray beam. For example, bone will attenuate the beam much more than muscle or fat. The x-rays produced via fluoroscopy are polychromatic because they cover a wide spectrum of energy levels. This is in contrast to the monoenergetic rays, such as gamma-rays, produced by nuclear sources of radiation. Fluoroscopic images can be obtained in one of two ways. A single image is typically obtained using an image intensifier and an image receptor. An angiographic run of fluorographic images usually involves multiple images, often subtracted from a mask image to produce subtraction angiographic images. It is important to note that fluorographic images differ from fluoroscopic images. Fluorography requires much larger amounts of radiation than fluoroscopy . Over the last several decades, fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures have revolutionized medical care. For example, the use of percutaneous stent placement has replaced surgical bypass for arterial revascularization. Surgical decompression of portal hypertension has become a rare procedure as a result of the efficacy of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure. Hysterectomy for symptomatic fibroids has largely been replaced by uterine artery embolization. The advantages of these procedures include the obvious benefit of fewer complications associated with less invasive procedures, decreased length of stay necessary, and reduced healthcare costs . The x-ray image generation chain of the standard fluoroscopy unit can be distilled to three major parts: the x-ray generator, the x-ray tube, and the image intensifier. The x-ray generator provides the power source necessary to accelerate the electrons through the x-ray tube. The duration of x-ray exposure is similar to the shutter speed on a regular camera, and it can be adjusted and optimized for the tissue being examined. For example, exposure may be increased for more mobile organs and slowed for less mobile organs . Exposure times of 3 to 6 msec reduce the blurring effect associated with movement, which is ideal for cardiac studies. Most modern x-ray generators can provide sufficient and precise power with automatically adjusted exposure timing. They are enabled with multiple phase and long versus short widths that are automatically adjusted for ideal exposure. The manual settings on modern x-ray generators (which are operator-selected) are available in film frame rates, such as 60, 30, or 15 frames per second. The purpose of the x-ray tube is to convert electrical energy provided by the generator into an x-ray beam. Electrons are emitted from a cathode (a heated filament) and are accelerated toward a rapidly rotating disc (the anode). Usually, the anode is made from high atomic target material (e.g., tungsten). When these electrons collide with their target, they undergo conversion to x-radiation. However, approximately 99% of the collisions simply result in the heating of the target. The heat capacity of x-ray tubes is a major limiting factor in their design. Approximately 0.2% to 0.6% of the electrical energy provided to the tube is eventually converted to x-rays. Therefore, in the x-ray tube, a thermal overload interrupt switch becomes a necessity . In addition to the exposure times (controlled by the generator system) and the size of the imaging field (controlled by the x-ray tube), there are two other factors of the x-ray that determine the quality of x-ray for proper image exposures: the electrical current and the level of kilovoltage. Modern radiographic equipment allows for variability of the amperage and voltage to attain optimal quality radiographic images. These modern machines are capable of automatically adjusting exposure times as well as current and voltage in order to produce the most optimal radiographic images . The electrical current is a measure (in milliamperes or mA) of the number of photons generated per unit of time. The greater the electrical current, the greater the number of photons, leading to an improved image resolution. If the photon volume is suboptimal, the resulting image may have a spotty appearance . It is important to recognize that increasing the milliamperage will improve image quality, but the level of milliamperage is limited by the heat capacity of the x-ray tubes. In addition, higher milliamperes significantly increase radiation exposure and scatter to patients and staff members involved in the procedure. The kilovoltage refers to the energy spectrum of the x-ray beam, which is a function of the beam's wavelength. The higher the kilovoltage, the shorter the wavelength of radiation and, therefore, the greater the ability of x-rays to penetrate target tissue. It is important to use increased kilovoltage in certain patients (e.g., those with high body mass) in order to increase penetrance and obtain better images. However, a high kilovolt level will yield a lower resolution because of the increased scatter. This also leads to greater radiation exposure to patients and radiology personnel. The x-ray tube is capable of producing x-rays, but it does not independently manage, manipulate, or modify the x-rays produced. The x-ray tube housing, a lead-lined structure, is capable of modifying the images. The housing includes the x-ray beam filter, the beam collimator, and the thermal switch. The beam collimator functions to limit the x-ray field size, while the thermal switch senses the degree of overheating of the x-ray tube and acts accordingly. The x-ray tube housing also serves as a barrier against x-rays. According to FDA regulation, the x-rays escaping the tube housing (termed "leakage x-rays") must result in a radiation exposure rate less than 0.1 roentgen per hour, measured 1 m from the x-ray source, when operated at its maximum voltage energy and maximum continuous tube current . The x-ray tube also contains x-ray beam filters, usually aluminum or copper metal filters, put in place to generate a cleaner and more effective beam. The filter eliminates lower energy rays, which do not contribute to the creation of the diagnostic image. When the refined, higher energy beams reach the patient, they are attenuated selectively by the tissues. Eventually, the x-rays exit the patient and interact with the image intensifier, initiating the process of image creation. The x-ray beam can never be wider than the image intensifier's diameter, and the purpose of the collimator is to fit the x-ray beam exiting the tube to the image intensifier. It is critical to position the image intensifier such that it intercepts the x-ray beam. Manufacturers place a cone that acts as a collimator at the x-ray tube to fulfill the beam-size criteria, but mishandling can compromise the beam-to-image intensifier alignment. The image intensifier assembly in a fluoroscopy unit contains an anti-scatter grid to reduce the number of scattered x-rays entering the fluoroscopy unit. It also includes a vacuum tube (consisting of photoabsorptive and electroemissive surfaces, electrostatic focusing electrodes, and an output phosphor), light-focusing lenses, diaphragm, and video signal pickup. In addition, image intensifiers have electronic shielding and a lead-lined enclosure, which serves as the primary x-ray barrier. The electrostatic focusing lenses are able to compress or expand the stream of electrons coming from the photocathode surface. This results in a reduction or magnification of the resultant image being captured. The output phosphor's purpose is to produce light photons. Other components of the imaging system include the x-ray control panel, the exposure activation switches (typically a "dead man"-type foot switch), and the image display and recording device. The image display and storage device is the final component of the diagnostic imaging process. The monitors must be of adequate resolution and brightness to clearly display the progress of the procedure. Usually, stored images can be easily projected for review and transfer to other storage devices. However, a finite number of images can be stored. When the storage capacity has been exceeded, the unit usually overwrites the oldest image in storage and then continues on from that point. When operating fluoroscopy units, there is a "last image hold" feature, which allows the last recorded position of the device to be visualized. Therefore, the fluoroscope operators do not need to maintain the x-ray beam "on" at all times to review progress in the procedure . The typical portable fluoroscope used today is versatile and mobile and occupies less space in confined quarters than fixed units. These units also allow one to store and archive images for scanning, reprinting, or illustrating details, such as where needle placements are located. Electronic images and reports are transmitted digitally in digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) format. Non-image data, such as scanned documents, may be incorporated as well. As discussed, a fluoroscopic system in which the image receptor and x-ray tube are mounted at the opposite ends of a C-shaped arm allows the x-ray tube and image receptor to be rotated at least 90° relative to the patient with no motion of the x-ray tube relative to the image receptor . Stationary C-arm fluoroscopic units, such as those found in a busy interventional suite, can come equipped with an 18-inch image intensifier, although a 15-inch intensifier is more common . Mobile C-arm units are equipped with wheels and a steering mechanism for transport to the procedure room or operatory. As discussed, increased voltage produces x-rays of higher energy that penetrate without attenuation, resulting in an image that is brighter but with less contrast between different tissues, reducing image detail. The clarity of small structures, or image detail, can be improved by lowering the voltage, reducing the distance between the patient and the image intensifier, and using collimation to limit the field of exposure to only those structures of interest. Fluoroscopic images have less sharpness at the periphery due to a falloff in brightness and spatial resolution, a phenomenon called vignetting. Placing the structure of interest in the center of the image will yield maximum image detail. "Pincushion distortion" also occurs toward the periphery of the image because the x-rays emanate from a spherical surface and are detected on a flat surface. This results in an effect much like a fisheye camera lens, with a splaying outward of objects toward the periphery of the image. This can lead to particular difficulties when attempting to advance a needle using a coaxial technique if the needle is toward the periphery of the image. Within the past several years, manufacturers have developed electronic flat-panel detectors to replace conventional image intensifiers. These employ a grid-like detector that eliminates both vignetting and pincushion distortion, providing optimum image quality from the center to the peripheral portions of each image. Flat-plane digital detectors are rapidly replacing traditional image intensifiers, because they are capable of dramatically reducing radiation while improving image quality . As mentioned, one of the major advantages of fluoroscopy is the ability to confirm needle placement in real time. This ability is significantly increased by the use of contrast media. To date, iodine is the only element that has been deemed satisfactory as an intravascular radiographic contrast medium. It is responsible for producing radiopacity; other portions of the medium act as carriers, improving solubility and reducing the toxicity of the medium as a whole. Organic carriers of iodine are likely to remain in widespread use for the foreseeable future . All of the currently used contrast media are based on the 2,4,6-tri-iodinated benzene ring, and these contrast media have a higher viscosity and greater osmolality compared with blood, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Today, there are four types of iodinated contrast being used: ionic monomers, non-ionic monomers, ionic dimers, and non-ionic dimers. Upon intravascular injection, the contrast is distributed relatively rapidly into the extravascular space. On average, about 90% of the contrast is eliminated from the kidneys within 12 hours after administration. Iodinated contrast does not enter into the intracellular space. Because iodine is the element responsible for the radiopacity property, the iodine concentration correlates with the degree of radiopacity. Currently, the non-ionic dimers offer increased radiopacity at low osmolar concentrations but are not in widespread clinical use and offer an equivocal clinical advantage. Osmolality depends on the number of particles of solute in solution, and in general, the ionic contrast agents tend to have higher osmolalities. Adverse reactions, particularly discomfort on injection, are reduced with the use of low-osmolar radiopaque contrast material. In modern fluoroscopic images, digital subtraction electronically enhances the image, significantly reducing the volume of contrast necessary to enhance the images. Ionic molecules dissociate into cation and anion in solution, but non-ionic molecules do not. Non-ionic molecules are used in procedures such as myelograms in which erroneous placement within the CSF is a possibility during the injection process . Contrast media most frequently used in interventional pain procedures, such as iohexol (Omnipaque), iopamidol (Isovue), and iodixanol (Visipaque), are considered low-osmolality contrast media, with osmolality only two to three times that of serum. In general, low-osmolality contrast agents have a much lower incidence (0.2%) of mild and moderate contrast reactions compared with high-osmolality contrast media (6% to 8%). The incidence of severe reactions is similar, but anaphylactoid reactions occur less frequently with low-osmolality contrast media . The most frequently used ionic monomers are diatrizoate (Urografin) and iothalamate (Conray). These monomers are still used for intravenous pyelography. The most common non-ionic monomers in clinical use include iodixanol, iohexol, iopamidol, and ioversol (Optiray). Iohexol and iopamidol are commonly used in interventional pain procedures and are labeled for intrathecal use. The non-ionic monomers are more stable in solution and less toxic than the ionic monomers . These agents provide a balance with the low risk of adverse reaction occurrences and adequate radiopacity for identifying intravascular and intrathecal placement. Patients with a history of cardiac disease, including prior cardiac arrest or chest pain, have been shown to have an increased incidence and severity of cardiovascular side effects following administration of contrast medium . Pulmonary angiogram and intracardiac coronary artery injections carry the greatest risk for cardiovascular side effects, including arrhythmias, tachycardia, hypotension, and congestive heart failure. Patients with type 2 diabetes receiving metformin may have an accumulation of the drug after administering iodinated radioactive contrast material, resulting in biguanide-related lactic acidosis with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and somnolence. Metformin-related lactic acidosis has been reported to be fatal in approximately 50% to 83% of these cases, but it is very rarely reported in patients with normal renal function . Therefore, in patients with normal renal function and no known comorbidities, there is no need to discontinue metformin before iodinated radiographic contrast use or to check creatinine levels following the imaging study. However, in patients with renal insufficiency, metformin should be discontinued the day of the study and withheld for 48 hours. Postprocedure creatinine level should be measured at 48 hours, with metformin resumed when kidney function is normal . Although there are no standard criteria for the diagnosis of contrast-induced nephropathy, diagnosis is usually made if any of the following scenarios occur within 48 hours after the administration of iodinated contrast: A more than 50% or 0.3 mg/dL increase in serum creatinine from baseline A decrease in the urine output to less than 0.5 mL/kg/hour for at least six hours The etiology of contrast-induced nephropathy remains unknown, but it has been reported to be related to tubular obstruction, tubular toxicity, and renal ischemia secondary to vasoconstriction . High doses of iodinated radiopaque contrast materials can impair renal function in certain patients for up to five days. However, serum creatinine levels will usually return to baseline in 10 to 14 days, and contrast-induced nephropathy occurs in less than 5% of patients with normal renal function. Up to 25% of patients with contrast-induced nephropathy will have persistent abnormalities in renal function . The clinical manifestations of contrast-induced nephropathy range from no clinical signs and symptoms to oliguria. It is the third most common cause of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients . There are several factors that put patients at increased risk for contrast-induced nephropathy, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, concurrent diuretic use, dehydration, older age, low hematocrit level, hypertension, ejection fraction less than 40%, and chronic kidney disease (i.e., creatinine clearance less than 60 mL/min). Of these, diabetes and pre-existing renal disease confer the greatest risk [12,14]. Less common risk factors include nephrotic syndrome, hyperuricemia, end-stage liver disease, renal transplant, renal tumor, multiple myeloma, and the administration of chemotherapy, aminoglycoside, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. There are also certain procedure-related factors that increase the risk for contrast-induced nephropathy. These include multiple contrast-enhanced studies performed in a short time, large contrast bolus infusion, increased contrast viscosity, high-osmolar contrast agents, and ionic contrast administration . Contrast-induced nephropathy remains a controversial topic, and a review of multiple meta-analyses reveals that there is no absolute creatinine level that necessitates prohibition of the use of the contrast media . The consensus remains that the threshold should be lowered in patients with diabetes. It is important to note that patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis can receive iodinated contrast media and then get dialysis with no significant adverse effects. Preferably, these patients should receive iso-osmolar or low-osmolar contrast agents . Prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy should be a priority. Hydration prior to contrast administration remains the primary method for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy . Preprocedural IV hydration with normal saline at 100 mL/hour beginning 12 hours before and continuing for 12 hours after the procedure has been shown to reduce the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy. The use of sodium bicarbonate has not been shown to definitely reduce the incidence [15,16]. The use of N-acetylcysteine in place of hydration is not recommended. One systematic review and meta-analysis determined that prophylaxis with N-acetylcysteine supplementation was more beneficial in patients with kidney dysfunction and high-contrast medium dose than in those with normal kidney function and low dose of contrast agent . Furosemide has been found to increase the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy [12,14]. Extravasation of a large volume of contrast material can occur if there is no monitoring with electrical skin impedance devices. Side effects of extravasation of iodinated radiographic contrast materials are primarily the result of hyperosmolality and include pain, edema, swelling, and cellulitis. These side effects may not be evident immediately, and it may take up to 48 hours for the inflammatory response to reach its peak. Compartment syndrome can occur secondary to mechanical compression as a result of tissue edema and cellulitis. Management of extravasation includes stopping the contrast injection immediately, elevating the affected extremity above the level of the heart, and notifying the responsible providers. Manual massage is recommended to promote drainage in cases of large-volume extravasation. If the patient remains symptomatic, a plastic surgery consultation is recommended. Occasionally, the patient may need to be admitted to the hospital for observation. Modern contrast agents have greatly reduced, but not completely eradicated, the risk of adverse reactions. In order to mitigate the risk of adverse events, radiopaque contrast material should be used in the lowest concentrations and smallest doses possible to allow adequate visualization. Contrast reactions fall into three general groups: anaphylactoid or idiosyncratic, non-anaphylactoid, and mixed. As noted, the risk of adverse reactions is significantly greater with the use of high-osmolar, ionic agents when compared with low-osmolar, non-ionic agents. Anaphylactoid reactions are the most serious type of reaction. They occur independent of dose and will occasionally lead to fatal outcomes. This type of reaction occurs relatively more frequently in patients with a history of asthma, allergies, previous reactions, or cardiovascular or renal disease, and in patients currently receiving beta blockers. The symptoms associated with anaphylactoid reactions can range from skin rash, nausea, and pruritus to severe reactions such as hypotension, bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, seizures, and life-threatening arrhythmias. The overall risk for severe reactions from low-osmolar contrast media is 0.03% . It is not possible to reliably predict or prevent anaphylactoid reactions. These reactions usually begin within five minutes of injection and can progress rapidly to life-threatening cardiovascular collapse and death unless swift action is taken . The severity of non-anaphylactoid reactions depends on qualities of the medium, including the concentration of iodine, whether or not the contrast injected is ionic, the level of osmolality, and the volume of contrast injected. In addition, intra-arterial route of administration is more likely to cause a reaction. Epinephrine is the drug of choice for the treatment of anaphylaxis; the usual adult starting dose is 0.01 mg/kg, with a maximum dose of 0.5 mg . Reactions are theorized to be caused by disturbances in homeostasis, specifically alterations in blood circulation. Symptoms typically include warmth, nausea, vomiting, a metallic taste, bradycardia, hypotension, and vasovagal reactions. Pretreatment with a corticosteroid, antihistamine, or both may be considered in patients with previous reactions or with significant risk factors. The most commonly affected systems are the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems . Non-anaphylactoid reactions to contrast media can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. When administering large volumes of IV contrast materials, the incidence of mild reactions is about 5% to 15%. These reactions include flushing, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, pain at the injection site, pruritus, and headaches. In general, mild reactions are self-limiting, requiring no specific treatment. Occasionally, an oral antihistamine may be administered to manage pruritus and anxiety . Moderate adverse reactions occur in 0.5% to 2% of those receiving IV contrast media and include more severe symptoms outlined for mild reactions as well as moderate hypotension and bronchospasm. Severe, life-threatening non-anaphylactoid reactions occur in less than 0.04% of those receiving IV contrast agents and include convulsions, unconsciousness, laryngeal edema, severe bronchospasm, pulmonary edema, severe cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiovascular collapse. Treatment of these reactions is urgent, necessitating the immediate availability of full resuscitation equipment and trained personnel who routinely respond to these events . Management of severe adverse reactions includes adhering to advanced cardiovascular life support guidelines, including airway management, oxygen administration, mechanical ventilation, external cardiac massage, and electrical cardiac defibrillation. Recognition of the factors that predispose patients to adverse reactions when receiving contrast materials is the most important step in prevention. As mentioned, the risk is increased in those with previous reaction to contrast agents, asthma, allergies/atopy, and advanced heart disease. Patients with an unstable arrhythmia, recent myocardial infarction, diabetic nephropathy, renal failure from other causes, anxiety, or hematologic or metabolic disorders (e.g., sickle cell anemia, pheochromocytoma) are also at risk . If there is any possibility that contrast agents could be injected into the subarachnoid space, a low-osmolar, non-ionic contrast agent should be used. There is no known premedication regimen that completely eliminates the risk of severe reactions to contrast agents. The most frequent medications used include corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone) and antihistamines. Some experts recommend the addition of H2-antagonists such as ranitidine . This approach has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of subsequent adverse reactions in those with a history of previous reaction to high-osmolar contrast agents. It remains unclear whether prophylactic treatment is necessary prior to the use of a low-osmolar, non-ionic contrast agents. Gadolinium chelates are IV contrast agents commonly used to enhance vascular structures during diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Gadolinium chelates are capable of attenuating x-rays and have been used successfully in place of iodinated contrast media for angiography and spinal injection procedures under fluoroscopy . Gadolinium-based contrast agents have also been successfully used as an alternative contrast in patients with known allergy to iodinated agents. However, the radiopacity of gadolinium is less than that of iodinated contrast agents, resulting in a less conspicuous appearance on fluoroscopic images. The application of digital subtraction techniques has been shown to improve visualization in these cases. Gadolinium-based contrast agents are less likely to cause adverse reactions compared with iodine-based agents. The frequency of any acute adverse events is approximately 1% to 2% of all injections containing 0.1–0.2 mmol/kg of gadolinium chelate. The majority of adverse events are mild, including coldness, warmth, or pain at the injection site; headache; nausea and vomiting; pruritus; paresthesias; and dizziness. Some reactions resemble an allergic-type reaction, including hives and bronchospasm. Severe anaphylactic reactions are extremely rare, accounting for 0.001% of all adverse reactions to gadolinium; fatal reactions are even more rare. Gadolinium-based agents are not nephrotoxic at approved doses for MRI. However, there is a risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with severe renal dysfunction, and these agents should be used with caution in this group. Some extracellular MRI agents have been known to interfere with serum chemistry. For example, pseudohypocalcemia has been noted up to 24 hours after MRI with gadolinium-based contrast administration. Other electrolytes may also be affected, including magnesium and iron. In general, all electrolyte measurements are more reliable when performed 24 hours after exposure to gadolinium. The use of gadolinium-based contrast agents has been linked to the subsequent development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with pre-existing renal disease, but the risk is low given the small doses being administered . Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a fibrosing disease affecting the skin and subcutaneous tissues, heart, lungs, esophagus, and skeletal muscle. The signs and symptoms tend to develop and progress rapidly. Some patients develop contractures and immobility within a few days after exposure to gadolinium-based contrast. In some patients, visceral organ involvement may lead to death. The average onset varies between two days and three months. Overall, about 4% of patients with severe kidney problems will develop nephrogenic systemic fibrosis . The major drawback of fluoroscopy is exposure to ionizing radiation. It is the responsibility of each operator to use fluoroscopy cautiously to ensure that the benefits outweigh its potential risks. In order to be proficient at making this distinction, clinicians should understand the biologic effects of ionizing radiation. A well-rounded radiation management program is not only concerned with minimizing exposure to the patient but also to the interventional radiology team. It also focuses on providing appropriate meticulous preprocedural and postprocedural patient care . The daily use of fluoroscopy requires a skilled technician to assist in proper device function and appropriate patient positioning. Routine maintenance is required for the fluoroscope in order to ensure safe delivery of appropriate and intended radiation doses. As fluoroscopy becomes more indispensable as an interventional imaging tool, there are increased concerns about radiation safety for patients and radiology professionals. Modern fluoroscopic equipment and newer techniques have significantly contributed to lower dose rates. However, fluoroscopy procedures are still responsible for the greatest radiation exposures in radiology. There are continuous efforts to explore methods to further reduce the rates of radiation exposure. Fluoroscopy has several other disadvantages. Acquisition and maintenance costs are a barrier for physicians in private practice. The cost of the device may take several years to be recuperated. The actual cost of storage space is another disadvantage, as the unit requires a large amount of square footage compared to other imaging modalities, such as ultrasound. Fluoroscopy is commonly used in gastrointestinal imaging, interventional radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, and genitourinary radiology. Outside of radiology, fluoroscopy is used in urology, surgery, interventional pain, cardiology, and orthopedics, among other disciplines. Although it is becoming rarer, fluoroscopy is still used to evaluate the pharynx and esophagus relatively frequently. Specifically, a modified barium swallow is used to evaluate swallowing ability. The modified barium swallow is usually performed in conjunction with a speech pathologist who guides the patient as they swallow different textures and liquid consistencies. The following section will review some common studies performed using fluoroscopy in the field of diagnostic radiology. In the case of an air-contrast esophagram, the images are obtained in the upright and in slightly left anterior obliquity. An effervescent agent is first administered, followed by a thick barium suspension. The barium coats the mucosal surface, whereas the gas from the effervescent agent distends the lumen. This provides fine mucosal detail and is most useful for the evaluation of small, plaque-like mucosal tumors and mucosal irregularities of esophagitis. If a patient is unable to undergo the air-contrast portion of the thoracic esophagogram, prone full-column imaging may be obtained in two orthogonal planes as an alternative . Air-contrast images of the pharynx are not always necessary, because this region is amenable to endoscopic inspection. However, in some cases, such as with tumors that arise in the hypopharynx, air-contrast images are useful. After the administration of a thick barium suspension, phonation and a modified Valsalva maneuver are used to distend the pharynx . A modified barium swallow evaluates the coordination of the swallow reflex and is most often used to determine the cause and severity of aspiration into the trachea. The speech pathologist, using appropriate radiation safety precautions, administers barium suspensions of varying thickness (e.g., thin liquid, thick liquid, nectar, paste, solid) while the radiologist observes fluoroscopically in the lateral projection. The entire examination is recorded and can be reviewed at a later time. The various barium suspensions are intended to mimic different food consistencies and provide a more complete assessment of aspiration risk. If tracheal aspiration or laryngeal penetration is identified with the head in a neutral position, the speech pathologist may direct the patient to perform certain maneuvers in order to protect the airway, including chin tuck, neck turn, and a forced cough after swallowing. The examination can be supplemented with images in the frontal projection to evaluate symmetry of the piriform sinuses. Functional endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with or without sensory testing has been proposed as an alternative to the modified barium swallow. However, the modified swallow provides a more appropriate physiologic environment, because the endoscope is not present to interfere with motility. Additionally, protective maneuvers cannot be used during an endoscopic swallowing evaluation. Finally, the modified barium swallow evaluates the upper phases of swallowing in greater detail than an endoscopic evaluation. Most clinicians consider endoscopic swallowing evaluation and the modified barium study as complementary but not interchangeable . Occasionally, there may be brief contrast penetration into the larynx, which may or may not clear rapidly. If the laryngeal penetration clears rapidly and without cough, the patient is not considered at risk for tracheal aspiration. However, if there is penetration and pooling of contrast in the valleculae or in the piriform sinuses, the patient is at risk for aspiration, especially if the peristaltic wave does not clear this contrast . Both cineradiography, which produces high-resolution images obtained at a low frame rate, and video capture, which produces low-resolution images obtained at a high frame rate, are useful in performing esophagrams and modified barium studies. Cineradiography offers better mucosal detail, while video capture provides an evaluation of function with less radiation. The barium suspension is the best fluoroscopic contrast agent available, but its use is contraindicated in some patients. Perforation of the pharynx or esophagus is a risk factor for barium extravasation into the soft tissues of the neck or chest. Extravasated barium may incite an extensive inflammatory reaction or may become inspissated over time and fail to resorb . Water-soluble contrast agents, such as those used for IV contrast CT, may be used as an alternative. Unfortunately, water-soluble agents are not as dense as barium agents, so they are less sensitive to small leaks. If no leak is detected after the administration of a water-soluble agent, the examination should be repeated with barium. Ionic contrast agents have another disadvantage; if they are aspirated into the lungs, they may cause chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema. Non-ionic water-soluble agents are presumed to be safer and thus should be used if there is a preprocedural risk of aspiration or if there is a tracheoesophageal fistula present. Oil-based contrast agents for the evaluation of the larynx and pharynx are no longer being used in clinical practice . TIPS is an interventional radiology procedure indicated for patients with portal hypertension, typically as a result of end-stage cirrhosis. The interventional radiologist creates a shunt as a means to decompress the overloaded portal system. A stent is placed between the intrahepatic portion of the portal vein and the hepatic vein using angiographically guided endovascular techniques . Paracentesis may be necessary prior to the procedure if the patient has large-volume ascites. The TIPS stent can become narrowed over time due to hyperplasia of the endovascular intima secondary to turbulent flow from two separate venous systems. Bare metal stents have been associated with greater intimal hyperplasia than covered endograft stents, which are less likely to become occluded . Percutaneous transcatheter embolization procedures are usually performed using fluoroscopy. Patients are generally placed under moderate sedation with concordant administration of analgesics. The Seldinger technique is used to advance a catheter via an entry site into the arterial system (usually the femoral artery) to the target tissue (e.g., uterus, kidneys, spleen). After selective catheterization, a diagnostic angiogram is performed to evaluate the organ. The interventional radiologist then focuses on assessing for extravasation, narrowing, and/or abnormal vascularity and subsequently performs the appropriate intervention. For example, when treating patients with uterine fibroids, transcatheter embolization is performed targeting the arteries feeding the fibroids. Embolization agents are tiny particles or microspheres, coils, gel foam, or glue used to occlude the arteries of interest. In general, patients receive a dose of prophylactic antibiotics prior to initiating the procedure . Over the past several years, the use of fluoroscopy has allowed interventional pain physicians to perform injections with precision guidance . In interventional pain procedures, the ability to clearly visualize critical structures or unwanted intrathecal spread of the injectate is a major reason to perform fluoroscopically guided procedures. The two most common indications for an endomyocardial biopsy are to evaluate for cardiac transplant rejection or for cardiotoxicity from anthracycline. Other possible indications include cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. Major contraindications to endomyocardial biopsy are anticoagulation therapy and anatomic abnormality making it unsafe to place the bioptome. Complications occur more frequently in patients with cardiomyopathy than those with heart transplant and may include arrhythmias and perforation. Cardiac catheterization is a commonly employed revascularization technique after a myocardial infarction. Other uses of fluoroscopic techniques in the field of interventional cardiology include trans-septal cardiac catheterization to evaluate aortic or mitral stenosis or prosthetic valve dysfunction. Left heart catheterization is indicated for conditions that require a direct measurement of pressure (e.g., pulmonary venous disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) and conditions that necessitate access for mitral balloon catheter valvuloplasty and/or the deployment of atrial septal defect closure devices. Contraindications to trans-septal cardiac catheterization include left or right atrial thrombus, atrial myxoma, low platelet counts, current anticoagulation therapy, or hemostatic dysfunction. Patients with an inferior vena cava mass or obstruction are also contraindicated from undergoing endovascular catheterization. Trans-septal left heart catheterization should be considered carefully in patients with distorted cardiac anatomy as a result of congenital heart disease, marked atrial enlargement, or a severely dilated aortic root. Possible serious complications of this procedure include perforation of the coronary sinus, the aortic root, or the posterior free wall of the atrium. Pericardiocentesis is performed to aid in the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic pericardial effusions; it can be a life-saving procedure in cases of cardiac tamponade. A significant degree of skill is necessary in order to perform this procedure safely and to avoid damage to the pericardium and the heart. Pericardiocentesis is performed from a subxiphoid approach into the pericardial space. In general, an echocardiogram is performed prior to pericardiocentesis to confirm the presence and amount of pericardial fluid. However, in acute situations when tamponade is suspected or known, an echocardiogram may cause unnecessary delay. Intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation, first introduced in 1967, consists of a balloon pump positioned in the descending aorta to improve hemodynamics (i.e., the balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand). It is used for temporary mechanical support of patients in a variety of clinical settings, including the cardiac catheterization suite, the intensive care unit, and the operating room. The balloon pump works by inflating during diastole to increase coronary blood flow and deflating at the end of diastole to decrease myocardial oxygen consumption and increase cardiac output. Common indications for intra-aortic balloon pumps include hypotension unresponsive to volume loading or intravenous pressor agents, refractory angina, acute myocardial infarction with or without cardiogenic shock, weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, bridge to cardiac transplantation, and right ventricle failure. Contraindications include severe peripheral vascular disease, severe aortic incompetence, active bleeding, thrombocytopenia, and acute stroke. Potential complications of intra-aortic balloon pump placement include perforation of the superficial femoral artery, forceful arterial dissection due to advancement of the guidewire, hemorrhage, and thrombus formation . Fluoroscopy plays an important role in the evaluation of joint motion and is often used by orthopedic surgeons to monitor placement of hardware. It may also be of assistance in positioning patients for unusual or difficult conventional radiographic views. In some cases, fluoroscopy may be indicated to help guide injections. Certain joints, such as the hip, are difficult to evaluate and inject blindly, so intra-articular hip injection is typically performed under fluoroscopy in order to minimize extra-articular injections and associated risks. In cases of fluoroscopy-guided injections, fluoroscopy is used to verify proper injection site at the superior lateral aspect of the femoral neck. The needle should pass through the joint capsule until bone is encountered. A small amount of contrast could be injected under fluoroscopy to verify placement into the joint space. After the position is confirmed, the medication is injected and the needle is withdrawn . Intraoperative cholangiography is usually performed during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, after the identification and dissection of the common bile duct. Cholangiography is usually performed under fluoroscopy and is used to determine if there is a stone in the common bile duct. Although CT and MRI have become more common choices, conventional radiography and fluoroscopy remain useful for preoperative and postoperative evaluation of various urologic conditions. Conventional radiographic studies (including fluoroscopy) used in urology include abdominal plain radiography, intravenous excretory urography, retrograde pyelography, loopography, retrograde urethrography, and cystography. Although IV urography was once the standard in urologic imaging, it has essentially been replaced by CT and MRI. With the ability of new scanners to perform axial, sagittal, and coronal reconstruction of the upper urinary tract system, essentially all of the data and information obtained by traditional IV urography can be realized with CT imaging. In addition, some parenchymal defects, cysts, and tumors can be better delineated with CT than with IV urography. IV urography may be indicated to assess the renal collecting systems and ureters, including investigation of the level of ureteral obstruction and demonstration of intraoperative opacification of the collecting system during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. It may also be used to demonstrate renal function during emergent evaluation of unstable patients. Finally, it can demonstrate renal and ureteral anatomy after interventions such as transureteroureterostomy and urinary diversion. Percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) provides a less invasive means to drain the renal collecting system in cases where obstruction of the kidney and ureter has resulted in hydronephrosis. Most often used for patients with kidney stones or bladder or pelvic tumor obstructions, PCN may be used to divert urine from the renal collecting system to allow leaks and fistulas to heal. The procedure is often performed after attempts at placing a ureteral stent through retrograde cystoscopy have proven unsuccessful. Providing drainage for that kidney is an urgent necessity, and PCN provides an exact method of accomplishing this task. The approach is extremely important for PCN, and the procedure is performed under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. In some cases, a small amount of intravenous iodinated contrast is administered at the start of the procedure to opacify the collecting system. The patient is placed in the prone position with both arms above his or her head or one arm up and the other at the noninvolved side. The entry site is prepped and draped and infiltrated with local anesthetic. A small puncture is made with a scalpel, and a posterior lateral approach is made with a needle and directed toward a lower calyx of the kidney. If the tip of the needle has entered a dilated part of the collecting system, urine will flow back from the needle when the stylet is removed. A specimen should be collected and sent to the laboratory for microscopic and bacterial studies. Obviously, infected urine will be cloudy and turbid. Hemorrhage is the major risk of PCN, but the risk can be reduced substantially with use of a very small needle. Nephrostomies are performed frequently in interventional radiology departments and are a major part of the treatment for patients with malignant obstructions, renal stones, and other kidney problems. Retrograde pyelograms are performed to visualize the ureters and intrarenal collecting system by the retrograde injection of contrast media. Any contrast media that can be used for excretory urography is also acceptable for retrograde pyelography. It is important that measures are taken to attempt to sterilize the urine before retrograde pyelography, because there is a risk of introducing bacteria into the upper urinary tract or the bloodstream. Although many studies are able to document the presence or absence of dilation of the ureter, retrograde pyelography has the unique ability to document the patency of the ureter distal to the level of obstruction and to help better define the extent of the ureteral abnormality. Retrograde pyelograms are usually performed with the patient in the dorsal lithotomy position. An abdominal plain radiograph (i.e., scout film) is obtained to ensure that the patient is in the appropriate position to evaluate the entire ureter and intrarenal collecting system. Next, the ureteral orifice is identified via cystoscopy, and contrast may be injected through either a non-obstructing or obstructing catheter. Non-obstructing catheters include whistle tip, spiral tip, or open-ended catheters. These catheters allow passage of the device into the ureter and up to the collecting system, over a guidewire if necessary. Contrast can then be introduced directly into the upper collecting system and the ureters visualized as the catheter is withdrawn. Obstructing ureteral catheters include bulb-tip, cone-tip, and wedge-tip catheters. These catheters are inserted into the ureteral orifice and then pulled back to effectively obstruct the ureter. Contrast is then injected to visualize the ureter and intrarenal collecting system. Depending on the indication for the study, it may be useful to dilute the contrast material with sterile fluid. This prevents subtle filling defects in the collecting system or ureter from being obscured. Care should be taken to evacuate air bubbles from the syringe and catheter before injection, as such artifacts could be mistaken for stones or tumors. Historically, when a retrograde pyelogram consisted of a series of radiographs taken at intervals, it was important to document various stages of filling and emptying of the ureter and collecting systems. Because of peristalsis, viewing the entire ureter is often not possible with a single static exposure or view. With modern equipment, including tables incorporating fluoroscopy, it is possible to evaluate the ureter during peristalsis in real time, thus reducing the need for static-image documentation. Occasionally, still images may be saved for future comparison. In general, however, urologists interpret retrograde pyelograms in real time as they are performed. Indications for retrograde pyelogram include the evaluation of congenital ureteral obstruction, evaluation of acquired ureteral obstruction, elucidation of filling defects and deformities of the ureters or intrarenal collecting systems, opacification or distention of the collecting system to facilitate percutaneous access (in conjunction with ureteroscopy or stent placement), evaluation of hematuria, surveillance of transitional cell carcinoma, and evaluation of traumatic or iatrogenic injury to the ureter or collecting system. Retrograde pyelography may be difficult in cases in which there is diffuse inflammation or neoplastic changes of the bladder, especially when bleeding is present. In these cases, identification of the ureteral orifices may be facilitated by the IV injection of indigotindisulfonate sodium (indigo carmine) or methylene blue. Changes associated with bladder outlet obstruction may result in angulation of the intramural ureters, which may make cannulation with an obstructing catheter difficult. Attempts to cannulate may result in trauma to the ureteral orifice and extravasation of contrast material into the bladder wall. The potential for damage to the intramural ureter should be weighed against the potential information obtained by the retrograde pyelogram. Loopography is a diagnostic procedure performed in patients who have undergone urinary diversion. Historically, the term loopogram has been associated with ileal conduit diversion, but it may also be used in reference to any bowel segment serving as a urinary conduit. Because an ileal conduit urinary diversion usually has freely refluxing uretero-intestinal anastomoses, the ureters and upper collecting systems may be visualized. In other forms of diversion, the uretero-intestinal anastomoses may be purposely non-refluxing . The patient is positioned supine and an abdominal plain radiograph is obtained before introduction of contrast material. A commonly employed technique is to insert a small-gauge catheter into the stoma of the loop, advancing it just proximal to the abdominal wall fascia. The balloon on such a catheter can then be inflated to 5–10 mL with sterile water. By gently introducing contrast through the catheter, the loop can be distended, usually producing bilateral reflux into the upper tracts. Oblique films should be obtained in order to evaluate the entire length of the loop. Because of the angle at which many loops are constructed, a traditional anteroposterior view will often show a foreshortened loop and could miss a substantial pathology. A drain film should also be obtained, as this may demonstrate whether there is obstruction of the conduit . Indications for a loopogram include evaluation of infection, hematuria, renal insufficiency, or pain after urinary diversion. It can be used for surveillance of upper urinary tract obstruction or urothelial neoplasia, or it may be used to evaluate the integrity of the intestinal segment or reservoir . A retrograde urethrogram is a study performed to evaluate the anterior and posterior urethra, usually in male patients. It may be particularly beneficial in demonstrating the total length of a urethral stricture that cannot be negotiated by cystoscopy and the anatomy of the urethra distal to a stricture that may not be assessable by voiding cystourethrography. This procedure is performed in the radiology department or in the operating room before performing visual internal urethrotomy or formal urethroplasty . A plain film radiograph is obtained before injection of contrast, and the patient is usually positioned slightly obliquely to allow evaluation of the full length of urethra, with the penis placed on slight tension. A small catheter may be inserted into the fossa navicularis with the balloon inflated to 2 mL with sterile water. Contrast is then introduced via a catheter-tipped syringe. Alternatively, a penile clamp may be used to occlude the urethra around the catheter. Indications for a retrograde urethrogram include evaluation of urethral stricture disease (including location and length of a stricture), assessment for foreign bodies, evaluation of penile or urethral penetrating trauma, and evaluation of traumatic gross hematuria . A voiding cystourethrogram is performed to evaluate the anatomy and physiology of the bladder and urethra. The study provides valuable information regarding the posterior urethra in pediatric patients and has long been used to demonstrate vesicoureteral reflux. Voiding cystourethrogram may be performed with the patient supine or in a semi-upright position using a table capable of bringing the patient into the full upright position. A preliminary plain pelvic radiograph is obtained. In children, a tube (8 French or smaller) is used to fill the bladder to the appropriate volume, as determined by the radiologist's needs and patient comfort. In the adult population, a standard catheter may be placed and the bladder filled to 200–400 mL. The catheter is then removed and a film is obtained. During voiding, anteroposterior and oblique films are obtained. The bladder neck and urethra may be evaluated by fluoroscopy during voiding. Bilateral oblique views may demonstrate low-grade reflux, which is not able to be appreciated on the anteroposterior film. In addition, oblique films will demonstrate bladder or urethral diverticula, which are not always visible in the straight anteroposterior projection. Post-voiding films should also be performed . Indications for a voiding cystourethrogram include evaluation of the urethra, possible reflux, and structural and functional bladder outlet obstruction. There are certain limitations with a voiding cystourethrogram. Using a catheter may be traumatic in children and difficult in some patients with anatomic abnormalities of the urethra or bladder neck. Filling of the bladder may stimulate bladder spasms at low volumes, and some patients may be unable to hold adequate volumes for investigation. Bladder filling in patients with spinal cord injuries higher than T6 may precipitate autonomic dysreflexia . The use of unenhanced CT imaging is now the standard diagnostic tool to evaluate renal colic. It offers the advantage over IV urography of avoiding contrast and enabling diagnosis of other abdominal abnormalities that can cause pain. Multi-dose CT scan can readily diagnose radiolucent stones, which may not be seen on IV urography, as well as small stones, even in the distal ureter. With the exception of some indinavir stones, almost all renal and ureteral stones can be detected on helical CT scan. In the detection of urolithiasis, unenhanced CT has a sensitivity ranging between 96% and 100% and specificity ranging between 92% and 100% . Stones in the distal ureter can be difficult to differentiate from pelvic calcifications. In these cases, the urologist will look for other signs of obstruction indicating the presence of a stone, including ureteral dilation, inflammatory changes in the perinephric fat, hydronephrosis, and a soft tissue rim surrounding the calcification within the ureter. The soft tissue rim around a stone represents irritation and edema in the ureteral wall . The biologic effects of ionizing radiation are directly proportional to the time of radiation exposure, and radiation exposure is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the radiation source. This implies that the greater the distance between the radiation source and a person, the lower the exposure. Biologic tissues interact with radiation in different ways, and the type of radiation affects the reaction. Generally, radiation is categorized as ionizing or non-ionizing. Both types of radiation can cause injury to human tissue, but ionizing radiation has more energy and more potential to cause damage. Ionizing radiation can directly cause damage to human cells by inciting chemical reactions and altering molecules within the cell structure, including proteins and other macromolecules that comprise deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) . Ionizing radiation is further categorized as directly or indirectly ionizing. Electromagnetic radiation (e.g., gamma photons) is indirectly ionizing. This means that the photons give up their energy in various interactions, which produces a charged particle that reacts with a target molecule within biologic tissue. On the other hand, charged particles (e.g., alpha and beta particles) react directly with biologic tissue . In general, indirectly ionizing radiation tends to be more damaging to tissues than directly ionizing radiation. Radiation is ubiquitous and can be naturally occurring or man-made. Potential sources include the sun, naturally occurring radioactive decay, nuclear reactors, tobacco cigarettes, and phosphate-based fertilizer. In the United States, the greatest average annual radiation dose is from radon and thoron (the result of the natural decay of elements) . This is followed by CT, nuclear medicine, and interventional fluoroscopy. Ultimately, the concern with radiation exposure (and ionizing radiation in particular) is its potential to induce changes that may increase the risk of cancer. There is also a risk that the changes may cause genetic mutations or possibly birth defects. Examples of ionizing radiation include x-rays, gamma rays, and other rays at the higher ultraviolet (UV) end of the electromagnetic spectrum. Examples of non-ionizing radiation include radio waves and sun (UV-A and UV-B) exposure. One important attribute of ionizing radiation is its ability to penetrate structures in the body. Some ionizing particles (e.g., alpha particles) have a very limited range and are incapable of penetrating the skin. In these cases, all clinically significant hazardous health exposures are from an exposure caused by ingestion, inhalation, or injection. Beta particles, on the other hand, have an intermediate range of penetration and can be stopped by a thin object or substance (e.g., sheet of paper). Gamma rays or x-rays have a very high range of penetration and must be stopped by very dense materials (e.g., lead) . With the growth of interventional radiology, fluoroscopy and other imaging technologies have proven to be invaluable. The guidance and visibility they provide make many interventional treatments possible. However, fluoroscopy inherently carries some risk from radiation exposure. In today's era of medicine, an estimated 48% of the radiation the average American is exposed to originates from medical procedures . A challenge in any discussion of radiation exposure is the fact that the medical literature is inconsistent in its use of units. Fortunately, for the purposes of the clinician using fluoroscopy, many of these units can often be considered equivalent. Different types of radiation cause varying biologic effects despite having comparable absorbed doses. In order to predict the biologic effects from different types of radiation, the rad unit (defined as the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation) is converted to roentgen equivalent man (rem) or Sv in the International System of Units. This conversion is accomplished by multiplying either rad or Gy by a quality factor unique to the type of radiation. For example, the quality factor for x-ray radiation is 1, while it is 20 for an alpha particle or fast neutron radiation. Given that the quality factor for x-ray radiation is 1, it allows exposure, dose, and dose equivalent to be considered equal despite their different meanings and uses (i.e., 1 roentgen [R] ≈ 1 rad ≈ 1 rem) . As noted, damage to the body from radiation occurs from direct cellular damage and/or indirect damage from the creation of reactive oxygen species. Direct cellular damage is most likely to occur in cells that are in the G1 or M phases of the cell cycle. During the M stage, DNA is packed tightly into chromosomes, and there is an increased risk of a lethal double-strand DNA break. The repair process is usually completed in one to two hours, so an increase in time between radiation doses causes an increase in cell survival. Indirect cellular damage is the result of hydrolysis of water, resulting in production of reactive oxygen species. Two-thirds of radiation-induced DNA damage is attributable to hydroxyl radicals. A reactive oxygen species may combine with protein, resulting in the loss of important enzymatic activity in the cell. Antioxidants that can scavenge free radicals are therefore important in minimizing this type of damage. The x-rays produced during fluoroscopy are a form of ionizing radiation with a great potential to result in significant biologic effects. Small doses of ionizing radiation may incite changes at a molecular level that can take years to manifest in the form of cancerous transformation. Exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation is generally considered to be inconsequential, because biologic cells have normal cellular mechanisms to repair damage to DNA. However, it is important to remember that individuals react to radiation exposure in different ways to produce varying deterministic effects or different degrees of effects. Biologic variation can be idiopathic or may be affected by different patient factors, including the state of disease and prior exposures . It is well-established that radiation-induced DNA damage increases with dose. However, we now know that cells do not passively take insults from radiation sources. Cells have three known techniques for addressing radiation injury: repairing DNA, attacking reactive oxygen species, and eliminating mutated or unstable cells. Responses to low doses of radiation cannot be accurately predicted based on the observed reaction at high doses. There are several reasons for this unpredictability. First, biologic tissue exposed to low doses of penetrating radiation will unevenly absorb energy. Additionally, the stochastic effects particles generated along their paths (e.g., ionizations, excitations, creation of reactive oxygen species) also have unpredictable results. Biologic tissue contains numerous macromolecules that will likely influence the type of cellular response generated by radiation exposure. DNA damage in the form of double strand breaks caused by endogenous reactive oxygen species occurs up to three times more frequently than damage from exposure to natural background radiation. Macromolecules include endogenous antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase) and antioxidants gained through diet. The oxidative stress reactions induced by radiation are responsible for initiating the enzyme system to recreate homeostasis within the microenvironment and for activating multiple signaling pathways. In addition to activation of macromolecules, numerous genes are activated or inhibited after exposure to radiation. This occurs at doses much lower than those that incite mutagenesis. Previously, double sequence breaks in DNA and cellular damage were believed to be inseparably linked, but there are multiple studies showing non-DNA-related effects and coordinated tissue responses from cells not directly exposed to radiation, termed bystander effects . These bystander effects may either cause damage to DNA or may initiate adaptive protective responses in cells that have not been irradiated. After exposure to low doses of radiation, more cells are activated bystanders than are directly irradiated. This raises the concern that there are increased late effects from DNA damage. The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements has published estimates of the maximum permissible doses of annual radiation to various organs and tissues . Exposure below these levels is less likely to cause any significant deleterious effects, but the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends that individuals should not receive more than 10% of the maximum permissible dose . The annual maximum permissible dose for the thyroid gland, the extremities, and the gonads is 500 mSv (50 rem). The maximum permissible dose for the eye lens is 150 mSv (15 rem). The maximum permissible dose for pregnant women is 5 mSv (0.5 rem) to the fetus . Skin injuries were reported in patients as a direct result of complex fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures as early as the 1980s. The rise in reporting these adverse events resulted in FDA action in 1994 and in U.S. federal regulations limiting the x-ray tube output of interventional fluoroscopic equipment. The minimum dose for acute skin erythema to occur is approximately 2 Gy, while for delayed deep skin ulcers it is about 12–15 Gy. The risk for deterministic injury rises if multiple subsequent procedures are performed at the same anatomic region (e.g., multiple Y-90 embolization procedures in the liver, TIPS placement and eventual revision). As noted, there are multiple risk factors for skin injury secondary to radiation exposure, including connective tissue diseases, obesity, and diabetes. Minimizing the risk of the deterministic effects of radiation should be a major focus of any radiation safety initiatives . The damaging effects of radiation can be divided into two basic categories: stochastic and deterministic. Deterministic effects are detrimental health effects caused by radiation, the severity of which varies with the dose and level of exposure. When the threshold is crossed, an individual may begin to experience effects with increasing severity as the dose grows. Examples of deterministic effects of radiation exposure include hair loss, cataracts, bone marrow depression, spontaneous miscarriage, congenital defects, and fetal growth restriction . The incidence of deterministic injuries is between 1 in every 10,000 to 100,000 radiologic procedures . Apart from cataracts, all of the deterministic effects of radiation are linked to apoptosis (cell death). The rate of apoptosis varies in each living cell, and cells that are actively dividing are the most sensitive to radiation effects. Cells that have already undergone mitosis are not as sensitive to radiation effects. There are multiple factors that affect whether deterministic effects occur after radiation exposure and the extent of the effects, including the dose received, the volume of tissue irradiated, the quality or the type of exposure, and the time over which the dose was received. Different types of cells have different sensitivities (threshold levels) to radiation and a different time course for the presentation of effects. Radiologic effects that present initially may be secondary to effects on parenchymal cells, while later clinical signs may be due to damage to vascular cells. The incidence of deterministic effect-related injuries increases with increased body mass, the complexity of the procedure, the radiation history of the patient, the presence of other diseases (e.g., pre-existent cancer), and other conditions. The National Cancer Institute has created a grading system for radiation dermatitis (Table 1) . A single-site acute skin dose between 0–2 Gy will usually cause no observable effects. A dose between 2–5 Gy will produce transient erythema within two weeks. There will be some hair loss within 8 weeks, with recovery of hair lost within 52 weeks with no expected long-term effects. With slightly higher doses (5–10 Gy), some erythema and permanent partial hair loss may be observed after 56 weeks. Long term, patients exposed to 5–10 Gy may notice permanent dermal atrophy and/or skin induration. NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE GRADING SYSTEM FOR RADIATION DERMATITISa Grade | Characteristics | ||| 1 | Faint erythema or dry desquamation | ||| 5 | Death | ||| aRadiation dermatitis is defined as a finding of cutaneous inflammatory reaction occurring as a result of exposure to biologically effective levels of ionizing radiation. | A radiation dose between 10–15 Gy will cause transient erythema within two weeks. Within eight weeks, one may note erythema, hair loss, and desquamation. After eight weeks, prolonged erythema and permanent desquamation are often noted. Long term (≥40 weeks), telangiectasia, dermal atrophy, and induration may be present. A radiation dose greater than 15 Gy will almost certainly cause transient erythema. At these high doses, acute ulceration and edema may develop. Up to eight weeks post-injury, erythema, hair loss, and moist desquamation may be present. After 8 weeks and up to 52 weeks, dermal atrophy accompanied by ulceration (due to the failure of moist desquamation to heal) is likely. Finally, dermal necrosis may make the need for a surgical intervention inevitable. The Joint Commission identifies prolonged fluoroscopy with a peak skin dose greater than 15 Gy to a single field over a period of six months as a sentinel event . However, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine has requested that the definition of this sentinel event be modified, because they challenge the Joint Commission implication that the radiation dose is always unexpected and preventable . In some cases, a life-saving measure may require radiation doses that exceed the 15-Gy threshold. In addition, this level could be attained if a patient has had prior procedures requiring radiation to be delivered to the same area. Stochastic effects are the effects of radiation to which no clear relationship exists between the magnitude of the dose and the severity of the injury. Examples include genetic mutation and induction of cancer. All estimations of the incidence of stochastic effects have been based on a no-threshold linear model assumption from the effects secondary to the atomic bomb detonations during World War II. These assumptions are not universally accepted, and because of this uncertainty, the current resolution is that stochastic effects have no threshold dose. Therefore, no radiation dose can be considered absolutely safe. In order to minimize risk and damage, it is imperative that fluoroscopically guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedures be performed under the safest conditions possible . Although independent of dose, the risk of stochastic effects increases with the total amount of radiation applied to the patient. The most concerning stochastic injury is the induction of malignancy, but the chance of an invasive radiologic procedure inducing malignancy is less than the natural occurrence of malignancy. The probability of a fatal cancer in adults assuming an effective dose of 100 mS and an average lifespan is about 0.5%, compared with the 16.5% probability of a non-radiation-induced malignancy being diagnosed in the next 10 years in a man 60 years of age . Procedures performed in children tend to be less complex, requiring less radiation. However, their relatively smaller body mass puts children at risk for experiencing a higher dose impact if proper collimation technique is not used. When treating pediatric patients and young adults, it is critical to consider the stochastic effects of radiation, especially when radiosensitive organs (e.g., thyroid, gonadal tissues, breasts) are involved. The longer potential lifespan of this group and their increased susceptibility to radiation-induced injuries are considerations. In newborns, the risk for radiation-induced injuries is three times that of adults . Adolescents may have adult-sized bodies, but they still have a greater risk of radiation toxicity. Some fluoroscopic equipment allows for monitoring of peak skin dose while performing the procedure. However, this tool is fraught with faults and limitations, including backscatter (which can increase skin effects by up to 40%) and failure to consider patient size and position relative to the beam . A perfect method for skin dose measurement is not yet available for clinical use, but a real-time dose mapping method using the anatomy of the patient would be the ideal solution . The ability to measure the skin dose will help predict the location and risk of skin injury and hair loss after radiologic procedures. In the case of CT-guided procedures, the initial localizing scan is the greatest contributor to the effective dose, because it is distributed over a large area. Subsequent scans obtained during guidance of the needle, catheter, or probe are the greatest contributors to the peak skin dose, because these scans are repeatedly performed in approximately the same location. Therefore, subsequent scans are usually performed at dose settings 5 to 15 times less than the peak skin dose related to a typical diagnostic scan . The likelihood of deterministic and stochastic effects in any individual patient cannot be predicted unless that patient's radiation history is known, and this is the principal reason for recording patient radiation dose. Monitoring and recording patient dose data can also be valuable for both quality-assurance purposes and for improving patient safety. Feedback to the operator may help to optimize radiation doses overall. As recently as 2011, the federal government had not issued any regulatory standards with respect to the recording or documentation of radiation doses or the reporting of radiation dose exposure for interventional procedures. Consequently, each state had varying degrees of regulation on the topic. Multiple agencies regularly provide guidelines on radiation safety, including the FDA, the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD), and the International Atomic Energy Agency, but few had specific recommendations regarding radiation dose documentation. Recommendations from the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) state that the radiation dose in general and all available specific dose data should be recorded for all fluoroscopic procedures . This is concordant with the recommendations put forth by the CRCPD in 2010 . In contrast, the ICRP recommends that radiation doses should only be measured if the dose exceeded 3 Gy or 1 Gy if the procedure is likely to be repeated . They also recommend that only peak skin dose and the skin dose map be recorded. The FDA asserts that the facility is responsible for identifying the types of procedures for which doses should be recorded . Four methods have been used to measure dose during interventional fluoroscopic procedures (excluding CT fluoroscopy) : Peak skin dose Reference air kerma All statements of patient dose contain some degree of uncertainty due to variances in the physical measurement of dose and methods of estimation. For example, fluoroscopy time can be accurately measured, but factors can influence the accurate conversion of fluoroscopy time to patient dose, including the varying effects of patient size, beam orientation, and the configuration of the fluoroscope . While fluoroscopy time and number of fluorographic images are simple to calculate and are easily available, they are the least useful measurements. Kerma-area product is a good indicator of stochastic risk for the patient, correlates with operator and staff dose, and has been recommended for patient dose monitoring for fluoroscopic procedures . While it is considered a surrogate measure of skin dose, it does not correlate well with skin dose for individual cases of a procedure. As such, this approach does not accurate identify deterministic risk in fluoroscopy . Reference air kerma is a cumulative approximation of the total radiation dose to the skin, summed over the entire procedure . This assumes a constant level of risk, however, which is not realistic to most interventional procedures, in which the beam moves or is redirected periodically. As a result, this measurement generally overestimates the likelihood of radiation-induced skin injury . Peak skin dose theoretically measures the highest radiation point at any point on the patient's skin, which is an accurate determiner of the likelihood and severity of radiation-induced skin injury. It is often recommended that peak skin dose be measured during interventional radiology procedures, but this has proved difficult in practice . Dosimeters placed on the patient's skin are generally used for this purpose. However, data derived from point measurement devices are likely to underestimate true peak skin dose unless the measurement device is placed at the exact site of irradiation . Compliance with recording radiation dose is a vital step in the fluoroscopy process. Although radiation dose management is an important consideration, one must remember that the ultimate goal is to treat patients and provide them the best care possible . The American College of Radiology (ACR)-SIR Practice Guideline for the Reporting and Archiving of Interventional Radiology Procedures recommends that radiation dose data be recorded in the final report for all fluoroscopically guided procedures and that, if technically possible, all radiation dose data recorded by the fluoroscopy unit should be transferred and archived with the images from the procedure . Radiation dose data may also be recorded in the immediate post-procedure note and/or the procedure worksheet. Each institution should specify where and how this information is to be recorded in accordance with the needs of its own quality-improvement program and its medical record guidelines . A potentially high-radiation-dose procedure is one in which more than 5% of cases of that procedure result in a reference air kerma exceeding 3 Gy or kerma-area product exceeding 300 Gy cm2. Certain procedures are known to be associated with relatively high patient radiation doses and are always classified as potentially high-dose. It is particularly important that patient radiation dose data are recorded for all instances of these procedures. To simplify the categorization of high-dose procedures, SIR has previously recommended that all embolization procedures, TIPS procedures, and arterial angioplasty or stent placement procedures anywhere in the abdomen or pelvis should be considered potentially high-dose procedures . Patient radiation dose data should also be recorded for other fluoroscopically guided procedures, even those that are unlikely to result in high patient radiation doses, such as venous access procedures. Recording patient dose data for all procedures makes it less likely that the process will be omitted inadvertently for high-dose procedures. High radiation doses should prompt further action. Institutions may also wish to participate in the International Atomic Energy Agency's SAFety in RADiological procedures (SAFRAD) reporting system, a voluntary, confidential reporting system whereby the patient's dose report and relevant data are included in an international database for the purposes of education and quality improvement . The methods to monitor the dose in radiology can be classified into two categories: direct and indirect. For direct measurements, a dosimeter is placed on the patient's skin; for indirect measurements, estimation is done using quantities derived from the radiology machine parameters, providing essentially a measurement of the air kerma . A direct measurement of radiation dose can be obtained using a dosimeter. Dosimeters may be categorized as real-time (e.g., ionization chamber, diode, optical fiber) or non-real-time (e.g., thermoluminescent dosimeter, optically stimulated luminescence [OSL]). The ionizing chamber dosimeter includes a gas-filled cavity with positive and negative electrodes with a voltage applied. Ionization chambers measure the amount of radiation passing through the cavity. The chamber is connected through a cable with an electrometer to make the measurement. Ionization chambers are the reference dosimeters for radiology and can be used for quality assurance and cross-calibration of other dosimeters. The International Atomic Energy Agency recommends two types of ionization chambers for use in radiology: cylindrical or plane-parallel chambers . The diode dosimeter consists of diodes that are more sensitive and have a smaller size compared to ionization chambers. The irradiation of a semiconductor induces electron-hole pairs, causing the junction to become conductive and produce a current, which in turn increases with the rate of electron-hole pair's production . The diode shows some energy dependence, with a variation in dose response with temperature, dose rate, and angular incidence with the beam . The metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) dosimeter is a miniature silicon transistor with higher sensitivity and energy dependence. The disadvantage of the MOSFET is that it is visible in radiographs . It is recommended to read the MOSFET signal during the first 15 minutes after irradiation. The diamond dosimeter is well-suited for in vivo measurements because of its small size, tissue equivalence, and resistance to radiation damage. These dosimeters have been evaluated and used for proton therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery beams, and megavoltage x-ray fields . However, if a diamond dosimeter is used for low-energy x-ray, correction factors are necessary to estimate dose rate and energy. Optical fiber dosimeters detect the light resulting from the irradiation of a plastic scintillator. The light (scintillation photon) is guided and transmitted from the sensitive element to a photomultiplier tube via a transmission fiber, and then the signal is analyzed by a computer. The use of a photomultiplier tube allows a real-time monitoring of the light output from the dosimeter. The main disadvantage of the optical fiber dosimeter is the noise signal produced in the light-guide by Cerenkov radiation for higher megaelectron volt and fluorescence for low-energy x-ray beam. Optical fiber dosimeters can be used from 10 mcGy/minute with ophthalmic plaque dosimetry to about 10 Gy/minute for external beam dosimetry. This dosimeter has no significant directional dependence and does not need correction factors for temperature or pressure . Thermoluminescent dosimetry is based on the physical property of certain crystals to emit light when they are heated after having been irradiated. The quantity of light is proportional to the energy deposited during irradiation. The detection system consists of a heating component and a light measurement device. Dosimeters most commonly used in medical applications are based on lithium fluoride doped with magnesium and titanium, because of its tissue equivalence and high sensitivity. These dosimeters can be used to measure doses ranging from 10 mcGy to 10 kGy . OSL is based on a similar principle to that of the thermoluminescent dosimeter. Instead of heating, the light from a laser is used to release the trapped energy and generate the luminescence. The most common OSL dosimeter is aluminum oxide coated with carbon. If appropriately instrumented, the OSL can deliver the dose information immediately after the irradiation, in conditions close, but not equal, to real-time measurements . The SIR has issued practice guidelines to assist providers using interventional radiology technology in safely providing high-quality care. The goal of the guidelines was not to provide rules that must be adhered to but rather to create a framework for defining practice principles. Ultimately, the SIR has recommended leaving the ultimate judgement for patient care up to the physician, and decisions should be made based on individual patient characteristics as well as available resources . As discussed, the FDA released guidelines for documenting radiation doses and radiation use after receiving multiple reports of radiation-induced skin injuries associated with interventional fluoroscopy. These guidelines were initially released in 1994 and 1995 and were last updated in 2018 . The ACR published its recommendations on patient radiation exposure in 2007. These guidelines were more focused on radiation exposure secondary to diagnostic radiology procedures rather than interventional procedures. The ACR then issued recommendations in 2008 that complement those put forth by the SIR . The SIR advocates a thorough and complete approach that requires preprocedural planning, intraprocedural management, and postprocedure care. After the decision is made to do a procedure, obtaining informed consent is the most critical step in preprocedural planning. Included in the informed consent is discussion of radiation dose and risk associated with said dose. During an interventional procedure, radiation data are available to the operator. It is up to the operator to remain informed continuously throughout the procedure about the radiation dose levels and whether or not it is necessary to continue the procedure given the current radiation doses. Evaluation of the risk-benefit balance ratio should be constant throughout the procedure, and the decision of whether to continue will vary for each patient and each clinical scenario. The ACR and the SIR recommend that all personnel involved with interventional procedures, including nurses, technologists, physicians, and other allied staff, should receive initial training in radiation management . In general, radiation training should be in accordance with the facility's policy as well as government regulations. Initial radiation safety training should include information about the potential adverse effects of radiation on patients, a brief review of the operation of the fluoroscopic equipment, factors that affect patient radiation dose, and interventions that could be implemented to reduce radiation dose. It is important to ensure that interventions with a significant radiation dose are scheduled in the fluoroscopy suite that allows for radiation dose monitoring. The SIR gives a brief review of procedures that are known to have high radiation doses. Examples of these procedures include : Renal or visceral angioplasty TIPS creation or revision Complex biliary interventions All embolizations, including chemotherapy embolizations Complex multilevel vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty Also, there are several patient factors that increase the risk for radiation-related injuries. When these criteria are identified in the preprocedural planning, it is important to discuss the associated risks during the consent process. These patient factors include: Weight less than 10 kg or greater than 135 kg Procedures on pediatric patients or young adult patients involving radiosensitive tissues or organs such as the breasts, gonads, or thyroid In addition, if the procedure is recognized to be technically challenging or prolonged, this should be discussed during the consent process. Any procedures involving the use of radiation in the same anatomic region within 60 days should trigger a discussion about radiation risk. At this point, it is critical to document in the patient's medical record that the radiation risk discussion was conducted and the patient verbalized understanding prior to initiating the procedure. In the past, interventional radiology procedures were comprised of diagnostic imaging followed by an intervention within the same session. However, with the increased sophistication of the diagnostic imaging quality, this is becoming less necessary. When planning the procedure, it is important to review all prior images and if images from an outside facility are available, it is recommended that these images be reviewed rather than repeating the study. Every effort should be made to obtain outside images and upload them to the institution's picture archiving and communication system. When repeating imaging is unavoidable, clinicians should consider using modalities associated with fewer radiation risks (e.g., MRI, ultrasonography). If CT imaging must be used, it is important to use dose-reduction techniques or a low-dose protocol. Techniques that decrease dose without critically compromising image quality include decreasing the tube voltage and using automatic tube current modulation. Reconstructed images from MR angiography and CT angiography allow for accurate anatomic detail for pretreatment planning. Although multi-detector CT enterography requires some radiation, its use instead of digital subtraction angiography may result in reduced radiation doses to the patient. The use of CT angiography is limited in the evaluation of vessels with extensive atherosclerotic disease. In addition to radiation risks, it is important to recognize the adverse effects associated with interventional radiology procedures, including adverse reactions secondary to iodine- or gadolinium-based contrast agents. In each clinical situation, it is paramount to weigh the potential of acquiring misleading or non-diagnostic images versus the risk to the patient. Radiation doses should be monitored throughout the procedure. The responsibility is ultimately that of the physician performing the procedure. However, it may be delegated to a nurse, radiology technologist, or other personnel in accordance with an institution's policy and relevant laws and regulations. There are several rules when monitoring radiation doses during a procedure. For fluoroscopy units that provide estimates of peak skin dose, the operator should be notified when the peak skin dose reaches 2,000 mGy and then every 500 mGy after that point. For units with air kerma capabilities, the operator should be given initial notification at 3,000 mGy and then every 1,000 mGy after that point. These numbers correspond to an initial peak skin dose of approximately 1,800 mGy and an increment of about 500 mGy. For units with kerma-area-product capability, the notification level is determined on a procedure-dependent basis informed by the nominal x-ray field size at the patient's skin. For example, with the use of 100 cm2 field, the initial report will be at 300 Gy cm2. Subsequent dose increments of 100 Gy cm2 require additional notification. Clinicians should keep in mind that different fluoroscope brands may report the kerma-area-product using different units. In these cases, conversion factors should be used. For units that only monitor fluoroscopy time, the operator should be notified when the total fluoroscopy time has reached 30 minutes and subsequently notified at a maximum of 15-minute increments. Fluoroscopy operators should be careful when performing studies with a relatively large number of fluorographic images, specifically angiographic images; notification intervals should be reduced for such procedures. All fluoroscopes are capable of displaying fluoroscopy time, but there is poor correlation between dose metrics and fluoroscopy time. In biplane systems, doses received from each plane should be considered independently when the fields do not overlap. When the fields overlap, the doses are considered to be additive. Procedures are unlikely to be stopped entirely because of radiation dose, but when the operator receives these notifications he or she should consider the radiation dose already delivered to the patient and any additional radiation necessary to complete the procedure. It is important to note that the clinical benefits of a successful interventional procedure almost always exceed the detrimental effects the patient may be at risk for secondary to radiation exposure. Nonetheless, if maximum radiation thresholds are reached during a procedure, any additional procedures performed in the subsequent 60 days should be closely monitored, as these will be considered additive to the previously received dose. All medical radiation workers are required to participate in a facility-based radiation dosimetry monitoring program. Regulations regarding these programs vary from state to state, but generally, an imaging service that may result in the operator or exposed staff receiving more than 10% of the yearly allowable maximum radiation exposure will necessitate the use of radiation dosimeters . Typically, workers are issued dosimeters to be worn outside the lead apron at neck level. These dosimeters record a dose that approximates that of the exposed head and neck. Some programs also include a second dosimeter to be worn under the lead apron at the waist level to serve as a proxy for the gonadal dose. Worker dosimeters are read at monthly intervals. Doses that exceed permissible levels are followed up by the facility's radiation safety office. Follow-up measures may include recommendations regarding a change in work habits or a change in shielding methods . Thyroid shields and leaded glasses are optional pieces of protective equipment, but in very busy or higher exposure environments, they may be required. The quality and condition of the radiation safety protective wear for the staff, visitors, patients, and family members should be regularly assessed. Records should be kept of the initial x-ray inspection of a new shield by radiation safety staff, assignment of a unique inventory identifier of the shield, yearly visual evaluation by the local user or staff, and any notifications of suspected defective equipment. Ideally, the estimated radiation dose should be included in the medical record for every procedure. As mentioned, the peak skin dose and kerma-area product should both be recorded, as they are the most useful predictors for the deterministic and stochastic effects of radiation, respectively. If the peak skin dose is not available on the fluoroscopy system, the reference point air kerma is an acceptable substitute. If neither the peak skin dose nor the kerma-area product are available, the fluoroscopy time should be used as the radiation dose metric. Recording the number of fluoroscopic images obtained during a fluoroscopic procedure is also helpful in the calculations involved in estimating the radiation dose. Procedures with long fluoroscopy times (or high doses, if a more precise metric is available) should be reviewed routinely as part of a quality assurance process to ensure the radiation exposure is medically justified and to determine whether practice trends emerge. A periodic report of dose recording performance and dosage utilization should be obtained for each institution. The SIR recommends that a dose recording compliance rate of less than 95% for any fluoroscopy operator should prompt additional radiation safety training . The SIR also recommends a review of the medical necessity for radiation utilization in all procedures that are above the 95th percentile in terms of dose distribution compared with similar procedures for the particular institution . The goal is to prompt better radiation dose-reduction techniques. At a minimum, an annual review of image quality in relation to radiation dose should be performed as part of quality control programs for individual institutions. Any patient who receives a significant radiation dose during a fluoroscopic procedure should be followed up after the procedure and should receive written radiation follow-up instructions upon discharge. The patient should be instructed to notify the fluoroscope operator or the medical physicist after discharge in case of the development of signs or symptoms of adverse radiation effects. A medical physicist should review the dosimetry of the procedure performed in these cases. In circumstances in which the same anatomic area has been irradiated in the previous 60 days, follow-up should be performed at lower radiation doses. Standards for patient follow-up have not been established with respect to monitoring for potential fluoroscopy-induced skin injury. Multiple factors contribute to this lack. First, significant skin injury is rare, even in patients who have undergone long fluoroscopically guided procedures. Second, there is no clear evidence that early intervention changes outcomes when injury does occur. Finally, practitioners are reluctant to alarm patients when they have no clear recommendations for management of such an injury. In an ideal postprocedural setting, the patient should know that the procedure was medically necessary and performed in a way that optimizes the risk/benefit ratio, should be told that development of a rash in the region that was imaged could be due to radiation exposure, and should be instructed to call the interventionalist if a rash or irritation occurs. The interventionist's responsibility is to then refer the patient to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who is aware that radiation injury is a possibility and can incorporate that information into treatment planning. Biopsy of a radiation injury should be avoided because it may not heal well . When addressing radiation exposure management, planning should begin at inception, with interventional suite design. It is important to involve the interventionalist at the room-design and equipment-purchasing stages. For existing interventional suites, appropriate maintenance and updating of existing equipment are critical. Preventive maintenance of fluoroscopes and replacement of parts before their deterioration contributes to increased radiation doses are encouraged. All institutions accredited by the Joint Commission are required to perform safety inspections of radiologic equipment at least yearly . State and local governments may have more stringent requirements and retain the right to conduct public health inspections and examine x-ray-producing equipment, the records associated with their continued use, and the maintenance provided. Hospital facilities with large radiology, nuclear medicine, and/or radiation oncology departments are likely to have medical physicists on staff to perform equipment inspection tasks and to ensure that patient images are of the highest possible quality. A preventive maintenance program will also identify any equipment that is failing to perform as intended. This is essential for the safe and accurate diagnostic imaging services of the institution and is a valuable resource to the clinicians and the technologists who image patients . Epidemiologic studies of populations exposed to acute, high doses of ionizing radiation have been traditionally used to assess the risks of cancer and other diseases linked to radiation. The results of these studies have shown that developing organisms are more vulnerable, but the actual effects of exposure to ionizing radiation on a conceptus depend on the absorbed dose and the stage of gestation. A special concern for the unborn in a medical setting requires the protection of pregnant or potentially pregnant patients and radiology staff. With the increasing use of medical radiation, many women who are pregnant or potentially pregnant are being exposed to ionizing radiation. In most circumstances, the radiation risk to the fetus is small in comparison to the risk of spontaneous abortion (15%), spontaneous or inherited genetic abnormalities (4% to 10%), and malformations (2% to 4%) in the general population. However, increased anxiety and termination of pregnancy may result if the patient and staff are not properly educated . As noted, risks to the fetus from radiation depend on the dosage and the stage of pregnancy. The risk is usually greatest during organogenesis in the first trimester and least in the third trimester. Whenever possible, diagnostic tests or procedures that involve radiation should be deferred until after pregnancy or replaced with safer options. In all cases, the patient should be adequately informed of any chances of radiation exposure. Estimated fetal radiation doses for diagnostic tests vary based on the type of procedure and the stage of the pregnancy. A plain anteroposterior radiograph of the pelvis carries a dose of about 1.5 mSv. A lumbar spine anteroposterior radiograph at 3 months' gestation results in about 2 mSv of exposure; this increases to 9 mSv when performed near term. A CT scan of the mother's head delivers less than 0.005 mSv, but an abdominal CT scan can lead to 8 mSv of fetal exposure . The major adverse effects of radiation exposure on the fetus include abortion, teratogenicity, developmental or intellectual disability, intrauterine growth restriction, and the induction of cancer. Normal diagnostic procedures seldom involve sufficient dosage to induce malformations, fetal death, or central nervous system defects, but the threshold may be exceeded with complicated interventional procedures. Based on animal studies, malformations after in utero exposure to radiation doses less than 100 mSv are not expected. Central nervous system malformations may appear if a dose threshold of 100 mSv has been exceeded. Fetal doses of 100 mSv or higher, especially if incurred between 8 and 16 weeks' gestation, can be associated with reduction of intelligence and microcephaly. As an example, in victims exposed to in utero radiation during the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the risk of intellectual disability has been estimated to be about 0.04% per mSv of exposure, with an estimated loss of 2 to 3 IQ points per mSv . It has been shown that prenatal exposure at high doses of radiation is associated with deterministic effects. In the first two weeks after conception, when the number of cells is small, radiation can terminate the pregnancy or the conceptus can recover completely (an all-or-none effect). During this early period of gestation, the blastocyte or embryo has a decreased sensitivity to teratogenic effects and a greater degree of sensitivity to the lethal effects of irradiation. A reversal of these effects is observed in the organogenesis period, from the 3rd to the 8th week after conception. Because of the high sensitivity to teratogenic effects during this period, the most likely form of damage is malformation of the organs of the fetus. As has been observed in the offspring of the survivors of atomic bomb detonations, there is a risk for microencephaly, about 1 in 100 per centigray (cGy) (1% per rad). From the 8th to 15th week of gestation, there is a potential for intellectual or developmental disability; the risk is about 4 in 1,000 per cGy (0.4% per rad). After the 16th week, the central nervous system becomes less radiosensitive. During the last trimester, major organ malformations and functional anomalies are unlikely. The threshold dose for deterministic effects is in the range of 100–200 mGy (10–20 rad) for acute exposure to the whole body. The majority of diagnostic extra-abdominal x-ray examinations result in doses to the conceptus of less than 1 mGy (100 mrad). Examinations involving the abdomen or pelvis may deliver higher doses to the fetus or embryo. In cases of accidental irradiation, doses to the conceptus may be greater than 50 mGy (5 rad), especially if the total time of fluoroscopy exceeds seven minutes. However, it is uncommon for diagnostic x-ray examinations to exceed 100 mGy (10 rad). Therefore, deterministic effects are unlikely to be observed after diagnostic x-ray studies. Stochastic effects should be considered, but the risk for cancer from prenatal radiation exposure at low doses remains a controversial issue. Case-control studies and several studies of twins have shown an increased risk for childhood leukemia after in utero irradiation, but cohort studies have not supported this association . The power of epidemiologic studies is usually not sufficient to demonstrate the existence of these effects in exposed populations. If the conceptus absorbed dose is 50 mGy (5 rad), the risk for childhood fatal cancer is 0.3%. This value, however, coincides with the natural risk for fatal childhood cancer, which is also about 0.3%. Therefore, fatal childhood cancer risks after pelvic procedures (e.g., barium enema, CT scan) are similar to the natural incidence of fatal cancer before 15 years of age. The risk for carcinogenesis due to radiation exposure is relatively low for conceptus doses less than 100 mGy (10 rad). At doses greater than 100 mGy, both deterministic and stochastic effects of radiation should be considered . Studies have also been carried out to investigate the possible effects on the children of personnel exposed to ionizing radiation occupationally. Some researchers found a borderline increase of chromosomal anomalies other than Down syndrome in the children of female radiographers, but Doyle et al. found no evidence of an association between exposure to low-level ionizing radiation before conception and increased risk for malformations in the offspring of staff members working in the nuclear industry [41,42]. Based on federal law, a pregnant woman can choose to continue to receive occupational radiation exposure at the level allowed for adult workers. However, it is recommended that an occupationally exposed pregnant woman declare pregnancy for the purpose of reducing the risk to the unborn child. After pregnancy is declared, additional precautions should be adopted to protect the fetus and limit the radiation exposure to recommended levels . When an expectant mother is a radiation worker, her occupational radiation is monitored in accordance with radiation protection regulations. There is a difference in the dose limits for the unborn in the United States and those set by the ICRP. The ICRP states that "the working conditions of a pregnant worker, after declaration of pregnancy, should be such as to ensure that the additional dose to the embryo/fetus would not exceed about 1 mSv during the remainder of the pregnancy" . In the United States, federal regulations pertinent to nuclear radiation require licensees to ensure that the dose to an embryo or fetus during the entire pregnancy due to the occupational exposure of a declared pregnant woman does not exceed 5 mGy (500 mrad) during the gestational period . Many state regulations extend these requirements to x-rays, and some place additional restrictions on the dose (equivalent) that a declared pregnant woman may receive during a one-month period (one-tenth of the limit). Although the dose limits for the conceptus of a pregnant staff member differ among radiation protection agencies, most countries and institutions have in place radiation protection programs to address the needs of pregnant personnel. The education and counseling of a woman who formally declares her pregnancy in writing is the most important element of a program designed to protect the conceptus of an occupationally exposed worker. In the fluoroscopy environment, one method of planning the protection of pregnant personnel (interventionalists in particular) is to measure air kerma rates separately for each projection of a fluoroscopic procedure. This information may aid in establishing an acceptable workload per week and for the entire pregnancy. This method, however, may be impractical in some circumstances, for example, for a general interventionalist who performs a broad range of procedure types and whose workload may not be easy to adjust because of staffing constraints and patient care demands. Another approach to reducing occupational exposure is to gather dosimetry information before pregnancy and use it in planning shielding methods to be used during pregnancy. A worker planning pregnancy can request a radiation dosimeter (if she is not already assigned one by her facility) to wear under the lead apron to acquire data about her radiation dose before pregnancy. She may use the information to adjust her workload, shielding, or work habits. Modifications in shielding to reduce dose, even in instances in which dose reduction may not be strictly necessary from a regulatory standpoint, could include, in extreme circumstances, increasing the thickness of lead aprons from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm lead equivalent or using additional boom-mounted, floor-mounted, or patient-mounted protective shielding to reduce scatter. The latter options have the advantage of not adding to the weight carried by pregnant workers. Real-time dose information with an audible radiation monitor could be included in a radiation protection program, in addition to standard dosimetry badges read monthly, to provide immediate feedback as to the effectiveness of radiation protection measures. There are some data to support the contention that a 1-mGy fetal dose limit is feasible for full-time interventional fluoroscopy physicians. In a study of 30 interventional radiologists, readings from waist-level dosimeters worn under a lead apron for a two-month period ranged from 0.02 mSv to 0.39 mSv (2 mrem to 39 mrem). The projected yearly dose equivalent at the waist under lead for this study group was estimated to be 0.22–4.11 mSv (22–411 mrem) for a 10.6-month work-year. Substantial differences in the average projected yearly dose value related to lead apron thickness were noted, with 0.4 mSv (40 mrem) and 1.3 mSv (130 mrem) noted for persons wearing 1.0-mm and 0.5-mm lead equivalent aprons, respectively. These data suggest that additional radiation protection above the standard 0.5-mm lead equivalent apron may be warranted for some workers in the interventional radiology environment . Children are more sensitive than adults to radiation by as much as a factor of 15, depending on age and gender. However, it is important to realize that induction of fatal cancer by low-level radiation is uncertain; therefore, cautious interpretation of risks during medical imaging is warranted, particularly in discussions with individual patients, families, and caregivers . In general, low-level radiation exposure is defined as doses less than 100–150 mSv. Risks associated with radiation doses greater than this level are not debated; however, there is disagreement regarding possible risk at lower levels. There are a great many variables that come into play, including gender, age, area of exposure, genetic susceptibility, and acute versus protracted exposure. The linear no-threshold model is considered by many organizations to be the most conservative and reasonable model to estimate the probability of radiation-induced cancer, although this has been recently debated. In general, the teaching has been that there is a 5% risk of developing fatal cancer for every 1.0 mSv of exposure. Therefore, an effective dose of 100 mSv would result in a 0.5% (or 1 in 200) risk of cancer, and 10 mSv exposure would lead to a 0.05% (or 1 in 2,000) risk of cancer. Again, this effective dose determination does not take into account age differences, and it may be that risk should be adjusted up for younger children . There is some suggestion of a significant risk of cancer for exposures less than 50 mSv in children . The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) has been compiling data from 22,343 childhood cancer survivors over the last 20 years . Of the survivors, 57.3% received radiation therapy, with 9.3% having received a maximum dose of at least 50 Gy to the brain and 11.2% having received at least 30 Gy to the chest. Excess relative risk per Gy of radiation were calculated for second primary malignancies in the brain, breast, thyroid gland, bone, skin, and salivary gland, and the results have been reviewed [48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56]. In line with what is known from atomic bomb survivors and children treated for benign conditions, the thyroid gland showed the highest excess relative risk at 1.38 per Gy, followed by bone (1.32) and skin (1.09) . In one study, differences in organ doses from several dental cone-based CT scanners are analyzed; the differences in equivalent doses to the lens of the eye, the thyroid, and other key head and neck organs were compared for children and adults (using anthropomorphic phantom heads) . Researchers found that the equivalent doses for children's organs were generally higher than for adults when similar exposure settings were used. In addition, certain organs received more radiation in children than adults, most likely due to the difference in their size and location. Informed consent is now the backbone of Western bioethics; however, it was not an ethical mandate until 1957, when it was explicitly formalized in the Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association . The Code of Ethics requires physicians and any helping professionals to communicate diagnoses, prognoses, courses of treatment or intervention, and alternative options in such a manner that is understood, so an informed decision regarding treatment may be made by the client/patient . An individual's ability and prerogative to make one's own decision about treatment is now seen as a vital expression of autonomy and a prerequisite to participation in treatment or interventions . As discussed, obtaining informed consent is an essential component of preprocedure planning any time that fluoroscopy is used. Ensuring that the patient has a clear understanding of the procedure and its risks and benefits is the responsibility of the clinician, and this understanding may be affecting by linguistic and cultural factors. The process of informed consent entails the explicit communication of information in order for the individual to make a decision. Western cultures value explicit information, which is centered on American consumerism, that is, the belief that having and exercising choice extends to healthcare purchases . However, some cultures believe that language and information also shape reality . In other words, explicit information, particularly if it is bad information, will affect the course of reality. A signature is required on most Western informed consent forms to represent understanding and agreement on the part of the individual involved. Yet, this might be viewed as a violation of social etiquette in some cultures. For example, in Egypt, signatures are usually associated with major life events and legal matters. Therefore, requiring a signature outside these circumstances would imply a lack of trust, particularly when verbal consent has been given . Consent forms also often contain technical and legal jargon that may be overwhelming to the native English-speaking individual, but can be much more daunting for immigrants who may not be proficient in English or familiar with various legal concepts. Asking for a signature on a consent form that contains foreign legal and technical terms may place some immigrants at risk for secondary traumatization, as some were persecuted, tortured, and forced to sign documents in their homelands . Cultural dissonance can be a challenge to many general healthcare and mental health practitioners. Cultural experts may help mitigate this challenge by assisting with the interpretation and navigation of the complex web of cultural interactions. Fluoroscopy has many uses in modern medicine, expanding beyond standard x-rays films. While these procedures have clinical benefits, they are not without risks, particularly related to radiation exposure. A major focus of this course has been the risk and average doses patients and clinicians incur when undergoing fluoroscopy procedures. The overall goal and purpose of radiation safety and dose management is to conduct individual radiation risk assessment for each patient, providing the patient involved with an opportunity to give informed consent relating to her/his radiation risk . Studies indicate that improved clinician education can help to limit radiation dose and associated complications. 1. Miller DL, Balter S, Dixon RG, et al. Quality improvement guidelines for recording patient radiation dose in the medical record for fluoroscopically guided procedures. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2012;23(1):11-18. 2. Golovac S. Fluoroscopy, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and radiation safety. In: Huntoon MA, Benzon HT, Narouze SN (eds). Spinal Injections and Peripheral Nerve Blocks. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders; 2012: 28-33. 3. Stecker MS, Balter S, Towbin RB, et al. Guidelines for patient radiation dose management. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2009;20(7 Suppl):S263-S273. 4. Zaer NF, Amini B, Elsayes KM. Overview of diagnostic modalities and contrast agents. In: Elsayes KM, Oldham SA (eds). Introduction to Diagnostic Radiology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2014. 5. Marx MV. Radiation safety and protection in the interventional fluoroscopy environment. In: Mauro MA, Murphy K, Thomson KR, Venbrux AC, Morgan RA (eds). Image-Guided Interventions. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier; 2014: 59-62. 6. Kern MJ, Seto AH. Cardiac catheterization, cardiac angiography, and coronary blood flow and pressure measurements. In: Fuster V, Harrington RA, Narula J, Eapen ZJ (eds). Hurst's The Heart. 14th ed. New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill Education; 2017. 7. Browner BD, Jupiter JB, Krettek C, Anderson P. Skeletal Trauma: Basic Science, Management, and Reconstruction. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders; 2015. 8. Benzon HT, Rathmell JP. Practical Management of Pain. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders; 2014. 9. Pico TC. Radiation safety and complications of fluoroscopy, ultrasonography, and computed tomography. In: Ranson M, Pope JE (eds). Reducing Risks and Complications of Interventional Pain Procedures. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012: 95-101. 10. Rose TA Jr, Choi JW. Intravenous imaging contrast media complications: the basics that every clinician needs to know. Am J Med. 2015;128(9):943-949. 11. Huang W, Castelino RL, Peterson GM. Lactic acidosis and the relationship with metformin usage: case reports. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(46):e4998. 12. McDougal WS, Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Partin AW, Peters C. Campbell-Walsh Urology 11th Edition Review. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2015. 13. Mohammed NMA, Mahfouz A, Achkar K, Rafie IM, Hajar R. Contrast-induced nephropathy. Heart Views. 2013;14(3):106-116. 14. Basu A. Contrast-Induced Nephropathy. Epidemiology. Available at https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/246751-overview#a6. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 15. From AM, Bartholmai BJ, Williams AW, et al. Sodium bicarbonate is associated with an increased incidence of contrast nephropathy: a retrospective cohort study of 7977 patients at Mayo Clinic. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008;3(1):10-18. 16. Solomon R, Gordon P, Manoukian SV, et al for the BOSS Trial Investigators. Randomized trial of bicarbonate or saline study for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with CKD. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10(9):1519-1524. 17. Xu R, Tao A, Bai Y, Dent Y, Chen G. Effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Heart Assoc. 2016;5(9):e003968. 18. Bottinor W, Polkampally P, Jovin I. Adverse reactions to iodinated contrast media. Int J Angiol. 2013;22(3):149-154. 19. Cleveland Clinic. Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF). Available at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17783-nephrogenic-systemic-fibrosis-nsf. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 20. Branstetter BF IV. Diagnostic imaging of the pharynx and esophagus. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al (eds). Cummings Otolaryngology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders; 2015: 1507-1536. 21. Stambo GW, Berlet MH. Flouroscopically-guided transhepatic puncture for difficult TIPS re-do procedures utilizing the En Snare retrieval device: a new approach to occluded TIPS in patients with recurrent ascites. Radiography. 2012;18(3):218-220. 22. Rebonato A, Maiettini D, Crinó GA, Mosca S. The emerging role of endovascular management of post-partum hemorrhage. Gynecol Surg. 2016;13(4):385-386. 23. Berger JS, Dangaria HT. Joint injections and procedures. In: Maitin IB, Cruz E (eds). Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2015. 24. Mettler FA, Upton AC. Basic radiation physics, chemistry, and biology. In: Mettler FA (ed). Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2008: 1-25. 25. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Radiation Sources and Doses. Available at https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radiation-sources-and-doses. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 26. Najafi M, Fardid R, Hadadi G, Fardid M. The mechanisms of radiation-induced bystander effect. J Biomed Phys Eng. 2014;4(4):163-172. 27. Padovani R, Bernardi G, Quai E, et al. Retrospective evaluation of occurrence of skin injuries in interventional cardiac procedures. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2005;117:247-250. 28. National Cancer Institute. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. Available at https://ctep.cancer.gov/protocolDevelopment/electronic_applications/ctc.htm#ctc_50. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 29. Joint Commission. Sentinel Event Policy (SE). Available at https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/resources/patient-safety-topics/sentinel-event/sentinel-event-policy/camac_22_se_all_current.pdf. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 30. American Association of Physicists in Medicine. RE: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Field Review: Candidate 2007 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) and Requirements. Available at https://www.aapm.org/government_affairs/documents/JCAHOSentinelEventCommentsFinal.pdf. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 31. Thierry-Chef I, Simon SL, Miller DL. Radiation dose and cancer risk among pediatric patients undergoing interventional neuroradiology procedures. Pediatr Radiol. 2006;36(Suppl 2):159-162. 32. Chaikh A, Gaudu A, Balosso J. Monitoring methods for skin dose in interventional radiology. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol. 2015;3(1):03011. 33. Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors. Suggested State Regulations for Control of Radiation. Available at https://www.crcpd.org/page/SSRCRs. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 34. Cousins C, Miller DL, Bernardi G, et al. Patient and Staff Radiological Protection in Cardiology. Available at http://www.icrp.org/docs/Patient%20and%20Staff%20Radiological%20Protection%20in%20Cardiology.pdf. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 35. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Medical X-Ray Imaging. Available at https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/medical-imaging/medical-x-ray-imaging. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 36. ACR-SIR-SNIS-SPR Practice Parameter for the Reporting and Archiving of Interventional Radiology Procedures. Available at https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/Reporting-Archiv.pdf. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 37. Miller DL, Balter S, Dixon RG. Quality improvement guidelines for recording patient radiation dose in the medical record for fluoroscopically guided procedures. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2012;23(1):11-18. 38. Miller DL, Balter S, Cole PE, et al. Radiation doses in interventional radiology procedures: the RAD-IR study: part I: overall measures of dose. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2003;14(6):711-727. 39. Bio-Med Associates. New Joint Commission Fluoroscopy Requirements for January 2019. Available at https://biomedphysics.com/fluoroscopy-joint-commission. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 40. Cheng SW. Radiation safety. In: Cronenwett JL, Johnston KW (eds). Rutherford's Vascular Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014. 41. Strzelczyk JJ, Damilakis J, Marx MV, Macura KJ. Facts and controversies about radiation exposure, part 2: low-level exposures and cancer risk. J Am Coll Radiol. 2007;4(1):32-39. 42. Doyle P, Roman E, Maconochie N, Davies G, Smith PG, Beral V. Primary infertility in nuclear industry employees: report from the nuclear industry family study. Occup Environ Med. 2001;58(8):535-539. 43. International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP Publication 103. The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Available at https://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=ICRP%20Publication%20103. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 44. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Ionizing Radiation: Pregnant Workers. Available at https://www.osha.gov/ionizing-radiation/pregnant-workers. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 45. Frush DP. Radiation, thoracic imaging, and children: radiation safety. Radiol Clin North Am. 2011;49(5):1053-1069. 46. Harvard Medical School. Radiation Risk from Medical Imaging. Available at https://www.health.harvard.edu/search?content%5Bquery%5D=radiation+risk+from+medical+imaging. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 47. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Available at https://ccss.stjude.org. Last accessed June 20, 2022. 48. Boukheris H, Stovall M, Gilbert ES, et al. Risk of salivary gland cancer after childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2013;85:776-783. 49. Neglia JP, Robison LL, Stovall M, et al. New primary neoplasms of the central nervous system in survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006;98:1528-1537. 50. Henderson TO, Rajaraman P, Stovall M, et al. Risk factors associated with secondary sarcomas in childhood cancer survivors: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012;84:224-230. 51. Inskip PD, Robison LL, Stovall M, et al. Radiation dose and breast cancer risk in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27:3901-3907. 52. Henderson TO, Rajaraman P, Stovall M, et al. Risk factors associated with secondary sarcomas in childhood cancer survivors: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012;84:224-230. 53. Bhatti P, Veiga LHS, Ronckers CM, et al. Risk of second primary thyroid cancer after radiotherapy for a childhood cancer in a large cohort study: an update from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Radiat Res. 2010;174:741-752. 54. Watt TC, Inskip PD, Stratton K, et al. Radiation-related risk of basal cell carcinoma: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012;104:1240-1250. 55. Ronckers CM, Sigurdson AJ, Stovall M, et al. Thyroid cancer in childhood cancer survivors: a detailed evaluation of radiation dose response and its modifiers. Radiat Res. 2006;166:618-628. 56. Inskip PD, Sigurdson AJ, Veiga L, et al. Radiation-related new primary solid cancers in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study: comparative radiation dose response and modification of treatment effects. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2016;94(4):800-807. 57. Kutanza KR, Lumen A, Koturbash I, Miousse IR. Pediatric exposures to ionizing radiation: carcinogenic considerations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(11):1057. 58. Najjar AA, Colosi D, Dauer LT, et al. Comparison of adult and child radiation equivalent doses from 2 dental cone-beam computed tomography units. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2013;143(6):784-792. 59. McLaughlin LA, Braun KL. Asian and Pacific Islander cultural values: considerations for health care decision making. Health Soc Work. 1998;23(2):116-126. 60. Ivashkov Y, Van Norman GA. Informed consent and the ethical management of the older patient. Anesthesiol Clin. 2009;27(3): 569-580. 62. Carrese JA, Rhodes LA. Western bioethics on the Navajo reservation: benefit or harm? JAMA. 1995;274(10):826-829. 63. Rashad AM. Obtaining informed consent in an Egyptian research study. Nurs Ethics. 2004;11(4):394-399. 1. American College of Radiology. ACR-AAPM Technical Standard for Management of the Use of Radiation in Fluoroscopic Procedures. Available at https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/MgmtFluoroProc.pdf. Last accessed July 21, 2022. 2. American College of Radiology. ACR-SPR Practice Parameter for the Performance of the Modified Barium Swallow. Available at https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/Modified-Ba-Swallow.pdf. Last accessed July 21, 2022. 3. American College of Radiology. ACR-SIR-SPR Practice Parameter for the Performance of Percutaneous Nephrostomy. Available at https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/Percutaneous-Nephros.pdf. Last accessed July 21, 2022. Mention of commercial products does not indicate endorsement.

<urn:uuid:ffa1156c-6b84-456d-9465-0cf8ae49a389>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.netce.com/coursecontent.php?courseid=2405&productid=11055&scrollTo=chap.2

2024-10-11T11:23:15Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

The study revealed that children born full term but weighing less than 5.5 lbs (almost 3 per cent of the total sample) had a 50 per cent increased risk of psychological distress in later life. This remained the case after taking into account potential confounding factors, such as the father's social class, maternal age and adult marital status. Until now it has been unclear whether the effect of low birth weight on common mental health problems in later life is direct, or is affected by childhood factors, such as IQ or behavioural problems. But the new research, published in the July issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, adds to growing awareness of the far-reaching implications of maternal nutrition on an infant's future health. Dr Nicola Wiles, from Bristol University and lead author on the study, commented: "The findings suggest that low birth weight at full term has a direct effect on adult mental health, rather than simply reflecting a pathway through childhood cognition and/or behaviour.". She said the finding needs to be confirmed in other studies but suggests that early factors, before birth, "might be important in increasing vulnerability to depression in adult life". This study used information on 5572 participants in the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study. The researchers from the University of Bristol and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine examined the association between birth weight for gestational age and later adult psychological problems, taking into account cognition and behavioural problems in childhood. No increase in risk was found in those of low birth weight who were born early, before 38 weeks. Similarly, pre-term delivery was not associated with an increased risk of psychological distress in adulthood. As found in previous studies, low birth weight was associated with an increased risk of cognitive deficit (having an IQ of less than 100) at the age of seven, and with childhood behavioural disorder. This effect was observed among those born early as well as those born at term. IQ of less than 100 at age seven was associated with an increased risk of psychological distress in adulthood. But taking into account IQ and behavioural factors did not alter the strength of the association between low birth weight at full term and adult psychological distress. Low birth weight for gestational age is a marker for impaired foetal growth. The observed association with adult psychological distress provides further evidence for the theory that common mental health problems in adulthood may be due to impaired neuro-development, as has been suggested in schizophrenia. Further work is needed to explore the biological mechanism underlying this relationship.

<urn:uuid:e05b2dbb-d9c8-4672-97c9-c2cf7cec904f>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2005/07/04/Low-birth-weight-may-raise-risk-of-adult-depression

2024-10-11T10:57:33Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

The fast fashion industry has some huge economic, social, and environmental issues that need solutions. It's not sustainable to push disposable and cheap trendy clothing to high-street stores every week. The fast fashion industry has been growing very rapidly for the past 20 years. It answers consumers' demand for new stylish and affordable clothes frequently. Fast fashion encourages consumers to buy more as it makes clothes disposable. They are worn just a few times before being replaced with new trends almost immediately. 52 new seasons for new collections have replaced the more traditional 2 to 4 seasons. Fast fashion companies like Zara make more than 1 million garments every day. Consumers are being influenced to buy constantly by social media personalities, buying recommendations from friends and family, and the latest trends from runway shows. Our fashion addiction is extremely damaging to the environment. In the meantime, fast fashion brands and retailers are slow to make efforts toward more sustainability in the industry. Overproduction and overconsumption have led the fast fashion industry to become one of the largest polluters in the world. We have reached record high textile waste, clean water, air, and soil pollution by hazardous chemicals, and increasingly high carbon emissions. "Zara alone churns out 850 million clothing items a year. You can imagine the size of the toxic footprint it has left on this planet, particularly in developing countries like China where many of its products are made." - Li Yifang, Greenpeace Activist Large quantities of water are consumed every day for clothing, in farms (plant growth), garment factories (dyeing and finishing), and at home (washing). Textiles production (including cotton farming) uses around 93 billion cubic meters of water annually, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The fast fashion industry also employs farmers and workers in the poorest countries under unsafe working conditions. It violates human rights daily and causes the death of cotton farmers, factory workers, and billions of animals each year. As consumers, we have the power to drive change. It begins by changing our shopping habits, boycotting unethical fashion brands, and switching to conscious clothing. Read up our complete guide on how to quit fast fashion for transitioning to sustainable fashion. "Urgent action is needed to ensure that current material needs do not lead to the over-extraction of resources or the degradation of environmental resources, and should include policies that improve resource efficiency, reduce waste and mainstream sustainability practices across all sectors of the economy." - United Nations Economic and Social Council, Progress Towards The Sustainable Development Goals (2019) Here are the top 10 solutions to the fast fashion industry. Panaprium is independent and reader supported. If you buy something through our link, we may earn a commission. If you can, please support us on a monthly basis. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you will be making a big impact every single month. Thank you! 1. Buy less fast fashion "The most sustainable garment is the one we already own." - House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, Fixing fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability report (2019) It's fun to buy new clothes. But we have to start thinking about the consequences behind our purchasing decisions. Fast fashion is the worst. The social and environmental impact of cheap clothing is horrible. If we want to save energy, water, and lives, we should rethink our excessive consumerism. 2. Buy higher-quality clothing Buy clothes less often and higher quality. This is the most sustainable practice to adopt when giving up on fast fashion. Start caring more about quality to influence large brands and retailers to change their business models, producing less often with better quality. Prefer clothes that you know won't go easily out of style and will last you a long time. Clothes that are durable, comfortable, and fit your lifestyle perfectly. Keep and wear your clothes longer. It's better for your budget and the environment! Prices tend to increase with quality. But higher-priced items also give a chance to factory workers to be paid better. 3. Buy from ethical fashion brands Many fashion brands make conscious clothing trying to minimize their social and environmental impact. The prices are still high when you look for something else than basics. Price is the biggest hurdle we have to overcome to make sustainable fashion more popular and accessible to more people. Read up my ultimate guide on how to check if a fashion brand is ethical. 4. Shop second-hand clothing You can find affordable and unique pieces at your local thrift store, resale shops, or online marketplaces. Second-hand clothing is gaining popularity. You now have the opportunity to create a great look from used clothes all around the world. Buying old clothes is amazing for your budget and the planet. You prevent the consumption of more resources because there is no need to produce another garment. At the same time, you prevent used clothing from ending up in landfills to decompose or be incinerated, emitting toxic gases or carbon into the atmosphere. Read up my guide on how to get rid of unwanted clothes where I list some excellent places to buy and sell second-hand clothing. 5. Rent your clothes for special occasions "The benefits of renting fashion are wide-ranging. Not only can renting clothes be a more environmentally friendly alternative to buying into fast-moving fashion trends, but consumers can also save space in their homes. Fashion rentals can fulfill temporary fashion, such as clothing for women during pregnancy, while some fashion rental companies are tapping into demand for more niche and everyday fashion products such as streetwear." - Samantha Dover, Mintel Senior Retail Analyst Clothing rental is an emerging and fast-growing industry. Especially during pregnancy or for parties, renting is the better option. Some fashion rental companies offer a subscription for customers wanting to renew their wardrobe more regularly. Fabulous places to rent clothes for a special occasion are: - My Wardrobe HQ, the UK’s first fashion rental marketplace, a leading destination for renting and buying contemporary and luxury womenswear fashion. - Rent the Runway online service that provides designer dress and accessory rentals in the United States, from Mother of Pearl, Mara Hoffman, Jason Wu, Loeffler Randall, and more. 6. Swap pieces with friends and family Clothes swapping is something you can organize with your friends this weekend. It's now a very popular practice. It's also fun and environmentally friendly! Swap some clothes hanging in your closet with your friends and family to renew your wardrobe, instead of heading to the nearest mall. 7. Reuse, repurpose, and up-cycle Some clothes are very difficult to recycle. In particular, fabrics made from blends of very different materials don't recycle very well, such as polyester blended with elastane in athletic wear. You want to avoid this type of material as much as possible. When buying sportswear look for materials that have already been recycled. Be sure to keep these clothes the longest time possible and don't throw them away! Instead, reuse, repurpose, and up-cycle. You can turn them into cleaning rags or bags. Or you could learn to sew and make new clothing pieces from old material. 8. Donate your unwanted clothes Think about donating your old clothes. You contribute to saving the planet while helping people with clothes they may need more than you do. You can do a quick online search for your local options. Be sure to contact them first and ask what type of clothes they accept. Amazing organizations to donate your clothes are of course Goodwill and Salvation Army. 9. Choose natural organic materials Whenever possible, look for natural fabrics with organic certifications. Fabrics made from natural and organic fibers have the least social and environmental impact. Buy clothing made from materials such as organic cotton, organic hemp, linen or jute. If you are unsure of what to look for on the labels, check out my article on the best eco-certification standards for textiles. Synthetic fibers such as recycled polyester or nylon require less water than cotton but have a higher carbon footprint. The fabrication of regenerated fabrics such as rayon, lyocell, or modal isn't always eco-friendly, consumes lots of energy and chemicals. 10. Make yourself heard To change the fast fashion industry, we have to make some noise. We have to raise awareness of unsolved issues and unseen problems. Every step counts to make a difference on a global level. It's a challenge but it's worth fighting to defend the Earth, animals, and human rights. Support companies that use business as a force for good. And boycott those that don't care much about their social or environmental impact. Ask fashion designers, brands, and retailers #WhoMadeMyClothes, in which country, in what kind of environment, and under what work conditions. Show that you care not only about price and style but also how your clothes are being made. Simply asking questions and expecting a reliable answer helps a lot already. And don't beat yourself up if you aren't a 100% conscious consumer tomorrow. Start your journey somewhere and continue to progress toward sustainable living. Where are you in your ethical fashion journey currently? Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below. About the Author: Alex Assoune What We're Up Against Multinational corporations overproducing cheap products in the poorest countries. Huge factories with sweatshop-like conditions underpaying workers. Media conglomerates promoting unethical, unsustainable products. Bad actors encouraging overconsumption through oblivious behavior. - - - - Thankfully, we've got our supporters, including you. Panaprium is funded by readers like you who want to join us in our mission to make the world entirely sustainable. If you can, please support us on a monthly basis. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you will be making a big impact every single month. Thank you.

<urn:uuid:27dc6445-5e06-4fa4-b3ce-898065508e5b>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.panaprium.com/blogs/i/solutions-to-the-fast-fashion-industry

2024-10-11T12:36:36Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Step into the shoes of a zoologist, building engineer, or marine biologist. By Third Grade, science students are beginning to understand how to create hypotheses and carry out experiments or design testing to complete more complex real-life challenges. Students experiment with STEM bins, tackling engineering projects and using materials to problem-solve and recreate natural and man-made structures. Third Grade scientists learn about local organisms and ecosystems. Special units include a study of bats, owls, and their offspring as well an examination of the marine habitat in Narragansett Bay. Third Grade students are increasingly independent in their studies as they begin to undertake multi-step problems and read and comprehend complex chapter books. Students read books both cooperatively as a class and independently, with frequent discussions to check comprehension, discuss character and plot developments, and identify new vocabulary. In third grade, students also take on new writing challenges, incorporating independent research into their non-fiction topics and pairing writing with the creation of dioramas, maps, and artwork. Students write well-researched reports as part of the lower school social studies project. Working together with First and Second Graders, Third Grade students thoroughly research a topic, such as “Amazing Americans.” Teachers turn this content into a choreographed play. Each student has an individual speaking part, with Third Graders taking on more significant leadership roles. Math skills continue to build in Third Grade. Problems becomes more advanced, multiplication facts are mastered, and long division is introduced. These critical math milestones will help students in their study of fractions, ratios, and geometry as they progress to Fourth Grade and beyond. In this creative and active learning environment, growing Third Grade minds swiftly absorb new knowledge and skill sets. Pennfield’s small class sizes and dedicated faculty are able to make this unique learning experience enriching for every student as an individual.

<urn:uuid:7e29ad74-53ac-44af-973d-0ea89381f9fd>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.pennfield.org/third-grade/

2024-10-11T11:19:22Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

By Cheryl Lock Whether you’ve lived with birds all your life or your new friend is your first feathered companion, you’ve likely noticed that most domesticated birds love to play. But even playtime needs structure. In general, birds can learn new behaviors relatively quickly, says Barbara Heidenreich, an animal training and behavior consultant who has been working with birds for 27 years. “However, what really makes a difference is the skill level of the trainer,” she added. “Animal training is really a form of communication, and it follows a very systematic approach,” Heidenreich explained. “The better the person is at applying the training technology, the better he or she will communicate what is required to earn desired consequences.” Being sensitive to body language and creating a relaxing and comfortable environment are integral steps to helping your bird to learn, Heidenreich said. So how can you help your bird to learn tricks, even if it’s your first time? Follow these steps. Start With the Basics Before beginning to train any animal, it first needs to be relaxed and comfortable, says Heidenreich. “I generally do not move an animal to a new space to train unless it’s a space with which [the animal] is already very familiar,” she said. “The next most important thing to do is to identify potential reinforcers.” A reinforcer is either a thing or experience your bird seeks to acquire or engage in, like preferred foods, toys, or physical affection. Choose Your Method of Teaching Very Carefully In Heidenreich’s experience, positive reinforcement has been the most effective training tool. “This means that whenever your animal presents the desired behavior, something good is going to happen, like the delivery of a desired treat, toy, or attention,” she said. “This method of teaching creates eager participants. It also fosters trust because parrots are empowered to choose to participate, and when they do, good things happen.” Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice) of the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics, has a similar outlook on training. “The name of the training that we apply to birds is ‘applied behavior analysis,’ and it’s totally based on positive reinforcement,” she said. Practice Patience With Your Bird Learning a new behavior depends on the complexity of the behavior, the comfort level of the bird, and the skill of the trainer, says Heidenreich. “Some behaviors can be trained in as little as one 20-minute session, and some may take a session a day for several weeks,” she said. Also, keep in mind that birds are very smart, says Dr. Hess. So, if you use your bird’s instincts to teach him tricks that would come naturally (for example, smaller birds like budgerigars — aka parakeets — don’t typically speak a lot of words, but they can easily be taught tricks like pushing a lever or picking up a block), then the training should be much easier for the both of you. Start Out Easy and Build Up If you’re a novice to training, avoid frustration by starting with the easiest tasks. “Almost all animal training begins with target training,” said Heidenreich. “This is a very simple behavior that involves teaching an animal to orient a body part towards something.” With a bird, Heidenreich says she usually asks them to orient their beak towards the end of a stick or a closed fist (using a treat to entice them to do so). “Doing this results in a desired consequence, and once a parrot has learned to target, the target can then be used to direct a parrot where to go without touching the bird.” This targeting method can be used to teach your bird to turn in a circle, step onto a scale, step onto a hand, go into a transport crate, or step back into their enclosure. Take Your New Wisdom for a Test Drive Here are three tricks many novices can follow. Train your bird to retrieve (courtesy of Heidenreich) - Set the bird on a small perch and offer a small toy — like a wooden bead (the type found in bird toys) — in your hand. Usually birds will pick the toy up with their beaks out of curiosity. If yours doesn’t, try hiding a piece of food behind the bead so the bird must touch the bead with its beak. Say “good” to reinforce when the bird touches the bead with its beak. Continue approximating the retrieving behavior (a process called “shaping” the behavior) by rewarding your bird each time it touches the bead until the bird actually picks it up. - Hold a small bowl under the bird’s beak. Eventually the bird will tire of the bead and drop it. Catch the bead in the bowl. Say the word “good” when the bead hits the bowl. Offer a reinforcer. Repeat this process several times. - After several repetitions, move the bowl slightly to the side. The bird will probably not drop the bead in the bowl. Offer the bead again, and allow the bird to miss one or two times without reinforcing. - Go back to trying to catch the bead in the bowl. Say “good” and reinforce. - Try moving the bowl to the side again. If the bird gets the bead in the bowl, offer lots of reinforcement. If it misses, go back to step 3 and work up to step 5 again. Keep repeating this process until the bird understands the bead must go into the bowl in order to get the reinforcer. - Once the bird gets the concept of the bead going into the bowl, start moving the bowl a little farther away. You will find you may have to go through steps 3-7 again. But eventually, you will be able to hold the bead on one end of the perch and the bowl on the other. - Once the bird understands this concept, you can try switching the object to something else. To do this, go back to holding the bowl under the bird’s beak and catching the object, gradually moving the bowl farther away. This should go quickly this time. Once the concept is well understood, try placing the bird and bowl on another surface, such as a table. Again, you may need to repeat steps 3-7 to get on track, but eventually the bird will learn to generalize and perform the behavior in different environments and with different objects. Train your bird to dance on cue (courtesy of Dr. Hess) - Start by paying attention to your bird’s actions. Turn on some music and pay attention to whether your bird moves, sways, or dances (most will). If he does, praise him — either with food or a verbal phrase. - Continue to praise your bird for his dancing when you turn the music on for a number of days or weeks. - Eventually you can get rid of the food treat and simply use a verbal cue or scratch on the head to praise your bird when he dances. - Once this positive behavior is reinforced, your bird should dance whenever he hears music played. Train your bird to wave hello (courtesy of Dr. Hess) - Once again, pay attention to your bird’s actions. When you notice that he picks up his foot (it doesn’t have to be waving), immediately reward him with a treat. - Once he’s mastered picking up his foot for a treat, move on to having him hold his foot up once he picks it up before receiving the treat. - Continue the first two steps for a number of days or weeks until it seems he understands that in order to receive his positive reinforcement, he needs to pick up his foot and hold it in place. “If you keep raising the expectations for behavior, then your bird has to eventually actually pick up his foot and move it to get the treat,” says Dr. Hess. “What you’re doing is shaping the waving behavior.” This article was verified and edited for accuracy by Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM, Dipl ABVP

<urn:uuid:a7857307-e32f-40e4-8dd7-6d02a949a4af>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.petmd.com/bird/training/how-train-your-bird-fetch-and-other-fun-games

2024-10-11T12:03:43Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Add to Learning 7 Justifications People Use for Unethical or Illegal Acts Why do good people do bad things? Alice Boyes, Ph.D., translates principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and social psychology into tips people can use in their everyday lives. Do you know anyone who doesn’t report their cash income on their taxes, pilfers office supplies from their workplace, or has done an assignment for their child to help them get a higher grade? When people do these types of unethical or illegal behaviors, there are a number of psychological factors that go into it. Let’s break them down. Thinking Distortions That Contribute to Unethical and Illegal Behavior 1. The person thinks: “I got away with it once or twice, so it’s OK to keep doing it.” When someone does a behavior that’s unethical or illegal and doesn’t get caught, that tends to make it more likely they’ll do it again. Sometimes people reason that not getting found out means that what they did wasn’t a big deal. They might think that whatever they did was so small it doesn’t count. If the person took advantage of a loophole or a lack of oversight, they might think, “If the loophole was a big deal, it would’ve been closed already. More effort would’ve been put into preventing or catching it.” Occasionally people stumble onto a loophole accidentally, but then choose to exploit it, even when doing so is illegal or unethical. 2. “Other people are doing things far worse than I am.” There’s a saying: “If you lie with dogs, you’ll get fleas.” If unethical or illegal behavior is commonplace in the circles someone moves in, it’s more likely they’ll see it as normal. There will always be someone who is behaving more outrageously than they are whose example they can use to rationalize their own behavior as not so bad. 3. FOMO — Fear of Missing Out If you see other people succeeding through unethical behavior, then envy can lead to co-opting those behaviors. 4. “I make up for my bad deeds with my good deeds.” If someone does good work in other aspects of their life, they can rationalize that their behavior balances out and is still a net positive. For instance, if they do charity work or help their church. The person might be cheating, stealing, or defrauding a little bit in one domain (e.g., cheating on their taxes), but they think it pales in comparison to their good deeds and prosocial behavior. 5. The ends justify the means. If someone has good intentions behind their unethical behavior, they might think it’s OK. For instance, they’re stealing to support their charity organization or help their child. 6. “I’ve gotten a raw deal in one area, so it’s OK if I take advantage in another area to make up for it.” Let’s say that someone is facing a big bill for something they see as not their fault. Or they see some situation they’ve faced as unjust. Perhaps they’ve gotten a raw deal from a company they’ve worked for, or from a company or contractor they employed. Perhaps they got unlucky in the financial crisis and lost their home. If people believe they’ve gotten the short end of the stick in one area, they might think it’s only fair that they make up for it by getting an unfair advantage in another domain or at a later time. 7. The person’s moral line keeps shifting. When people do unethical or illegal behavior, their moral line often shifts due to that behavior pattern. For instance, they “borrow” 1-2 stamps from their workplace, then take 5-6, then steal a sheet of 100 stamps. Some people who do unethical or illegal things are antisocial by nature.* They may not have frank Antisocial Personality Disorder, but may have some tendencies in this direction. However oftentimes people slide into unethical or illegal behavior through the cognitive justifications and behavior patterns I’ve outlined. *Note that antisocial is not the same as asocial. The meaning of antisocial is quite different than an introvert and refers to rule breaking and low moral conscience. People tend to colloquially say antisocial when they mean asocial.

<urn:uuid:3715f485-b319-4850-9d54-54f602f00f15>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.phindia.com/blogs/2019/12/05/58/

2024-10-11T12:56:33Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

“Safety Culture” is an educational program implemented by the National Labor Inspectorate among high school and university students since 2006. More than 40% of serious and fatal accidents affect young and inexperienced workers in their first year of work. A huge role in reducing accidents at work is played by developing a feeling responsibility and the habit of performing work safely. The greatest effects are achieved when this process is started as early as possible, which is why the National Labor Inspectorate is taking educational measures to shape a safety culture also among children and young people. Aims of the program - Raising the level of knowledge among school and university students about legal labor protection and safe and healthy working conditions. - Shaping awareness of occupational hazards occurring in the work environment among students over 15 years of age and university students (especially those studying occupations performed in high-risk industries, such as construction). - Promoting issues related to compliance with labor law, especially the issue of concluding employment contracts, including civil law contracts, taking up seasonal and holiday work and the issue of the legality of employment.

<urn:uuid:16fbbf23-ae07-43ca-883b-0d1fb26d9819>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.pip.gov.pl/en/initiatives/program/safety-culture?tmpl=print

2024-10-11T12:18:45Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

18th November 2020 – Geothermal energy used at the Rittershoffen heat plant is 40 times cleaner than gas in terms of impact on climate change. This is what a scientific paper revealed during the 2020 Geoscience & Engineering in Energy Transition Conference. The study was conducted by the MINES ParisTech University and the Study Centre of French Utility ES Géothermie, within the EU-funded GEOENVI project. Philippe Dumas, EGEC Secretary General and GEOENVI project coordinator said “After a 2019 study from the French Environmental Agency proving geothermal energy is three times cheaper than natural gas for heating and cooling, this new research demonstrates how clean geothermal energy is”. Guillaume Ravier, Process Engineer at ES-Géothermie and co-author of the paper said “These results confirm something we have known for quite some time already: geothermal energy is a promising renewable energy source for the decarbonisation of buildings and industrial processes alike. Europe would be far better off with more geothermal sources in its energy mix”. The authors of the study applied the Life Cycle Assessment method developed as part of the GEOENVI project to the geothermal heat plant of Rittershoffen. This plant is located in Northern Alsace (France) and has an installed capacity of 27.5 MWth. The study considered the Greenhouse Gas emissions and several environmental indicators for the Rittershoffen geothermal heat plant, comparing the results to fossil gas and biomass. The Greenhouse Gas emissions of this plant are estimated as 5.9 gCO2eq/kWh, 40 times lower than those of natural gas. For “Ecosystem quality” (freshwater toxicity, acidification, chemical use), geothermal energy is between 1.5 and 2 times less impacting than gas. Human health has a similar result. Guillaume Ravier concluded “This study is the evidence of the tangible benefits geothermal energy entails. We think the LCA methodology developed in GEOENVI and applied in this study is excellent to support local decision makers with science-based analyses of the little environmental impacts of deep geothermal projects.”

<urn:uuid:a7421ea6-0807-4796-b67e-c4e2b5cb7332>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.pressclub.be/press-releases/egec-a-research-finds-that-geothermal-energy-at-rittershoffen-has-40-times-less-emissions-than-natural-gas/

2024-10-11T11:44:28Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Our body goes through many changes and adjustments during its menstrual cycle. This time of the month can often be uncomfortable and painful, but it is also a time when we can focus on our spiritual practices. In particular, reciting Wazifa during periods can provide us with a sacred space to connect with our religious beliefs and find peace amidst the turmoil of menstruation. This guide will give you an overview of what Wazifa is, how to do it, and its benefits during periods. What is Wazifa? Wazifa is a form of prayer that involves reciting specific verses or phrases from the Quran in a particular amount of time. The goal of Wazifa is to seek the blessings and guidance of Allah, connect with religious teachings, and seek protection from negative energies. It is believed that reciting Wazifa can help with various problems, including health concerns, emotional stress, and spiritual cleansing. How to do Wazifa during Periods? It’s essential to maintain your religious practice during periods since it will provide you with comfort and inner peace. However, there are some things to keep in mind when reciting Wazifa during your menstrual cycle: Ensure you perform Wuzu (ablution), a critical step before praying or reciting the Quran. Make sure to perform Wazifa by heart, meaning the words should come from your heart and not be replicated mechanically. Avoid doing extensive Wazifa during periods since it can cause discomfort and lead to excessive bleeding. Benefits of Wazifa during Periods Reciting Wazifa during periods can provide you with several physical and spiritual benefits. Sahih Bukhari explains that during the time of the Prophet (PBUH), women who had their periods would recite dhikr (Zikr) and invoke Allah. Therefore, our Prophet (PBUH) encourages women to continue practising their faith this month. Wazifa helps bring calmness and peace to the heart, ward off negative energies, and invoke Allah’s mercy. Wazifa during periods can also help reduce menstrual cramps, headaches, and other physical discomforts. Reciting particular Surahs and verses, such as Surah Al-Fatiha and Ayatul Kursi, may relieve menstrual pain. These verses have tremendous spiritual power; repeating them during menstruation can help soothe the mind and body. Steps To Process Wazifa During Periods Begin with Cleanliness: Even though you’re on your period, cleanliness remains crucial. Conduct regular cleaning routines, ensuring your body and the space around you are clean. Perform Dhikr: During your periods, you can’t perform Salah, but you can engage in Dhikr, remembering Allah by repeating glorification and praise. Read Dua and Darood: You can read any Dua (supplication) or Darood (blessings on the Prophet) you know. Recite Wazifa: Now, you can recite the Wazifa during this time. Please remember, for women on their periods, it’s advised not to touch the Quran directly, so use a digital device or wear gloves if you need to read from the Quran. Keep Your Intentions Pure: It’s important to remember that the intention behind the Wazifa should be pure, seeking the mercy and blessings of Allah. Remember that these steps are just a guide, and the exact process can vary based on individual beliefs and practices. Always consult with a knowledgeable person or a spiritual guide for personalized advice. Can I Do Wazifa During Periods? Women who are practicing Muslims may wonder if they can still complete Wazifa, a form of Islamic prayer, during their menstrual cycle. It is understandable to have this question as the topic of menstruation is considered impure in Islam. However, the answer is more complex than yes or no. Some scholars state that it is permissible to recite Wazifa during their periods, while others believe it is better to refrain from reciting Quranic verses and instead focus on supplications and remembrance of Allah. It ultimately comes down to personal beliefs and preferences. It is important to remember that Islam is a flexible religion that accounts for the well-being of its followers. Can Wazifa Be Done In Periods? The simple answer to “Can Wazifa be done in periods?” is no. During menstruation, women are considered ritually impure and are not permitted to perform any form of prayer or recitation of religious texts. However, it is essential to note that this does not mean that a woman’s spirituality or connection to Allah is compromised during this time. It is simply a temporary state of ritual impurity that must be respected. Once her period is over, she can resume her Wazifa as usual. It is essential for women to educate themselves on the guidelines for menstruation in Islam and to prioritize self-care during this time. Can I Continue Wazifa During Periods? Many Muslims believe that reciting Wazifa, or a prayer or supplication prescribed by Islam, is an effective way to gain blessings and solve problems. However, when it comes to menstruation, confusion arises about whether it is permissible to recite Wazifa during periods. The reality is that there needs to be a clear consensus on the matter among Islamic scholars. Some believe that Wazifa can be recited during periods, while others advise women to refrain from repeating it until their menstrual cycle has ended. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what is best for their spiritual practice and beliefs. It is important to remember that Islam values personal hygiene and cleanliness, so being mindful of this during menstruation is also essential. Can We Read Wazifa During Periods? Many religious practices have their own set of rules and guidelines, and Islam is no exception. One common question that many Muslim women ask is whether they can read wazifa during their periods. Wazifa, which refers to reciting specific prayers or verses from the Quran, is a crucial part of Muslim spirituality. However, menstruation is a natural bodily process requiring women to refrain from specific religious practices. To answer the question of whether women can read wazifa during their periods, we must turn to Islamic teachings and seek guidance from religious scholars. While the answer may not be straightforward, Muslim women need to understand the various perspectives and make an informed decision that aligns with their personal beliefs and values. Can You Read Tasbeeh During Menstruation? Performing the Tasbeeh is a common and deeply respected practice in the Islamic faith. However, it is not uncommon for women to wonder whether they can continue serving the Tasbeeh during menstruation. While there are varying opinions and interpretations surrounding this topic, it is generally accepted that menstruating women should abstain from performing certain acts of worship. Despite this, many Muslim women continue to wonder if they can still engage in the Tasbeeh during this time. Women need to educate themselves and seek guidance from their religious leaders to make informed decisions about their spiritual practices during menstruation. Can We Read Allah’s Names During Periods? What Can We Recite During Periods? Can We Do Dhikr During Periods? Many Muslim women wonder if they can do dhikr during their periods. While the topic is debated among scholars, many agree that women are allowed to continue remembering Allah even during menstruation. Some may feel uncomfortable or hesitant to make dhikr during this time. Still, it is essential to remember that Islam teaches us to recognize and praise Allah in all circumstances consistently. Additionally, various forms of dhikr can be done, such as reciting Quranic verses or seeking forgiveness. Ultimately, it is up to each woman to make her own decision based on her beliefs and practices. Regardless of one’s decision, it is essential to always keep Allah at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Can I Do Wazifa Without Wudu? The practice of wazifa is deeply rooted in the Muslim religion and involves reciting prayers or verses from the Quran. It is a spiritual act of devotion that Muslims engage in to seek the blessings of Allah. Many wonder whether they can perform wazifa without the prerequisite of wudu or ablution. While wudu is a recommended practice before performing any prayer or act of worship, it is not a mandatory requirement for performing wazifa. However, it is recommended that one perform wazifa in a state of cleanliness, purity, and reverence to better connect with the divine. Ultimately, the decision to perform wazifa with or without wudu rests on individual beliefs and preferences. Duas To Recite During Period When women experience menstruation, it can often come with discomfort and cramps. It’s essential to look after our bodies during this time, both physically and mentally. Reciting duas can offer comfort and relief during this time. Duas To Recite During Period can help us stay grounded and connected to our faith, as well as help us find peace during this time of discomfort. Whether it’s a straightforward dua for patience or healing, this devotion can offer comfort and solace during a difficult time. Caring for ourselves during periods is essential, and reciting duas can be a fantastic way to do just that. Steps To Process Duas To Recite During Period Begin with a clean intention: Start by approaching this time with a sincere desire to connect with your Creator, even during your period. Your choice is powerful and can transform seemingly mundane moments into acts of worship. Choose your Duas: Many beautiful Duas have been taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which are appropriate for all times and circumstances. During your period, you may focus on Duas, which asks for patience, strength, and understanding. Set aside time: Choose a quiet moment in your day where you can recite your Duas undisturbed. This could be early in the morning, at sunset, or just before you go to bed. Perform ablution (Wudu): Although it is not obligatory to do so when making Dua, it is always good to be in a state of purity when you call on Allah. Recite your Duas: Recite your chosen Duas aloud or silently, with complete focus and dedication. Trust in Allah’s plan: Once you have made your Duas, faith in Allah’s plan. Know that He hears you and will respond in the best possible way. Remember, the state of menstruation does not diminish your spiritual value. Allah hears and accepts the Duas of all his worshippers, irrespective of their physical condition. Is Wazifa Allowed In Islam? In Islam, there are various ways in which a person can seek the help of Allah. One of the methods that has been used for centuries is Wazifa. Some believe it is an effective way to seek forgiveness and blessings from the Almighty. However, many people are still determining whether Wazifa is allowed in Islam. It is a matter of debate among scholars and religious leaders. On the one hand, some argue that it goes against the fundamental principles of Islam, while others believe it is a legitimate practice. Ultimately, the answer to whether Wazifa is allowed in Islam is complex, and it depends on the individual’s interpretation of the faith. Conclusion About Wazifa During Periods In conclusion, reciting Wazifa during periods is a beautiful and beneficial way to connect with Allah and seek support during menstruation. Maintaining your religious practice during this time of the month is essential since it can provide you with comfort and inner peace. However, always remember to recite Wazifa by heart, maintain Wuzu, and avoid extensive recitation during periods. May Allah bless all women and guide them towards spiritual and physical health during their menstrual cycle.

<urn:uuid:db1b3c0d-f89a-4857-b80a-53e25fe5b148>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.quranicsolution.com/wazifa-during-periods/

2024-10-11T11:26:26Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

What Are The Radiation Protection In CT ? Radiation protection in CT (computed tomography) refers to the measures and practices employed to minimize radiation exposure to patients and healthcare providers during CT imaging procedures. These protection strategies include:- 3) Limiting CT examination to strict indications is the best way to reduce radiation exposure. 4) Scan lengths should be limited to the clinically indicated region(s). 5) Multiple phase acquisitions should be held at a Minimum. 6) An optimized protocol is one that acquires CT images with acceptable levels of noise at the lowest possible dose. 7) Lead shielding should be utilized during CT whenever clinically possible. 8) Shielding of radiosensitive tissues, such as the eye lenses, breasts, and gonads, is critical. 9) Shielding must be applied both above and below the patient, to account for the rotational nature of the exposure in CT. 10) In-plane bismuth shielding of particularly radiosensitive areas, such as the orbits, thyroid, and breast tissue, can substantially reduce the effective radiation dose. 11) Scatter radiation does occur in the immediate area surrounding the CT scanner. 12) Room shielding requirements must be evaluated by a qualified radiologic health physicist. 13) Consideration for shielding requirements should account for exam workload, scanner position, and construction of doors, windows, and so on. 14) When it is clinically necessary to have the patient accompanied by a guardian or family member during a CT procedure, or when other health personnel remain in the room during scanning, the guardian/ family member or health personnel must wear appropriate lead shielding. FOR MORE CLICK HERE

<urn:uuid:79b727dc-7b62-40f7-adf3-8133516f8384>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.radiologystar.com/radiation-protection-in-ct/

2024-10-11T12:46:36Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Excel 101 for Gen Z: Master the Spreadsheet and Stand Out in Your Career Learn how to master Excel and stand out in your career with this guide. Start with the basics, use shortcuts, get creative with formatting, utilize built-in functions, and Excel add-ons to automate tasks and extend functionality. As a member of the generation Z, you're likely to be tech-savvy and ambitious, always looking for ways to stand out in your career. One of the most important skills you can have in today's job market is the ability to use Excel effectively. Excel is a powerful tool that's used in a wide variety of industries, from finance and accounting to marketing and data analysis. It's a must-have skill for anyone looking to succeed in their career. But learning Excel can be overwhelming, especially if you're new to the program. That's why we've put together this guide to help you master Excel and stand out in your career. Where to Start Learning Excel? Learn the basics: Excel can be intimidating at first, but the key is to start with the basics. Learn how to navigate the program, create and format a spreadsheet, and perform basic calculations. Excel can be a daunting program to learn at first, but the key to mastering it is to start with the basics. Understanding how to navigate the program, create and format a spreadsheet, and perform basic calculations is essential to being able to use Excel effectively. By taking the time to learn these foundational skills, you will be able to build a solid foundation that will serve you well as you continue to learn more advanced features of the program. It may seem intimidating at first, but with a little patience and persistence, you will be able to master Excel and unlock its full potential. There are several ways to learn the basics of Excel: - Online tutorials: There are countless tutorials available online that can walk you through the basics of Excel. Websites like YouTube and LinkedIn Learning have a wide range of tutorials that cover everything from getting started with Excel to more advanced features. - Books: There are also many books available that can help you learn Excel. Some popular options include "Excel for Dummies" and "Excel Bible." - Excel classes: Many universities, community colleges, and adult education centers offer classes on Excel. These classes can be a great way to learn Excel in a structured setting with an instructor who can answer your questions. - Practice: The best way to learn Excel is to practice using it. Start with simple tasks and gradually build up to more complex projects. - Free resources: Microsoft offers free resources and tutorials on Excel which you can find on their website. Whichever method you choose, be sure to set aside dedicated time to practice and learn the basics of Excel. With time and practice, you will be able to master Excel and unlock its full potential. Use shortcuts: Excel has a wide range of keyboard shortcuts that can help you navigate the program quickly and efficiently. Some of the most commonly used shortcuts include Ctrl + C for copying, Ctrl + V for pasting, and Ctrl + Z for undoing. These shortcuts are easy to learn and will help you to work faster and more efficiently. By using them, you can quickly and easily copy, paste and undo multiple cells, rows or columns, and also to perform many other tasks. There are other shortcuts which can help you to move between different worksheets, create new worksheets or to save your work. By learning and using these shortcuts, you will be able to improve your workflow and increase your productivity. Some of the most commonly used and useful Excel shortcuts include: - Ctrl + C: This shortcut is used to copy the selected cells. - Ctrl + V: This shortcut is used to paste the copied cells. - Ctrl + Z: This shortcut is used to undo the last action. - Ctrl + Y: This shortcut is used to redo the last undone action. - Ctrl + A: This shortcut is used to select all the cells in a worksheet. - Ctrl + F: This shortcut is used to open the Find and Replace dialog box. - Ctrl + P: This shortcut is used to open the Print dialog box. - Ctrl + S: This shortcut is used to save the current workbook. - Ctrl + T: This shortcut is used to create a new worksheet. - Ctrl + Arrow keys: This shortcut is used to move quickly to the last populated cell in a column or row. - F2: This shortcut is used to edit the active cell. - F5: This shortcut is used to open the Go To dialog box, which allows you to quickly navigate to a specific cell or range of cells. - F11: This shortcut is used to create a chart from selected data. It's important to note that these shortcuts are just a selection of the most commonly used and useful ones, and there are many other shortcuts that can help you to work more efficiently. Get creative with formatting: Excel is a versatile tool that can be used to create all kinds of charts, graphs, and diagrams. Experiment with different formatting options to create visually appealing spreadsheets that will stand out to your colleagues and managers. One way to stand out and make your spreadsheets more visually appealing is to get creative with formatting. Experiment with different formatting options to create charts, graphs, and diagrams that are easy to understand and that will stand out to your colleagues and managers. You can create a variety of charts such as line, bar, pie, and scatter charts, which can help you to display and compare data in a clear and easy-to-understand way. You can also use different formatting options such as colors, borders, and font styles to make your charts and tables more visually appealing. Additionally, Excel has a variety of built-in themes that you can use to quickly format your workbook with a cohesive and professional look. By experimenting with different formatting options, you can create spreadsheets that are not only functional but also visually appealing. This will help you to communicate your data and insights in a more effective way, and it will also show your colleagues and managers that you are dedicated to producing high-quality work. Excel formatting is a way to make data in a spreadsheet more readable, understandable, and visually appealing. There are many different formatting options available in Excel, and the best formatting will depend on the specific needs of your data and the audience for which it is intended. Here are a few examples of useful Excel formatting options: - Conditional formatting: This allows you to apply formatting to cells based on the data in them. For example, you can use conditional formatting to highlight cells that meet certain criteria, such as values above or below a certain threshold. - Cell styles: Excel has a variety of predefined cell styles that can be used to quickly format cells. These styles include options for font, color, and alignment, and can be used to create a cohesive and professional-looking spreadsheet. - Number formatting: You can use number formatting to control the way that numbers are displayed in a spreadsheet. For example, you can use formatting to display numbers as currency or to display a percentage. - Data validation: This is used to restrict the data that can be entered into a cell. For example, you can use data validation to ensure that only numbers are entered into a cell or to limit the number of characters that can be entered. Learn the built-in functions: Excel has a wide range of built-in functions that can help you perform complex calculations with ease. Some of the most commonly used functions include SUM, COUNT, and AVERAGE. These functions can help you to perform basic calculations such as adding, counting, and averaging numbers in a range of cells. SUM function is used to add up the values in a range of cells. COUNT function is used to count the number of cells in a range that contain numerical data. AVERAGE function is used to calculate the average of a range of cells. There are many other built-in functions in Excel, each one with a specific purpose. For example, you can use the MAX and MIN functions to find the highest and lowest values in a range, or the IF function to perform logical tests and return a value based on the test outcome. The more you use these functions, the more you will understand how they work, and the more you will be able to use them in different situations. By learning and using Excel's built-in functions, you will be able to perform complex calculations quickly and easily. This will help you to analyze and present data in a more effective way, and it will also show your colleagues and managers that you are dedicated to producing high-quality work. here are many Excel built-in functions that are useful for different types of tasks, but some of the most commonly used and useful functions include: - SUM: This function is used to add up the values in a range of cells. It can be used to calculate totals, subtotals, and grand totals. - COUNT: This function is used to count the number of cells in a range that contain numerical data. It can be used to count the number of items in a list or the number of cells that meet certain criteria. - AVERAGE: This function is used to calculate the average of a range of cells. It can be used to find the mean, median, or mode of a set of data. - IF: This function is used to perform logical tests and return a value based on the test outcome. It can be used to create conditional formulas and perform complex calculations. - VLOOKUP: This function is used to look up a value in a table and return a corresponding value from a specified column. It can be used to perform data validation, cross-reference data, and extract data from a database. - INDEX/MATCH: This is a combination of two functions, INDEX and MATCH, which can be used to look up a value in a table and return a corresponding value from a specified column. It's more flexible than VLOOKUP when it comes to looking up data from a table, especially when the table is not sorted. - MAX/MIN: These functions are used to find the highest and lowest values in a range. It can be used to identify outliers or extremes in a dataset. - CONCATENATE: This function is used to join several text strings together into one. It can be used to combine data from multiple cells or to create unique identifiers. It's important to note that there are many other Excel built-in functions that can be used to perform a variety of tasks, and it's worth exploring them to see which ones are most useful for your specific needs. Utilize Excel add-ons: Excel has a wide range of add-ons that can help you to automate repetitive tasks and extend the functionality of the program. These add-ons can save you a significant amount of time and effort, especially when working with large and complex data sets. Some popular Excel add-ons include Power Query, which allows you to import, clean, and transform data; Power Pivot, which allows you to create pivot tables and pivot charts with large data sets; and Power View, which allows you to create interactive data visualizations. Add-ons can be easily installed from the Microsoft Office store or from third-party websites. Once installed, these add-ons can be accessed from the "Add-ins" tab in Excel, where you can customize settings and options. By utilizing Excel add-ons, you can automate repetitive tasks and extend the functionality of the program. This can help you to save time and effort, and also improve your workflow and productivity. Additionally, some add-ons can provide you with new features that are not available in the standard version of Excel, such as advanced data visualization tools and advanced data analysis capabilities. It's important to note that some add-ons may require a subscription or purchase, and not all add-ons are compatible with all versions of Excel, so you should be sure to check the add-on's requirements and compatibility before installing Here are the basic steps to use Excel add-ons: - Install the add-on: You can install Excel add-ons from the Microsoft Office store or from third-party websites. - Open Excel: Open the Excel program on your computer. - Go to the "Add-Ins" tab: Once Excel is open, click on the "Add-Ins" tab located on the ribbon. - Select the add-on: From the "Add-Ins" tab, select the add-on that you want to use. - Customize settings and options: Some add-ons will have settings and options that you can customize. These can usually be accessed by clicking on the add-on's icon or by going to the add-on's "Options" or "Settings" menu. - Use the add-on: Once the add-on is installed and configured, you can use it to automate repetitive tasks, extend the functionality of Excel, or perform advanced data analysis. - Check for updates: Some add-ons have periodic updates, and you should check for them regularly to ensure that you're using the most recent version of the add-on. It's important to note that some add-ons may require a subscription or purchase, and not all add-ons are compatible with all versions of Excel, so you should be sure to check the add-on's requirements and compatibility before installing. Additionally, you should always be careful when installing add-ons from third-party sources, as they may contain malware or other unwanted software. By following these tips, you'll be able to master Excel and stand out in your career. It's a skill that will be highly valued in any industry, and it will open doors to new opportunities. Top 5 data visualization tools of 2024 Get ahead in the data game in 2024. Explore the top 5 data visualization tools for advanced data management and boost your online spreadsheets! 10 affordable and exciting summer vacation ideas in 2024 Looking for a summer vacation that won't break the bank? Check out our top 10 picks for affordable and exciting travel destinations in 2024!

<urn:uuid:d212b068-b455-44e9-9c3e-ca3b73c07d7f>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.retable.io/blog/excel-101-for-gen-z-master-the-spreadsheet-and-stand-out-in-your-career

2024-10-11T11:20:58Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

In today’s digital age, where cyber threats are constantly evolving, antivirus protection has become an essential tool for safeguarding your devices and protecting your valuable data. This comprehensive guide will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to choose the right antivirus protection for your needs and implement effective security practices to stay safe online. Understanding Antivirus Software Antivirus software acts as your PC’s vigilant sentinel, scanning your system for malicious software, commonly known as malware. Malware encompasses a wide range of harmful software programs, including viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, and ransomware. These threats can infiltrate your PC through various means, such as opening infected attachments, clicking on malicious links, or downloading files from untrusted sources. Antivirus software works by identifying and analyzing the behaviour of software programs and recognizing patterns and signatures associated with known malware. It maintains a database of these signatures, constantly updated to protect against new and emerging threats. When antivirus software detects a suspicious program, it can take various actions, such as quarantining the file, removing it from your system, or alerting you to take further action. Choosing the Right Antivirus Solution A wide range of antivirus software options are available for Windows PCs. Consider factors such as features, performance, and user reviews when making your choice. Some popular antivirus solutions for Windows include: Microsoft Defender Antivirus A built-in antivirus solution is included with Windows 10 and 11, offering basic protection against common threats. Avast Free Antivirus A popular free antivirus option with a range of features, including real-time protection, malware detection and removal, and phishing protection, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus A paid antivirus solution with advanced features and protection, including ransomware protection, zero-day threat detection, and parental controls Essential Antivirus Practices To maximize the effectiveness of your antivirus software, follow these essential practices: Install and update antivirus software regularly Ensure your antivirus software is installed and up-to-date to receive the latest protection against evolving threats. Antivirus software companies regularly release updates to their software to address newly discovered vulnerabilities and protect against emerging malware. Enable real-time protection Keep real-time protection enabled to continuously monitor and block incoming threats. Real-time protection provides constant vigilance by scanning files and applications as they are accessed, preventing malicious software from infiltrating your system. Perform regular system scans Schedule regular system scans to detect and remove any hidden malware. System scans provide a thorough examination of your entire system, rooting out any malicious software that may have slipped past real-time protection. Practice safe online habits Avoid opening suspicious emails, clicking on unfamiliar links, and downloading files from untrusted sources. Safe online habits significantly reduce the risk of encountering malware. Be cautious about the emails you open, the websites you visit, and the files you download, minimizing your exposure to malicious threats. Antivirus software is an indispensable tool for protecting your Windows PC from a multitude of online threats. By choosing the right antivirus solution, following essential practices, and staying vigilant, you can safeguard your data, maintain your PC’s performance, and navigate the digital world with confidence. Remember, a secure PC is a happy PC, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of technology without fear of cyberattacks.

<urn:uuid:31b409e2-0ee0-4f6d-aae6-a8bdf33d9196>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.scantocomputer.com/a-guide-to-antivirus-protection/

2024-10-11T10:55:26Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Astronomers use numbers all the time (especially really big ones!). Astronomy grew out of solving problems about time and distance. Problems like: measuring the distances to stars, working out how bright stars are, locating objects using angles and coordinates. Many famous astronomers were experts in maths as well as astronomy. If you are interested in maths then you may be interested in a career as a theoretical astrophysicist. Dealing with complicated equations to guide observational astronomers in what they need to test, to answer the big questions. You might also want to explore careers in space agencies working out the trajectories of rockets and space probes. Most jobs related to astronomy have some maths involved, but these are examples which have a stronger maths component. Astrophysicists apply their knowledge of maths to solve problems about the Universe. They collect information using telescopes, and use maths and statistics to interpret the information. Astrophysicists also use mathematical models and formulas to understand the physics of the Universe. We would not have been able to discover black holes or know that the Universe is expanding without maths. The recent detection of gravitational waves is exciting because it gives astronomers a new way of looking at the Universe. Physicists are applying maths in new ways to understand gravitational waves and the objects that create them. If you choose to study maths at university, you can move into a career in astronomy later (or just carry on with it as a hobby!). If you study astronomy or astrophysics at university, you will leave with strong maths skills. Lots of different employers value these skills. In the career profiles on this page you can find out more about astronomers who were also interested in numbers:

<urn:uuid:5da63186-96ac-4099-a9da-e73b5c417178>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.schoolsobservatory.org/careers/interested/numbers

2024-10-11T13:27:29Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Your mental health is as important as your physical well-being, and should be given the same care and attention. Taking care of your mental health and wellness is all about understanding your own needs and adapting routines and habits to meet them. Initially, this may seem difficult and even selfish, particularly if you aren't accustomed to having your wants and needs taken care of before attending to other loved ones. But since it's the cure to stress, worry, sadness, and exhaustion, it's worth the effort and attention. Try the following six tips to help shift your mind frame for better self-care. Ask for help No person is an island. Meaning at times, you will not have all the means to get you out of a sticky situation. You might find yourself retreating when life gets difficult, a decision that may lead you into isolation. Thoughts such as "how will my colleagues think of me" or "they might not help me" usually are the causes for isolation. During these times, bear in mind that you weren't meant to travel through hard times alone. Try and reach out for support from people you trust or loved ones who understand you. A mental health practitioner is also an option. Putting the needs of others before your own is divine and supportive; at times, it is even charitable. At other times, the urge to prioritize others before you is automatic. However, to function at your best, you need to take proper care of yourself. The first step of helping others is helping yourself first. Self-care gives you enough time to refresh your mind, rest, and regain your energy. Think of self-care as self-preservation and damage-prevention that you require for better functioning. Form a circle of people you trust A problem shared is a problem half solved. Communicating your feelings during anxious or stressful times is important for your mental health. Talking to people you can trust and turn to is key if you communicate your problems freely. If you don't have a team of trusted friends, or even 1 or 2, it is time you formed them! Know who your true friends are and include them in your team. This circle of trusted friends is a great way of getting you through the hard and depressing times. You don't have to spend lots of hours at the gym; the occasional walking in the park or hiking are also forms of exercise. These practices get your body moving and change your environment. Most health practitioners suggest that a minimum of 30 minutes daily is enough to keep you in a positive mental health frame. Exercise is also known to reduce stress, clear your thoughts, improve sleep, and help forge better relationships. To find your preferred exercise routine, find one you like doing it and keep doing it. Accept your reality In prioritizing your mental health it is important to: - Be realistic and accept your reality. - Start from knowing what drags you down, face them and try to find possible solutions. - Don't wish for things to be okay; instead use what is readily available to you. You can also face your stressors by writing them down in a journal. Start with the obvious ones as you dig into the more intricate ones. Once you have them on paper, face them and evaluate your situation. If it becomes hard, try sharing with other people, you never know what a pair of fresh eyes can pick out. Don't be afraid of facing the inevitable stressful and hard times. Form a team, exercise, and always take care of yourself. And always remember, we're here for you! xo

<urn:uuid:dc15faec-0b08-4e5f-a9c0-b506b9feb423>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.simplyjellin.com/en-us/blogs/real-talk/5-ways-of-prioritizing-your-mental-health-in-2022

2024-10-11T11:03:05Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

The Profit and Loss Account The Profit and Loss statement (P&L) is generally prepared annually and forms part of the accounting documents a limited company and sole trader need to produce to satisfy the tax authorities. It shows revenues, costs, and how much profit the business made for the period the statement covers which is usually 12 months. Anyone can prepare the statement, although most businesses choose an accountant to ensure accuracy. The P&L belongs to the general bookkeeping set of accounts that also includes a Balance Sheet and cash flow forecast. The key headings include sales, expenses, and profit before tax. Example Profit and Loss and Notes Here's an example and format of a profit and loss account that shows the standard headings and the notes for further analysis. Note | Heading | Value | 1 | Income/ Revenue/ Sales | £10,000 | 2 | Cost of Sales | £4,000 | 3 | Operating Profit | £6,000 | 4 | Other Direct Costs | £1,000 | 5 | Gross Margin | £5,000 | 6 | Expenses | £2,800 | 7 | Depreciation | £200 | 8 | Profit Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) | £2,000 | 9 | Net Interest Paid | £500 | 10 | Corporation Tax | £500 | 11 | Net Profit After Tax | £1,000 | You can prepare a simple P&L yourself by developing an Excel spreadsheet using the sample headings shown above. The template is the same whether you're a sole trader or limited company and you should direct any questions to your accountant. A consolidated profit and loss is the same format but generally consolidates a couple of business streams. Notes to the Accounts Here are the notes for the above P&L Note 1: Income Add all income from sales for the period the profit and loss statement includes whether or not you've received payment for the sale. If you've made the transaction but not received the cash, then this will be added to your debtors account on your balance sheet. Note 2: Cost of sales These are all costs directly associated with the sales mentioned above. They may include the cost of the product purchased and wages for people making the product. These are items invoiced in the period whether or not you have paid for them. If you've purchased stock, then this should be entered on the balance sheet. Only stock used in the accounting period gets recorded into the P&L. Note 3: Operating profit This line reports the first summary of the account and is simply income less cost of sales. Note 4: Other direct costs: If you have additional costs associated with the sales made other than wages and cost of goods sold then enter them here. Note 5: Gross profit This figure is just a calculation of operating profit less other direct costs. Note 6: Expenses Expenses or overheads are all other costs you've received invoices for during the period. These may include: - Rent and rates - Professional fees, such as legal, accounting and business insurance - Distribution and warehousing - Vehicle costs such as fuel and maintenance - Technology and computer costs such as hosting - Back-office staff salaries, national insurance, pensions, and bonuses - Stationery and postage - Utility costs such as heating, water, gas, and electricity List all the expenses in this section here. You should add items invoiced but not yet paid to your creditors' list. Note 7: Depreciation This line is an accounting adjustment and not directly used for tax calculation purposes. The tax authorities tell you what depreciation values you can use rather than what you have applied in your P&L. The other entry goes below fixed assets on your balance sheet to calculate the net asset figure. Note 8: Profit/ Earnings before interest and tax The EBIT calculation makes it easy to compare results between different companies. The reason for this is that interest received is not dependant upon the company selling more products. Corporation tax also make the results meaningless. Note 9: Interest This entry summarises interest and bank charges paid from your business within the accounting period. Note 10: Tax Tax will be the estimated amount of corporation tax on the business Note 11: Net profit after tax And finally, the net result is what's left. It's a calculation of all invoiced income less all invoiced expenses and purchases less interest and tax paid. This result provides your overall profit or loss in the period of the accounts.

<urn:uuid:517cb73d-cb9a-407b-b812-b3703f35ea52>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.smallbusinesspro.co.uk/small-business-finance/profit-loss-account.html

2024-10-11T12:45:06Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

modern c++ syntax recommends to use override keyword for virtual functions in derived classes, isn't it? why do we learn obsolete syntax? Well, it's C++03 here at SoloLearn. For learning the basics this is enough although getting familiar with the new syntax and concepts will be much more beneficial in real-life programming. thanks for honest answer. not sure that is good practice, students will face with"real life" and won't be ready because were learning an obsolete language version/syntax/style. how do you think what will their opinion about your learning courses? ;) @Ernst: Well, learning about a specific subject is oftentimes accompanied by learning about other stuff, too. Therefore, learning C++03 might not only serve the purpose of learning C++ itself, it might serve the purpose of learning algorithmic thinking. Additionally, learning a language that requires more focus on basic technical detail might help foster a deeper understanding of these technical details, too (there's actually a school of thought in teaching that goes for the bottom up approach learning assembler first). Nevertheless, it's not the perfect way for a programming apprenticeship but getting fit for a job is also a very specific goal.

<urn:uuid:faa6d584-caa3-4c13-93c9-2e9b048b9039>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.sololearn.com/pl/Discuss/45520/override-keyword

2024-10-11T11:54:51Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Building Sustainable Livelihoods For people living in poverty around the world, life is like the ancient Indian game of Snakes and Ladders. If you hit the bottom of a ladder, you will go up. If you hit the head of a snake, you will tumble down. Likewise, if the breadwinner of a poor household is taken ill or a farmer experiences a poor crop season, it is like hitting a snake’s head: the family can’t earn enough income to support themselves and remain in a state of poverty. To progress out of poverty, we believe that households need access to more ladders. Path out of Poverty There is no silver bullet, no 100-yard sprint. Progressing out of poverty is a long journey requiring multiple solutions across different sectors. We believe that the first step on this journey is for households to attain a stable mode of income generation which they can use to invest in affordable basic services like healthcare and education. With access to these services, the poor can begin to climb the ladders out of poverty. We call this our Path out of Poverty Model, and we collaborate with social enterprises to deliver solutions to empower the poor within these seven sectors.

<urn:uuid:62a7ddaf-7dd2-4f57-93ce-97f8e02c62c9>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.sophiaakashfoundation.com/sustainable-livelihoods/

2024-10-11T10:48:25Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

CLEAR LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE CLEAR LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGERt. 1, Box 74 Tulelake, California 96134-9715 Established in 1911, this 46,460 acre Refuge consists of approximately 20,000 acres of open water surrounded by upland habitat of bunch grass, low sagebrush, and juniper. Small rocky islands in the lake provide nesting sites for the American white pelican, double-crested cormorant, and other colonial nesting birds. The upland areas serve as habitat for pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and sage grouse. Except for limited waterfowl hunting and pronghorn antelope hunting during the regular California State seasons, the Refuge is closed to public access to protect fragile habitats and to reduce disturbance to wildlife. The Clear Lake reservoir is the primary source of water for the agricultural program of the eastern half of the Klamath Basin with water levels regulated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

<urn:uuid:0d122719-4215-43f5-a107-fc3b5d9d4c30>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.stateparks.com/clear_lake_national_wildlife_refuge_in_california.html

2024-10-11T12:41:21Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Whether you see the actions of these children as deliberate or not, do not let you emotions take over you for you to react in a heavy-handed way, even if you have good intentions. As adults, we are expected to see through these tantrums and difficult behavior to get at the root of the matter. Whether they want attention, are bored, hungry or restless, as an adult you must apply wisdom at all times with children. Most young children, only understand basic needs like food, sleep and the like and might be “acting out” to get your attention to what is inconveniencing them. Children are different just because your neighbor’s son is calm and quiet does not mean your hyper daughter is an idle troublemaker. Most times, you will notice that it is when your back is turned that the chaos begins, try facing them and communicate “toddler speak”. - This means developing full attention and presence with your children. You might wonder if you are losing out on your “me” time with friends and other fun things you believe you should be doing, but this is a sacrifice you must make to ensure you are children feel your presence around them. With adult supervision, most children will behave themselves automatically. - When you feel the need to put a stop to certain destructive behavior remember to maintain a firm voice as you speak to the child. To be more effective, maintain eye contact. You could also apply a warning/action policy. For example; when it is meal time and they throw their food away, give them a warning the first time, then the second time simply take it away from them and don’t say another word. Another example is if they like throwing their toys everywhere and messing the place. Remember warning first, then next time restore on a shelf where their hands won’t reach and change the activity quickly, acting composed and calm. Do that with everything else, a warning, and then an action, let them recognize the pattern, soon they would understand you and to behave. - Organize A Schedule Introduce some structure into the lives of these children. This takes idle time from them. A child would roam around with reckless abandon engaging anything that catches his/her eye but if that child’s day was structured that would have the child studying, playing, eating or engaged in a specific activity at a specific time, the chances of that child acting out would be slim, because mow you a child that is fully engaged. This will make them know when they are to do what, it won’t be easy at first, but patience and dedication would help you and them to cooperate in the long run. - Another technique is to engage them in your own activities, by making it all fun. A song or a dance routine can be inviting and fun, this will distract them from the regular path to do chaos. Do the singing whilst you work and let loose with them. Also play with them, in their own activities. This is bonding and will cause them to listen more and be more receptive. - Don’t be afraid to call them out when they show inappropriate behavior quickly and let it linger for a few seconds then change the activity casually. Also when they do something good, praise them and have a sensible reward for them even. This will prompt the others to follow suit since they know when they do something right they get rewarded, but let it not be a daily habit. As they might grow into it and believe for whatever they do, they deserve something for it. Once in a while is good enough. - Allow Them To Be Kids Once In A While This should be once in a week, as a shocking surprise. They should be allowed to let loose once In a while so they don’t feel caged and held. Perhaps once a week, preferably on a Sunday and let them see you watch them and wonder why you are not telling them to behave or stop, laugh and smile as well, then when Monday comes up, the time table is up.

<urn:uuid:efed48d8-5fc1-4c8c-a11a-791fbe991d80>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.stepbystep.com/how-to-handle-destructive-kids-177253/

2024-10-11T10:55:49Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

how old can a food truck be? The age of a food truck is typically not the primary concern when determining its eligibility to operate. Instead, regulations focus on the truck's condition, health and safety standards, and compliance with local, state, or national codes. Here are some considerations regarding the age of a food truck: - Safety and Health Regulations: Regardless of its age, a food truck must meet specific health and safety standards set by local health departments and other relevant regulatory bodies. This includes cleanliness, proper food storage, safe cooking procedures, and waste disposal. - Vehicle Regulations: Depending on the jurisdiction, there might be requirements related to emissions, vehicle safety, and roadworthiness. Older vehicles might face challenges meeting newer emission standards or might require more frequent maintenance to ensure they're safe for road use. - Operational Efficiency: Older food trucks might be less efficient in terms of fuel consumption, and parts for repairs might be harder to find. Additionally, older models might lack some of the modern conveniences and spatial optimizations found in newer trucks. - Appearance and Perception: The age of a food truck can influence public perception. A newer, shinier truck might be more appealing to some customers, while an older, vintage truck might have its own unique charm. However, a truck that appears dilapidated or unclean (regardless of its age) can deter potential customers. - Local Regulations: Some cities or regions may have specific regulations about the age of commercial vehicles, including food trucks, especially in areas with strict environmental regulations. - Insurance: Older vehicles might be more expensive to insure, or there might be restrictions or conditions placed by insurance providers based on the truck's age. In conclusion, while there's no specific "maximum age" for a food truck, various factors related to its age can influence its operability and success. Before purchasing or operating an older food truck, it's essential to be aware of all local regulations, potential operational costs, and the overall condition of the vehicle.

<urn:uuid:58804474-16e3-49fc-898d-268bbf76a27c>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.thefoodtrucknews.com/blog/how-old-can-a-food-truck-be

2024-10-11T12:22:43Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Urea is a form of nitrogen that is made in the kidneys to excrete excess nitrogen, mostly from eating protein, which cannot be stored in the body. It is also manufactured on a large scale for use as a fertilizer, although there are some other uses in explosive making, medicine and even cleaning car exhaust gases. Almost all the urea manufactured is converted into urea-formaldehyde, which is the most common type of nitrogen fertilizer used in agriculture and gardening. Urea is very soluble in water, so if applied as a fertilizer by itself only a very small amount can be used and it will quickly be carried away in drainage. The urea cannot be used directly by plants but it is naturally converted into ammonia on contact with water in the soil. This then dissolves in the water and can be absorbed by plants for growth. Nitrogen is needed by plants to make protein and also to make chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants used to trap light and make sugars to grow. However, if there is too much urea or ammonium in the soil it will draw water out of the roots and cause ‘fertilizer burn’, with the leaves shriveling and dying, often also killing the plant. This means that pure urea must be applied in very small amounts very often to be effective as a fertilizer. This is also what happens when dogs or cats urinate on your lawn. Methods For Slowly Releasing Urea So scientists worked on ways to save the cost and labor of these frequent small applications. They developed two methods of slowing the release of urea. The first method adds a water-resistant coating to a granule of urea and is called controlled-release. Examples are Nutricote™ and Osmocote™. These forms have a resin or polymer coating to slow down the release. Release of nitrogen is mostly influenced by temperature and higher temperatures accelerate the release. This is usually a good thing, since during warm weather when plants are growing more will be released, but in cooler weather less will be released, matching the growth of the plants and preventing pollution of drainage water. These granules are often found in fertilizers that last a whole season and are great for pots and planters. Other plant nutrients are added to make a complete fertilizer. A less-expensive type of coating is SCU (sulfur-coated urea). Here the urea granules are coated with molten sulphur, wax and then clay. The activity of soil microbes and water penetration through cracks in the coating allow the urea to escape into the soil. This material is cheaper to manufacture, so it is widely used in lawn fertilizers. Be careful handling lawn fertilizer, because if the granules are crushed they will release all the urea at once and cause burn which could kill the lawn. For cheaper fertilizers, especially for agriculture, the urea is turned into a less-soluble form called urea-formaldehyde. This does not contain the formaldehyde used to preserve dead animals. Since this does not immediately dissolve in water, it will stay in the soil as a solid until it is broken down. The molecules of urea-formaldehyde are of different sizes, depending on how exactly they are manufactured, and they have different degrees of solubility in water, affected by temperature. As well, soil microbes are needed to break down this material so plants can absorb it. Microbes are also more active at higher temperatures, so overall the rate of release of the fertilizer depends on the temperature, since both solubility and the amount of microbe activity is influenced by the soil temperature. Release is very slow below 50 degrees, so this material can be applied to lawns and gardens in the late fall. No nitrogen will be released until the soil warms up in the following spring, and a spring fertilizer application is not needed– a job saved at a busy time of year. Should I Use Urea On My Plants or Lawn? So you probably did not know that when you use a fertilizer on your trees, your lawn, your vegetables or your flowers, you are probably using urea in one form or another. Because it is also present in urine, there are those who suggest peeing on your compost heap is a good idea. The choice is yours! These kinds of fertilizers are essential for large-scale agriculture to feed a constantly growing world population. Chemically speaking what the plant takes up through its roots is identical, no matter where it came from. Organic material is essential for preserving the quality of the soil, but it is an often inefficient way to give plants nitrogen. If chemical fertilizers are used wisely they can be a great benefit to humanity.

<urn:uuid:5036ec0a-16da-4e17-8719-35b5f144a6b7>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.thetreecenter.com/what-is-urea/

2024-10-11T12:20:19Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

One of the most confusing things to ordinary gardeners is the names of plants. It can be difficult to choose a plant when you find it listed with different names, making you think there are several plants, where there is just one. There are good reasons, and clear explanations, for why this happens, and understanding these things will make life much easier for you when reading about plants, and choosing them. Let’s go through the main origins of plant names, and why they can get confusing. The most obvious reason for different names is mistakes. Names can be confusing for gardeners, and they can be confusing too for people who sell plants, or write about them. As an example, let’s take a look indoors, at houseplants, where errors in naming are especially common. Snake Plants are popular and easy to grow, and there are a lot of different varieties. One popular one is a plant with round, narrow leaves, which often grow up and then arch outwards. There is a wild plant growing in cliffs in the Congo, called by botanists Sansevieria bacularis. For some unknown reason, it is often called the Mikado Snake Plant. There is a similar plant that was created at Fernwood Nursery in California, by Rogers Weld. It’s a hybrid, and named after the nursery, so it is Sansevieria parva x suffruticosa ‘Fernwood’, or the Fernwood Snake Plant. Unfortunately, they do look similar – see this picture showing them side by side – but worst of all, we find all over the web the name ‘Fernwood Mikado’ given to it. Of course, if you buy one with that name, who knows which one you will actually get? It pays to check names carefully if you want a particular plant. Botanists go to a lot of effort to identify plants correctly. Each plant has a unique name, in Latin, and these are the best and most reliable way to name a plant. Notice that each name has two parts, and both are important. The first name, always starting with a capital letter, is the genus. That’s a collective group of similar plants, and can have just one plant in it, or several hundred. So if we use Acer, the name for maple trees, we aren’t really being very precise, because there are about 130 different species in that genus. We need to say Acer palmatum – Japanese maple, or Acer rubrum, our American red maple, before we can say we really have the right tree. Then of course we often need to add another name, the cultivar name, if we are talking about a garden plant. One way to be sure you are getting the plant you want, is to use cultivar names. What is a ‘cultivar’ you say? It is the official name given to a garden form of a particular plant. That is, you normally wouldn’t find this plant in the wild, and it is usually the result of selection in a nursery or garden somewhere in the world. It could be chance, or it could be the result of a long breeding program by a specialist. These are the names that, if used correctly, are in single quotes – Astilbe ‘Rheinland’, for example. These names have normally been registered with an independent organization, or given to the plant by the breeder/collector. Most nurseries are careful to reproduce these plants carefully, and if you use the cultivar name, you should get exactly what you are expecting. A Note on Grammar and Typography Those of us who work with plants like to do things right, so there are a few rules for using these botanical and cultivar names. - Firstly, botanical plant names are names like Mary Smith, or Tom Brown. You don’t say, “the Tom Brown has red hair”, and you don’t say, “The Acer palmatum has divided leaves”. Drop that ‘the’. - Second, these names are always distinguished by being written in italics. The genus name starts with a capital letter, but the species name doesn’t. - The names of cultivars are written in regular type, not italics, and they always start with a capital letter, and are surrounded by single quotes. These are easy rules, and they really make a difference, so I hope any writers reading this will follow them. In recent years there has been an explosion in the patenting of plants. The system has been around since 1931, but was little used for decades. The USA is the only country that allows a plant to be patented, but Canada and Europe have a similar scheme, called ‘Plant Breeder Rights’. These legal devices protect the breeder or patent holder from someone simply reproducing their plant without paying them a fee. Patents are granted to a plant under its cultivar name, a name that cannot be ‘owned’, so once the patent protection on reproduction has expired, that name is available to anyone to use. Patents only last 20 years, and breeders might want to extend their rights for longer than that – it can, after all, take 10 years for a plant to become popular and have a big market. So breeders and nurseries have turned to using trademarks for plants. These are shown by either the ™ symbol, which gives limited rights, or by the ® symbol, which has stronger protections. Although a single registration only lasts 10 years, it can be renewed indefinitely. To help strengthen the trademark name – good for ever – over the patent name – only good for 20 years, breeders ‘downplay’ the patent name by making it difficult to use, and obscure. So you see cultivar names (used for patents remember) that are nothing but letters or numbers – such as these real examples: ‘Pas702917’; ‘RLH-GA1’; ‘ILVO347’; ‘Novanepjun’; ‘SMNPOTW’. This means that when the patent expires, although anyone can then use these names to sell the plant, they have such limited recognition, no one is going to buy a plant based on that name. Instead, the trademark name becomes the name nurseries and gardens use, and that way the original breeder/owner continues to reap the benefits of their work forever. Another Cause of Confusion Here is a last example of how confusing all these names can become. Crapemyrtles, or Lagerstroemia, are popular and vibrant flowering trees and shrubs that thrive in hot areas. There are many different ones. Dr. Cecil Pounder is a Research Geneticist at the Thad Cochran Southern Horticulture Laboratory, in Poplarville, Mississippi. There he bred a series of plants with ordinary cultivar names, and didn’t patent them, since they were bred using tax-payer funds – they should belong to every American. He gave them all names that started with ‘Ebony’, so ‘Ebony Embers’, ‘Ebony Glow’, etc. These were sold under those names for years. Then a nursery decided to re-label them, and gave them new, trademark names, using the name Black Diamond, because they all have dark-red leaves. They followed that with a color. So ‘Ebony Flame’ became Best Red™ Black Diamond®, and so on. If that Black Diamond® name becomes widely used, then the nursery makes a profit from plants that they had no part in creating. To help you sort this out, here are the equivalents. You can make your own decision on what you think of practices like this. - ‘Ebony & Ivory’ = Pure White™ Black Diamond® - ‘Ebony Embers’ = Red Hot™ Black Diamond® - ‘Ebony Fire’ = Crimson Red™ Black Diamond® - ‘Ebony Flame’ = Best Red™ Black Diamond® - ‘Ebony Glow’ = Blush™ Black Diamond®

<urn:uuid:0e37d0fd-ff72-409f-ae94-b53199882cb2>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.thetreecenter.com/why-do-the-same-plants-sometimes-have-different-names/

2024-10-11T11:57:51Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

London, 5 October 1999. Two trains loaded with commuters collided head-on, killing 31 passengers and injuring 417, making history as one of the worst rail accidents in Britain, after the one that occurred a few kilometres away, in Southall, two years earlier. The collision, which occurred near Paddington station, is known as the 1999 rail crash. Ladbroke Grove. The causes of the clash On 5 October 1999, at 8.06am, a Thames Trains train left the busy London Paddington station, bound for Bedwyn station in Wiltshire, with 147 passengers on board. The railway line between Paddington and Ladbroke Grove Junction is bi-directional, i.e. with a one-way trackwhich trains must travel along, stopping at stops, signalled by a series of traffic lights. This is a complex route, during which the driver must pay close attention every time he encounters a traffic light. That morning, the Thames Trains train arriving at Portobello Junction, driven by 31-year-old Michael Hodder, failed to stop at the stop sign signalling the arrival of another train from the west, i.e. from the opposite direction, hitting it head-on. The train collided at a speed of around 210 km/h with a high-speed Intercity train of the Great Western Railway company, departing from Cheltenham and headed for London Paddington station. The violent impact between the two trains will cause the death of both drivers and 29 passengers, 23 of whom are passengers of the British Rail Class 165 of Thames Trains and 5 of whom are travelling on the high-speed train. In addition to the deaths, the collision causes 417 injuries, becoming one of the worst rail accidents in the history of Great Britain. When firefighters and rescuers arrive at the scene of the disaster, they find the survivors immersed in a hell of fire and sheet metal. The more minor injuries, who fortunately escaped death, are in shock, and fires are raging all around. The Class 165 is structurally less solid than the Intercity, whose structure is around 400 tons, which will cause the destruction of an entire carriage of the Thames Trains vehicle and a violent explosion. But why didn’t Hodder stop at the stop signal? Thames Trains trains are equipped with a automatic alarm systemwhich warns the driver whenever the train passes a traffic light, whether it is yellow (the all-clear signal) or red. The driver, when he receives the stop signal, must confirm that he has received the alarm by pressing a button. But did Hodder do that that day? The investigations and the responsibilities Unfortunately, having lost his life, Hodder could not provide an explanation for that unusual gesture for an experienced engineer, which the investigators initially interpreted as a possible suicide. It was crucial to find the black box. Meanwhile, investigators discovered during the investigation that on the Sn109 signalwhere Hodder was supposed to stop, the 4 lights on the traffic light were not positioned in sequence, but in an L shape, making one of the lights less visible than the others. From the black box recovered from the wreckage, it was clear that Michael Hodder had responded to the alarm signal at point Sn109, but had decided to continue, deceived by the traffic light considered anomalousThe Healthy and Safety Executive, who were investigating the route taken by the Thames Trains train on 5 October, had another train take the same route as the Class 165 at the same time and found that at 8am the sun was low and behind the trains, making the L-shaped light at Sn109 either poorly visible or even a different colour. Hodder, that morning, due to the reflection of the sun, may have mistaken the red signal for yellow and instead of stopping the train, accelerated. The young driver had therefore not deliberately led the passengers to certain death, but Network Rail, the company that had installed the semaphore at point Sn109, was instead fined for negligence. Finally, Thames Trains also paid for the disaster, for not having provided Michael Hodder with the correct training regarding the dangerous and misleading traffic light Sn109. Following the Ladbroke Grove disaster, Network Rail replaced the L-shaped traffic lights and, to make Britain’s railway lines even safer, trains running on that route have now been fitted with an automatic stopping system.

<urn:uuid:01402c53-a9ce-40d6-9a24-7c5ccf9596f9>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.thevermilion.com/that-deceptive-traffic-light-and-the-train-collision-involving-hundreds-of-passengers/

2024-10-11T10:48:03Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Estimating Equilibrium Temperature Introduction to Equilibrium Temperature The equilibrium temperature of a planet, including Earth, is the temperature at which the energy absorbed from incoming solar radiation is equal to the energy radiated back into space. This balance is affected by several intricate factors that either augment or diminish the effective temperature of a celestial body. - Definition and Implication: Albedo is a dimensionless fraction that measures the reflective capacity of a surface. It plays an instrumental role in determining how much solar radiation is absorbed by a celestial body, influencing its overall energy balance. - Variability: Different surfaces and atmospheres exhibit distinct albedo values. For instance, snow-covered regions have a high albedo and reflect most of the incoming sunlight, while ocean surfaces, with a low albedo, absorb a significant portion of the solar energy. - Calculation and Formula: It’s represented mathematically as: - Albedo = Total scattered power / Total incident power - This equation offers a quantitative method to measure albedo, aiding in comprehensive energy balance calculations. - Nature and Scope: Emissivity gauges a surface's efficiency in emitting infrared radiation. Every material has a distinct emissivity value influenced by its physical properties and temperature. - Role in Energy Balance: Understanding emissivity is vital as it impacts the rate at which energy is radiated back into space, affecting the equilibrium temperature. - Calculation and Expression: Emissivity is quantified by: - Emissivity = Power radiated per unit area / (σ * T4) - Here, σ is the Stefan–Boltzmann constant and T is the absolute temperature. - Definition: The solar constant represents the energy received per unit area at the outer atmosphere of Earth. It’s termed 'constant' due to its relatively stable value over time. - Impact on Climate Dynamics: Fluctuations in the solar constant can induce significant changes in the Earth's climate, making its monitoring and understanding essential. Energy Balance Equation Balancing the Energies Balancing incoming and outgoing energy is pivotal in estimating the equilibrium temperature of Earth or any other celestial body. The process encompasses a thorough assessment of albedo, emissivity, and the solar constant. - Energy In: This is the solar radiation received by Earth. A part of it is reflected back into space (depending on albedo), and the rest is absorbed. - Energy Out: Earth emits thermal radiation back into space. The rate and intensity of this emission are influenced by the planet’s emissivity. - Equation: The energy balance can be expressed as: - (1 - Albedo) * S = Emissivity * σ * T4 Energy balance in Greenhouse Effect Image Courtesy Bikesrcool This equation is central to understanding how various factors influence the Earth's temperature. Solving Energy Balance Problems Energy Exchange between Surface and Atmosphere An intricate exchange of energy occurs between the Earth's surface and atmosphere. The surface emits thermal radiation, and the atmosphere, imbued with greenhouse gases, absorbs and re-emits it. - Energy Layers: The atmosphere is comprised of multiple layers, each having distinct properties and behaviours in energy absorption and emission. - Mathematical Analysis: Equations and models considering these layers' distinct properties provide a nuanced understanding of the energy exchange dynamics. Mathematical models enable the simulation of the complex energy exchanges within the Earth-atmosphere system. They incorporate albedo, emissivity, and solar constant, offering insights into temperature patterns, climate dynamics, and potential future changes. - Model Complexity: These models can range from simple energy balance models to complex simulations involving intricate atmospheric dynamics and oceanic currents. - Predictive Analysis: Such models are crucial in forecasting future climate patterns, assessing human impacts, and developing adaptation and mitigation strategies. Application in Earth’s Climate System The principles of energy balance are not confined to theoretical analysis but have profound implications in real-world scenarios, particularly in Earth’s climate system. - Climate Models: The foundational principles of energy balance underpin the construction of elaborate climate models. These models are instrumental in predicting temperature variations, assessing climate change impacts, and developing responsive strategies. - Policy Development: Insights derived from these models inform policy and decision-making at international, national, and regional levels. Climate Change and Human Activity Human activities, notably the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, are profoundly altering the energy balance, leading to accelerated global warming. - Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Enhanced concentration of greenhouse gases amplifies the atmosphere’s ability to trap outgoing radiation, disrupting the natural energy balance. - Impact Assessment: Energy balance calculations are vital in quantifying human influence and formulating strategies to mitigate adverse impacts. Key Learning Points for Students - Deep Understanding: Students should strive for a deep, comprehensive understanding of how albedo, emissivity, and solar constants dynamically influence Earth's equilibrium temperature. - Analytical Skills: Developing the ability to analyse and interpret energy balance equations will empower students to model and understand the multifaceted energy exchanges within the Earth-atmosphere system. - Real-World Application: Extending this knowledge to real-world scenarios will facilitate a profound understanding of climate dynamics, the impacts of human activities, and the pathways to a sustainable future. - Data Analysis: Engaging in practical exercises that involve analysing real-world data to estimate Earth’s equilibrium temperature and assess the impact of changing albedo and emissivity values. - Simulation Tools: Utilising simulation tools to visualise and comprehend the complex interactions within the Earth-atmosphere energy system. Through an in-depth exploration and understanding of energy balance calculations, students will gain not just theoretical insights but also practical skills essential for analysing and interpreting the complex interplay of factors shaping Earth’s climate. This understanding is instrumental in fostering an informed perspective on climate dynamics, the ramifications of human interventions, and the imperative for sustainable practices to restore and maintain Earth’s energy balance. Yes, changes in Earth’s surface emissivity can influence climate patterns. Surface emissivity is dynamic, affected by alterations in land use, urbanisation, and natural processes. These changes affect the amount of thermal energy radiated back into space, impacting the global energy balance and climate. Scientists measure these changes using remote sensing technologies, including satellites equipped with sensors to detect and quantify the emitted thermal radiation from the Earth’s surface. Analyzing this data over time helps in understanding the trends, variations, and impacts of changing emissivity on the Earth’s climate patterns. An increase in greenhouse gas concentrations enhances the atmosphere’s ability to absorb and re-radiate thermal energy, disrupting the Earth’s energy balance. As the atmosphere becomes more effective at trapping heat, the outgoing radiation decreases, leading to a net increase in stored energy and a rise in surface temperature, a phenomenon commonly referred to as the greenhouse effect. This alteration in energy balance contributes to global warming and climate change, leading to a range of environmental impacts including rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, and shifts in ecosystems and wildlife populations. Various tools and methods are employed to estimate Earth’s equilibrium temperature. These include climate models that incorporate complex algorithms and equations to simulate the Earth’s energy balance, considering factors like albedo, emissivity, and the solar constant. Remote sensing technologies, such as satellites, are used to collect real-time data on these parameters globally. Ground-based observation stations also contribute to this data pool. The integration of this data into climate models allows scientists to estimate the Earth's current equilibrium temperature and predict future trends under different scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions and land-use changes. Human activities, particularly urbanisation and deforestation, can significantly impact Earth's albedo. Urban surfaces, roads, and buildings often have lower albedos than natural landscapes, leading to increased absorption of solar energy and urban heat islands. Deforestation reduces the Earth’s overall albedo as forests, especially those covered in snow, are generally good reflectors of solar energy. Consequently, these activities exacerbate global warming by increasing energy absorption. Balancing urban development with green spaces and implementing policies to curtail deforestation are crucial steps to mitigate these albedo changes and their impact on the global climate. The solar constant is a critical factor in energy balance calculations, representing the total energy received at the outer atmosphere of Earth per unit area per unit time. Although termed a "constant", it can exhibit slight variations due to the Sun's energy output fluctuations. These changes, though minimal, can impact Earth’s energy balance and, subsequently, the climate. A higher solar constant means more incoming energy, potentially leading to a warmer climate, whereas a decrease could result in cooling. Accurately accounting for the solar constant is essential for precise energy balance calculations and predicting future climatic conditions. The albedo effect is intrinsic to Earth's energy balance and equilibrium temperature. Oceans, having a low albedo, absorb a significant amount of incoming solar radiation, converting it into heat energy, which raises the Earth's temperature. In contrast, forests, especially those covered with snow, have a higher albedo, reflecting a substantial portion of solar energy back into space, mitigating temperature rise. This dynamic interplay between different surface features directly impacts the energy balance, with areas of low albedo contributing to warming and high albedo areas promoting cooling, influencing the overall equilibrium temperature of the Earth. Emissivity is pivotal in determining Earth's equilibrium temperature as it measures the efficiency of a surface in emitting thermal radiation. For example, an area covered in dense vegetation has a different emissivity compared to an urban environment. Urban areas, laden with concrete and metal structures, often have higher emissivity, releasing more thermal energy into the atmosphere. This phenomenon, known as the urban heat island effect, exemplifies a real-world scenario where variations in surface emissivity lead to localised increases in temperature. Consequently, understanding emissivity variations is vital for accurate energy balance calculations and climate modelling.

<urn:uuid:c46d30df-965c-413f-b85a-dd0042181196>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.tutorchase.com/notes/ib/physics-2025/2-2-5-energy-balance-calculations

2024-10-11T12:34:04Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

The United Nations and the Food Security Challenges Confronting the Global Community The evidence is quite clear: Action is needed by the international community on the way we grow, share and consume our food if we are to address the hunger needs of the 925 million people who are chronically malnourished in the world today. To further exacerbate this problem, by the year 2050 there will be 2 billion more mouths to feed. In order to keep pace with the needs of such an acceleration in the population, it is estimated that food production must increase by 70%. According to Ilse Aigner, the German federal minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection "Agriculture is supposed to produce food and it is supposed to produce energy to fight climate change but there is not much space left in the field [to accomplish this]."Today our soils, freshwater, oceans, forests and biodiversity are consistently being degraded due to climate change, natural disasters and global population pressures. Because land is rapidly degrading, as Mr. Aigner stated, many people are having to migrate from their rural homes into the cities. Urbanization is accelerating at an alarming pace.According to United Nations’ statistics, at present, there are 3.2 billion city dwellers – more than half of the world’s total population. Now, fast forward to the year 2030, this figure jumps to 5 billion which roughly equates to 60% of the world's inhabitants residing in urban areas. The sustainability of our cities are threatened. http://www.foodnavigator.com/Financial-Industry/Urbanization-threatens-world-food-security. The food security challenge is a problem of immense proportion that requires multilateral solutions. The world cannot ignore this matter and somehow hope it resolves itself over time. This will not happen. It must be addressed now! The U.N. Recognizes the Urgency of the MatterAs is the case with many of the world's most difficult challenges, the U.N. has stepped forward and taken the lead to mobilize global support. In June 2012, at the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Zero Hunger Challenge initiative which "invites all countries to work for a future where every individual has adequate nutrition and where all food systems are resilient." Speaking in Rio, the Secretary-General added, "Zero hunger would boost economic growth, reduce poverty and safeguard the environment. It would foster peace and stability." He urged all of the constituent groups present - from business to farmers, to scientists to civil society to ordinary consumers - to help in the fight to stamp out hunger. Zero Hunger Challenge has five specific objectives to address this issue: · 100% access to adequate food all year round. · Zero stunted children under 2 years, no more malnutrition in pregnancy and early childhood. · All food systems are sustainable. · 100% growth in smallholder productivity and income, particularly for women. · Zero loss or waste of food, including responsible consumption. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42304#.UoffT5V3uUkIn September of this year Jose Graziano da Silva, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO - a U.N. agency), spoke at a high-level event at U.N. Headquarters in New York titled:MDG Success: Accelerating Action and Partnering for Impact. The event sought to increase action on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by showcasing those programs that are achieving success.The Zero Hunger Challenge initiative was highlighted as a success story. Mr. Graziano da Silva said, "The Zero Hunger Challenge calls for something new - something bold, but long overdue." "[The challenge marks] a decisive global commitment to end hunger; eliminating stunting; make all food systems sustainable; eradicate rural poverty; and minimize food waste and losses." The continent of Africa faces the greatest burden as it relates to food insecurity. Climate change has already altered many nations weather patterns causing more prolonged droughts, floods and cyclones. The wild swings in weather wreaks havoc on the growing seasons, thus reducing many of the vital crops relied upon to feed their populations. In addition, they must grapple with a scarcity of resources, a population expected to double by 2050 and, of course, having the most hungry people in the world. Food prices are expected to double as demand increases compounding an already fragile situation.The Horn of Africa, according to the FAO, is "...one of the most food insecure regions in the world." It is estimated that 40% of the populace is undernourished. The region encompasses seven countries - Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan and Uganda. This area is acutely susceptible to two factors that drive its food insecurity:environmental conditions and conflict. Drought plays a huge role in the ability of these countries to produce food. In Karamoja, Uganda, an extended period of no rainfall has increased its "lean season." In the Sudan, food subsidies have been lifted and lower crop production threatens to worsen food insecurity in this area. The unforgiving landscape, the overall weakened health conditions of its inhabitants and the lack of quality education are several contributing factors that the FAO points out as additional challenges in confronting the food insecurity dilemma in this part of the world. Where To Go From Here: Potential Solutions To Solve This ProblemAs the Secretary-General pointed out at Rio+20, this issue will require the ability of all stakeholders to come together for one common purpose: Confronting the challenge of food insecurity. From the private sector, the corporate food processing giant Cargill believes governments should support open markets because they feel that this increases food surpluses. The surplus of food can reach those areas of the world whose need is the greatest. They also feel that smallholder farmers require assistance in how best to sustainably produce agriculture. In Kenya the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), a non-governmental organization (NGO), hosted a forum last summer to develop innovative ways to address the issue of food insecurity. The NGO looks to help move small farmers out of poverty. They seek to create avenues to increase productivity and income of farmers while at thesame time preserving and protecting the environment. AGRA initiated Kenya Vision 2030 which is a development model comprising three pillars: Economic, Social and Political. The Economic pillar seeks 10% annual growth; the Social pillar is to ensure a clean environment as well as equitable and fair social development; and the Political pillar seeks a system that is democratic and accountable to the people. Food insecurity not only poses a threat to citizens of those affected nations, but the economic costs are equally as daunting. According to the FAO's report "The State Of Food And Agriculture", malnutrition and its associated health concerns account for 5% of global gross domestic product (GDP). If this matter is left unchecked, the economic and social ramifications on a global scale are, to say the least, going to be staggering. Action is clearly needed now.

<urn:uuid:19e57475-0fbe-4b62-ae7c-7f592a10dd54>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.unausannj.org/post/the-united-nations-and-the-food-security-challenges-confronting-the-global-community

2024-10-11T10:54:05Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Halema'uma'u Vent Rim Collapse (October 14, 2008) This video, from October 14, 2008, shows two collapses of the rim of the informally-named Overlook vent and the subsequent emission of ash (see http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/timeline/ for links describing eruptive activity at the summit of Kilauea Volcano). These collapses were part of a sequence of collapses that occurred on October 14 and which culminated in an explosive eruption later in the afternoon that blasted tephra onto the Halema'uma'u crater rim. The images that comprise this video were acquired by a webcam positioned on the rim of Halema'uma'u Crater about 85 meters (280 feet) above the Overlook vent. The image acquisition rate was 1 frame every 2 seconds, and the resulting video is played at 12 frames per second.

<urn:uuid:619da653-04d3-4939-8085-e25152ae9faf>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/halemaumau-vent-rim-collapse-october-14-2008

2024-10-11T10:55:58Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

- Apply to UW - Programs & Majors - Cost & Financial Aid - Current Students - UW Life - About UW Published January 06, 2023 The Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD) and the Rocky Mountain Herbarium, both located at the University of Wyoming, recently teamed up to create a shared online Species Photo Gallery. The gallery features Wyoming’s wild plants and animals, represented by nearly 7,500 photos of more than 1,650 species and taken by over 240 photographers. The current content covers close to half of the state flora. The gallery is available at www.wyndd.org/gallery/. “Wyoming has an incredible endowment of plants and animals in the wild,” says Bonnie Heidel, lead botanist at WYNDD. “We provide this photo gallery as a set of high-quality images, many of which have been peer-reviewed, representing common and rare species, both native and introduced.” Photos can be searched in the photo gallery by using any part of a species’ common name or scientific name. The gallery incorporates all species photos in the Wyoming Field Guide as well as the core set of species photos provided by Robert and Jane Dorn to the Rocky Mountain Herbarium. The gallery significantly expands coverage of many more common plant species. The Rocky Mountain Herbarium already provides a specimen database tool that calls up specimen data and accompanying digitized specimen images. The new Species Photo Gallery brings plant specimen images to life, as they might be viewed outdoors. With the support of UW’s Wyoming DataHub, the Species Photo Gallery was launched as the first of a set of new tools to allow broader audiences to discover the flora of Wyoming. The gallery represents both the Rocky Mountain Herbarium as the best source of information on the flora of Wyoming and the region, and WYNDD as the most complete source of information on plant and animal species and habitats of concern in Wyoming.

<urn:uuid:f5de76b0-13d6-49ee-813e-b87bcd822a3a>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.uwyo.edu/news/2023/01/uws-wyndd-and-rocky-mountain-herbarium-launch-species-photo-gallery.html

2024-10-11T12:10:16Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

World Wetlands Day is observed on February 2nd annually to raise awareness about the vital role wetlands play in our ecosystems. This day holds special significance as it emphasizes the connection between wetlands and human wellbeing. Let's delve into the history, significance, and activities associated with World Wetlands Day 2024. When the World Wetlands Day was celebrated for the first time? World Wetlands Day was first celebrated on February 2, 1997. This date marks the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an international treaty aimed at conserving and utilizing wetlands sustainably. Since then, the day has been observed globally, highlighting the importance of preserving these unique ecosystems. Wetlands are areas where water meets land, creating a diverse and dynamic environment that supports a wide range of plant and animal life. They include marshes, swamps, bogs, and even mangroves. Wetlands act as nature's water filters, purifying water and providing habitat for countless species. The theme for World Wetlands Day 2024 is Wetlands and Human Wellbeing. This underscores the crucial connection between healthy wetlands and the overall wellness of our communities. Wetlands contribute to our lives in various ways, from providing clean water to supporting biodiversity and offering recreational opportunities. World Wetlands Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the value of wetlands and the need for their conservation. These unique ecosystems face numerous threats, including pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. By celebrating this day, we aim to educate people about the importance of preserving wetlands for current and future generations. World Wetlands Day holds immense significance because wetlands play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. They act as natural sponges, absorbing and storing excess water during storms, reducing the risk of floods. Wetlands also serve as nurseries for fish and other aquatic species, supporting biodiversity and sustaining livelihoods. Communities around the world engage in various activities to mark World Wetlands Day. These can include educational workshops, nature walks, and cleanup campaigns. Students, in particular, can participate in essay competitions, art contests, and hands-on projects to learn more about wetlands and their importance. As we celebrate World Wetlands Day in 2024, let's reflect on the actions we can take to protect these crucial ecosystems. Simple acts, such as reducing water pollution and participating in wetland restoration projects, can make a significant difference. By understanding the importance of wetlands, we empower ourselves to contribute to their conservation. World Wetlands Day 2024 provides us with an opportunity to appreciate the interconnectedness of wetlands and human well-being. By celebrating this day, we not only acknowledge the historical significance of the Ramsar Convention but also highlight the ongoing need for wetland conservation. Let's join hands in ensuring the health and vitality of these essential ecosystems for the benefit of both nature and humanity. 1. Which day is celebrated as World Wetlands Day? World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2nd every year. 2. When the World Wetlands Day was celebrated for the first time? The first World Wetlands Day was celebrated on February 2, 1997. 3. What is World Wetlands Day? World Wetlands Day is an annual event to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands in our ecosystems and promote their conservation. 4. What is World Wetlands Day Significance? World Wetlands Day is significant as it highlights the role of wetlands in maintaining ecological balance, providing clean water, and supporting biodiversity. 5. About World Wetlands Day in 30 words? World Wetlands Day, observed on February 2nd, commemorates the Ramsar Convention's adoption. It emphasizes wetlands' vital role in human well-being, promoting awareness and conservation through activities worldwide.

<urn:uuid:3dd6b583-d8f8-44c5-9cf9-80a4736f0b15>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.vedantu.com/blog/world-wetlands-day

2024-10-11T11:26:55Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Imagine a world without glass. It may sound absurd, but think about it. Glass plays a crucial role in our everyday lives, more than we often realize. It’s not just about windows or mirrors; it’s about those glass jars that keep our food fresh, the bottles that store our favorite beverages, and the vials that protect life-saving medicines. Glass packaging, in particular, is indispensable in various industries, and it’s all thanks to its unique properties and versatility. Take the food and beverage industry, for instance. Have you ever noticed how premium drinks like wine or craft beer often come in glass bottles? That’s no coincidence. Glass doesn’t react with the contents it stores, maintaining the integrity and flavor of the product. Plus, it’s 100% recyclable, making it an eco-friendly option in an increasingly environmentally conscious world. But let’s not forget about the pharmaceutical industry. Here, glass packaging isn’t just a preference; it’s often a necessity. Medicines require stringent storage conditions to remain effective, and glass can offer this protection. Whether it’s preserving the potency of a vaccine or ensuring a tablet stays dry, glass packaging is up to the task. The science behind glass packaging Calaso, a leading name in the glass manufacturing industry, specializes in creating high-quality glass packaging. But what goes into making these resilient packages? Let’s delve into the science behind it. The making of resilient glass packages Glass production begins with raw materials like sand, soda ash, and limestone. These are heated together at incredibly high temperatures until they melt into a molten mass. This is then cooled rapidly to form a solid yet malleable material – glass. But Glasmeister takes it a step further. Their glass is tempered, making it even tougher and more resistant to breakage. This tempering process involves heating the glass and then cooling it swiftly, creating internal stresses that reinforce its structure. But the science of glass packaging isn’t just about strength; it’s also about precision and consistency. Glasmeister ensures that each package, whether it’s a tiny vial or a large bottle, meets the highest quality standards. This involves meticulous checks for thickness, clarity, and imperfections, ensuring that each product is flawless and fit for its intended use. Innovative designs in glass packaging When it comes to glass packaging, functionality and aesthetics often go hand in hand. A beautifully designed bottle or jar not only serves its purpose but also appeals to the consumer’s senses, influencing their purchasing decisions. Glasmeister understands this intersection of utility and beauty. They offer a wide range of designs, from classic shapes to innovative, custom-made solutions. Their team works closely with clients to understand their needs and preferences, translating these into unique packaging solutions that stand out on the shelf. But it’s not just about looks; design also plays a crucial role in Closures. Closures are essential for maintaining the integrity of the product inside the package. They create a seal that protects the contents from external contaminants while also preventing leakage or spillage. Glasmeister offers various closure options, from traditional screw caps to modern, easy-open designs, ensuring that each package is as user-friendly as it is attractive. Environmental benefits of glass packaging In an era of growing environmental consciousness, glass packaging shines as a sustainable option. Unlike some other materials, glass can be recycled indefinitely without losing its quality. This means that every glass bottle or jar we recycle can be turned into a new one, reducing the need for raw materials and energy in production. Plus, glass is made from abundant natural resources like sand, making it a relatively low-impact material. And because it’s non-reactive, it doesn’t leach harmful substances into the environment or the products it stores. All these factors make glass packaging a win-win for businesses and the planet alike. Looking forward: future trends in glass packaging As we look to the future, it’s clear that glass packaging will continue to evolve. Innovations in technology and design will drive the development of even more resilient, versatile, and eco-friendly packages. We may see smarter glass packages that can monitor product quality or interact with consumers. We may also see more lightweight designs that save on material and transport costs. One thing is certain: companies like Glasmeister will be at the forefront of these developments, pushing the boundaries of what glass packaging can do. So next time you pick up a glass bottle or jar, take a moment to appreciate the science, innovation, and sustainability that goes into its creation. After all, it’s not just a package; it’s a testament to the power of glass.

<urn:uuid:b9a61508-236b-4c98-9597-d70f167127a2>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://www.washingtontimesmail.com/unpacking-the-need-for-specialized-glass-packaging/

2024-10-11T11:21:46Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

If you are keeping a Yorkie appropriately feed, it is the most important part of taking care of the dog. The quality of food that you feed your dog has a direct effect on the dog i.e. effect on its health as well as its behavior. There are some stages of a Yorkie’s life and it is very important to have the correct knowledge of the different stages and food requirements accordingly i.e. when what & how much is needed so that the dog may enjoy a perfectly balanced diet. The exact quantity of food that you need to feed your dog depends on the age of the dog. As mentioned earlier the dog goes through different growth stages through its life, and its food demands change accordingly. It is, however, preferable that you feed an adult 2-3 small meals throughout the day as this is a very small dog breed and they can get ill because of the long break between meals compared to other big breeds who can live with only one main meal in a day. In the early stages of its life from (4-7 weeks – 3 months old), the dog needs to be free-fed to grow properly and get proper nutrition which is quite important in the early stage of life and pup can eat as much as it wants. This helps to prevent Hypoglycemia. In the later stage of life (3 months – 1 year) it is the right time to make a schedule to feed your dog 2-3 small meals, and that will also allow you to trace when your dog wants to go out. There is however always room for a snack. When your dog is 1-year- old, it will then be an adult, and now you can reduce the number of times you feed your dog but however now you have to increase the quantity scheduled to two big meals.

<urn:uuid:4c2a8637-254d-4f1a-9577-bdca5ba40d40>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://yorkie.yorkshireterrier.xyz/how-to-feed-a-yorkie

2024-10-11T11:25:58Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944253762.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241011103532-20241011133532-00825.warc.gz

en

Return to Thrillers “Thrillers” are detective, spy or adventure stories. Their basic characteristic is conflict, which means: a clash of goals, which means: purposeful action in pursuit of values. Thrillers are the product, the popular offshoot, of the Romantic school of art that sees man, not as a helpless pawn of fate, but as a being who possesses volition, whose life is directed by his own value-choices. Romanticism is a value-oriented, morality-centered movement: its material is not journalistic minutiae, but the abstract, the essential, the universal principles of man’s nature—and its basic literary commandment is to portray man “as he might be and ought to be.” Thrillers are a simplified, elementary version of Romantic literature. They are not concerned with a delineation of values, but, taking certain fundamental values for granted, they are concerned with only one aspect of a moral being’s existence: the battle of good against evil in terms of purposeful action—a dramatized abstraction of the basic pattern of: choice, goal, conflict, danger, struggle, victory. Thrillers are the kindergarten arithmetic, of which the higher mathematics is the greatest novels of world literature. Thrillers deal only with the skeleton—the plot structure—to which serious Romantic literature adds the flesh, the blood, the mind. The plots in the novels of Victor Hugo or Dostoevsky are pure thriller-plots, unequaled and unsurpassed by the writers of thrillers. . . . Thrillers are the last refuge of the qualities that have vanished from modern literature: life, color, imagination; they are like a mirror still holding a distant reflection of man.

<urn:uuid:57d500b8-b12f-48b0-b868-8903b3cef1b8>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/thrillers/1.html

2024-10-12T14:54:30Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Contains the keyword background The Barnett Shale and Marcellus Shale have similar geological properties. The Barnett Shale is known as a "tight" gas reservoir, indicating that the gas is not easily extracted. The shale is very hard, and it was virtually impossible to produce gas in commercial quantities from this formation until recent improvements were made in hydraulic fracturing technology and horizontal drilling, and there was an upturn in the natural gas price. Future development of the field will be hampered in part by the fact that major portions of the field are in urban areas, including the rapidly growing Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Some local governments are researching means by which they can drill on existing public land (e.g., parks) without disrupting other activities so they may obtain royalties on any minerals found, whereas others are seeking compensation from drilling companies for damage to roads caused by overweight vehicles (many of the roads are rural and not designed for use by heavy equipment). In addition, drilling and exploration have generated significant controversy. See the Notes and External Links on this Ft. Worth, Texas Shale deposit using fracking since 2005. Also see Sharon Wilson, Bluedaze Blog. Please note that information taken from Wikipedia should be verified using other, more reliable sources. It is a good place to start research, but because anyone can edit Wikipedia, we do not recommend using it in research papers or to obtain highly reliable information. Our mission is to explore life beneath the seafloor and make transformative discoveries that advance science, benefit society, and inspire people of all ages and origins. In a provocative 1992 essay, Thomas Gold postulated the existence of a "deep, hot biosphere", supported by geological energy sources. The potential for the oceanic deep biosphere to influence global biogeochemical processes scales with the size of the subseafloor as a habitat. The ramifications of a massive buried biosphere of "intraterrestrial microbes" are significant, leading to paradigm shifts in our thinking in the biosciences and geosciences. "Despite an intense focus on discovering abiotic hydrocarbon sources in natural settings, only a handful of sites convincingly suggest that abiotic organic synthesis occurs within the geosphere... ...The crux of this topic is that currently there is no foolproof approach to distinguishing abiotic versus biotic organic synthesis. Thus, it is especially important to be cognizant of the possibilities and limitations of abiotic hydrocarbon production when considering a deep subsurface biosphere where the organic matter may be synthesized by both abiotic and biotic processes." (Proskurowski, 2010) The Deep Carbon Observatory is a program of the Carnegie Institution for Science, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The Sloan - DCO mission includes the fostering of international cooperation in addressing global-scale questions, including the nature and extent of deep microbial life, the fluxes of carbon dioxide from the world's volcanoes, and the distribution and characteristics of deep hydrocarbon reservoirs. Gold, Thomas. The Deep Hot Biosphere : The Myth of Fossil Fuels. New York: Springer | Copernicus, 1998. Goncharov, Alexander. “Unanswered Questions in Deep Carbon Research” presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting keynote | Sloan Deep Carbon Cycle Workshop, Carnegie Institution, Geophysical Laboratory | Washington, D.C., May 15, 2008. (PDF 4.4 MB) Proskurowski, G. “Abiogenic Hydrocarbon Production at the Geosphere-Biosphere Interface via Serpentinization Reactions” in Timmis, Kenneth N., ed. Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, 2010. "Two of the largest companies involved in natural gas drilling have acknowledged pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of diesel-based fluids into the ground in the process of hydraulic fracturing, raising further concerns that existing state and federal regulations don't adequately protect drinking water from drilling." Cornell University Cooperative Extension. Landowner Information. Links to Landowner Coalitions, Key Points for Property Owners, Gas Rights and Right-of-Way Leasing Considerations for Farms. Woodlands, and more. Damascus Citizens for Sustainability is a grassroots group in Damascus, PA. located within the Upper Delaware Basin Watershed. Site includes excellent links to petition sites, working activist organizations, experts, environmental lawyers, blogs, photographs, and primary documents inlcuding transcripts to testimonials covering the brief history of gas drilling in the U.S. UPDATE: Damascus Citizens. December 16, 2010. e-mail correspondence. Last week the gas industry withdrew from an important hearing intended to challenge 14 "test wells" within the Upper Delaware Watershed region. The industry withdrew its multiple challenges to our assertions of the inherent dangers to public health posed by their drilling activities. At this time we are reviewing our legal options... Delaware RiverKeeper Network (DRN), Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS) and Nockamixon Township are co-appellants in Consolidated Administrative Hearings before the Delaware River Basin Commission. This fragile Earth deserves a voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs you. Dirceted by Daniel Bird. Music and sound design by Hecq. Tides Foundation is proud to present The Story of Stuff — a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns that calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. Narrated and created by activist Annie Leonard, the film tells an engaging story about 'all our stuff' where it comes from and where it goes when we throw it away. Tides Foundation and The Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption partnered with Free Range Studios to produce the film and the website, www.storyofstuff.com The website includes faith-based teaching guides. See: Beach Lake United Methodist Church. "Gas Drilling Discussion (Suggested Agenda for) : Biblical and Theological Considerations". Wyoming rancher Ed Swartz is feeling the affects of environmental de-regulation. Hear his story. Added: January 18, 2009 Co-Presenting Sponsor: The Fledgling Fund supports the creation and dissemination of innovative media projects that can play critical roles in igniting social change. The Fledgling Fund believes that film and other creative media can often demonstrate what statistics can not, can create broad understandings of social problems, and can inspire both civic dialogue and concrete action. Independent vibrant, Canadian online magazine based in British Columbia. Earlier this year at Two Island Lake north of Fort Nelson, two corporations, Encana and Apache, blasted an estimated 5.6 million barrels worth of water along with 111 million pounds of sand and unknown chemicals to fracture apart dense formations of shale over a 100 day period, or what Parfitt calls "the world's largest natural gas extraction effort of its kind." ...Many experts argue that shale gas could retire coal-fired plants or slow down the deployment of wind and solar projects altogether. Others contend that shale formations deplete too quickly to offer secure supplies for the future. At the same time, the "shale gale" has also created abiding controversies about water use, groundwater contamination and the regulation of the industry from Wyoming to Quebec. Fracture Lines, commissioned by the Program on Water Issues at University of Toronto's Munk Centre, not only sheds light on the scale of development from British Columbia to New Brunswick but highlights industry's largely unregulated water use. "In the absence of public reporting on fracking chemicals, industry water withdrawals and full mapping of the nation's aquifers, rapid shale gas development could potentially threaten important water resources if not fracture the country's water security," concludes Parfitt. (Parfitt, 2010) Parfitt, B. Fracture Lines: Will Canada’s Water be Protected in the Rush to Develop Shale Gas? Program on Water Issues Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, September 15, 2010. Frac Trucks... some call them soup trucks, kettle trucks or frack trucks. Some of these tanker trailers are used to haul frac sand or cement for gas well casings. Whatever the name or use of these various trucks, they usually catch your attention when they are parked roadside or travelling down the highway as oversize loads. All kinds of weird plumbing, pipes and gauges not seen in everyday life. Some carry containers of frac fluids or other devices that you never saw anything quite like before. Equipment used for installing and fracking Marcellus Shale gas wells. The world’s leading scientists agree that the planet is warming and that human activities—especially the burning of fossil fuels and the clearing of forests—are a big part of the cause. In a 2007 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the international group of scientists charged with reviewing, validating and summarizing the latest research concluded that the warming of the climate system is unequivocal. They stated that it is 90 percent certain that human-generated greenhouse gases account for most of the warming in the past 50 years. Many published scientific reports have documented the actual observed impacts of a warming planet—including dramatic melting of the Arctic ice cap, shifting wildlife habitats, increased evidence of wildfires, heat waves and more intense storms. Americans are now seeing the impacts of global warming in their backyards. The warming trend poses serious risks to the economy and the environment. Pew uses two approaches to address climate change: science and policy analysis and advocacy campaigns. The Pew Center on Global Climate Change is a leading policy and research institute. It advances debate through analysis, public education and a cooperative approach with business. The center launched in 1998. The Pew Campaign on Global Warming is aimed at adoption of a national policy to reduce emissions throughout the economy, and the Pew Campaign for Fuel Efficiency seeks more stringent fuel efficiency standards for the nation’s cars and trucks. See: Pew Environment Group (PEG) Factsheet: Industry Opposition to Government Regulation (PDF), October 14, 2010.

<urn:uuid:b04c2e4b-0794-4124-bcce-576bdd60c885>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

http://frack.mixplex.com/biblio/keyword/10?page=2

2024-10-12T17:03:52Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Melbourne Museum of Printing | Linotype Linecaster | The function of the Linotype (and its competitor the Intertype) is to produce lines of type. These lines are generally called slugs, an engineering term meaning a piece of metal. A slug is a strip of metal, about 23 mm wide, a few mm thick, and up to (typically) 100 mm long. The letter-forms are cast (in reverse, like a stamp) along one of the narrow edges. The thickness of the slug is set by the operator to suit the point-size of the type and the length is set to suit the printing-width of the job being set. When in position to be printed, a number of these slugs are set side-by-side, with only the type face visible. The 23 mm measurement (above) is called the type height. Although it varies a little between countries, it is an absolute within any print-shop. The linotype slugs can be interspersed with type of other systems such as hand-set. They are all the same height. The slugs are produced by pressure die-casting. The molten type-metal, held in a small melting pot, is pumped into a mould, where it solidifies almost instantly. The top face of the mould is covered by the letter-forms which are to be cast onto the slug. These letter-forms are called matrices (or mats for short). The mats are assembled by the operator into words, with space-mats or space-bands between them. When one line of mats is complete, the whole line is transported by the mechanism to sit over the cavity of the mould and be squirted with hot metal. After the line is cast, the mats are transported to the top of the machine from where they are returned to the magazine in which they are stored.

<urn:uuid:9853f1fd-57ca-4dc0-af25-1872de318391>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

http://mmop.org.au/collect/typemach/linotype.htm

2024-10-12T15:48:13Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

This book is about competition, all in social life is about competition: feelings are in competition; competing interpretations emerge as expressions; the expressions compete with other expressions, and they are open to competing interpretations. � �Moral� is one more aspect of competition of feelings; the norms (in all of the games) are in competition. � And as the perceptions compile to grosser and grosser perceptions we think about �law�, �religion�, �morals�, �economy�, �politics� etc. � small perceptions pile up to big ones. � (It might be necessary to add that, naturally, individual, particular, people�s activities in all being are in constant competition � the idea of will to power is not far fetched here.) Let�s consider some aspects of the big perceptions: �law�, �economy� and �politics.� Law is a competition of arguments and the outcome is competitive justice. There is only one �kind� of economy; the classification only describes the level of competition in the economic practices: A more competitive economy is on the continuum of perceptions on the side we could call �market economy�, and a �socialist economy� is on the other side of the continuum, where the competition is more distorted. Democracy is a function of the conditions for competition. Democracy exists on a continuum from good to bad. The extreme case of bad democracy is where a ruthless dictator is in charge � but even there she is in charge only as long as she can � until she is stopped by the people at whose mercy she is. We sometimes hear it said �that democracy is the worst form of Government, except all those others that have been tried from time to time�. But, this is a gross misunderstanding - all systems are about democracy, there are no alternatives � it is only a question of the quality of the democracy � democracy is a competitive system, which has to be made ever more competitive. What should be said is: �indeed, the more competition there is in the democratic system the better it is, we can see what failures non-competitive systems bring about.� - Parliamentarism does not meet the standards of competitive democracy, and cannot be the foundation for a competitive society. � Parliamentarism is the system of totalitarianism of the majority: the artificial majority (the majority of political players). The mission of any correct politics or political leadership is to create conditions for the best possible competition. � This means the function to prevent all forms of monopolies and abuse of dominant market position in all aspects of life � again this has been best understood in the economic sphere with the anti-trust legislation � the US Sherman Act of 1890 is hereby a decisive milestone in development of humanity. � Now we only have to convince that monopolies and abuse of dominant market position are the cancers of all aspects of life: religion; media; democracy; morals; science�

<urn:uuid:7e6ec9b4-3d6c-4898-a401-954a38e69ac3>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

http://www.hellevig.net/Competition.asp?mode=expressions

2024-10-12T15:53:27Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

“Laws cause crime and violence” – Bob Marley The Logical Conclusion Of The Golden Rule is Universal Liberty. if you truly “Love others as yourself” you can’t justify some ruling over others. Liberty is the only true foundation for equality as everything else is some form of ruling over others, i.e. forced collectivism. Everything except full universal Liberty represents different kinds and levels of tyranny. It’s the perfect social agreement among adults. It’s truly an ideology that allows every human being to be an end in themselves. Free individuals can be most beneficial to society, but no individual with a conscience is fully free when fellow human beings live in fear, lack, and ignorance. While the good life is much more than hedonistic “whatever goes” (mere pursuit of pleasure is the surest way to fail in the pursuit of happiness), good politics allows others to be wrong and make mistakes. It is good to keep in mind there is no virtue without vice and unhinged vice punishes itself. So, let’s focus on breaches of other people’s rights. This legal foundation of super simplicity strips away all unnecessary overburdening government. It says that every citizen is like a sovereign state in a republic, autonomous and funded, and that democracy should only cover common issues, not the personal laid down below. Children ought to be brought up with this liberty and the responsibility it requires in mind. Full liberty could be guaranteed even in areas with more modest and puritanical culture and customs. In that case the culturally and socially offensive activities only need to be discouraged and/or prohibited in public. Full liberty could still be respected and protected in the private sphere. This makes these political principles truly universal. Negative Liberty – life minus others’ coercion “Negative liberty is freedom from interference by other people. Negative liberty is primarily concerned with freedom from external restraint and contrasts with positive liberty (the possession of the power and resources to fulfill one’s own potential).” The side with the human body and personal space, with “- Liberty -” around it, represents Negative Liberty. It simply says “My life, my body, my choice. Your life, your body, your choice. Live as you want as long as you don’t infringe on other’s rights to the same. Live and let live.” This right ought to be limited only by the rights of others – other people, animals and to some extent nature. If we stop fighting victimless ”crime” we might be able to deal with the actual crime. Key concepts: Non-aggression Principle (NAP), Voluntarism, Self-ownership, Personal Sovereignty* Positive Liberty – life plus necessary resources “Positive liberty is the possession of the capacity to act upon one’s free will, as opposed to negative liberty, which is freedom from external restraint on one’s actions. A concept of positive liberty may also include freedom from internal constraints.” The side with our planet Earth, with “+ Liberty +” around it, represents Positive Liberty. It simply says “Everyone has the right to resources for a free life – both financial and informational. Think of it like this – what would laws and government look like if Jesus’ lifestyle was fully respected for everyone? I would at least dare to claim he, as a citizen, assumed the right to travel and roam unrestricted within the nation, criticizing “authorities” and speaking uncomfortable truths to the public. What he used this space of freedom and agency for – paradise and not mammon logic, free universal education, free sick care (to some extent with hemp and other plants?), providing food and drink. John Locke argued that the state must provide something better than the state of nature. There is hardly any lasting option to choose a state of nature anymore. So, beyond security and individual negative liberty the duty of the state is to guarantee access to funds and resources for a free life within this economical and political system. Key concepts: Self-sufficiency, Independence, Economic democracy, Education, Universal Basic Income, Guaranteed Health Care, Consumer Rights, Freedom of Information This is how I figure the logical conclusions of the aforementioned principles pan out in different areas and subjects. One can fully embrace the principles without agreeing with every conclusion I’ve come to. Negative Liberty in more detail Freedom of speech – Offensive-/hate-/wrong speech is not as big of a threat as the urge to overbearingly controlling it. It’s part of free speech which is the social agreement we have instead of physical violence. It’s the acceptable valve for emotion and thought. It has been the main mechanism for true civil rights progress. It’s the arena where we work things out for truth, comfort, entertainment, facts; ultimately for the wisest outcome. Be very wary of anyone who would do away with this jewel. ‘Hate speech’ exceptions were put into the UNDHR because of Stalin. It’s one of the main tools of the push for global socialism. Jesus was ultimately crucified for offensive speech according to the religious/scientific/political authorities of the time. As such, freedom of speech is a central Christian value. Free speech was enshrined in the US bill of rights’ 1st amendment over two centuries ago to bind government to it and thereby guarantee it for the people. Now we have entered a time when that is not sufficient to guarantee this value for future generations. We should hold fast to the principled, democratic and universal American view on free speech, which recognizes universal individual rights as as a counter weight, with criminal exceptions for credible threats, call to violence, defamation, etc. If some social media platforms want to push forward with the concept of “hate speech” we should make sure it’s applied universally, and not according to the strategy laid out by Herbert Marcuse in “Repressive Tolerance”. Think about how the cultural zeitgeist relates to Islam/Muhammed compared to Christianity/Jesus, or how communism compared to claims of fascism, women compared to men, “people of color” compared to white people and so on. Moreover, if we’re going after hate speech for possibly leading to real-world violence I’d like to point to the common tactic of labeling people racist, sexist, islamophobes, etc. Doing it frivolously could be considered defamatory. It is a real and extremely negative claim with an objective definition about a person that can also arguably have real-world violent consequences, especially as it comes with the incitement to “bash the fash”. May I remind you that the people in charge of these modern book burnings ((digital) cancelings, de-platformings and de-personings) have an ideological lens so thick, distorted and smudged that they can actually think religious Jews are Nazis. I suggest people labeling everyone Nazis and fascists take into consideration that the second world war was not merely an authoritarian, forced collectivist, leftist infight of communists vs fascists. Many whom are being labeled Nazis and fascists today, egged on by crypto-communists, represent the free world values of the UK and the USA during the second world war. The Nazis and fascists, along with the communists, were called ”authoritarians”, after all. The big social media platforms really need to get their narrative straight when it comes to universal free speech. There are plenty of ways to allow for broad free speech while letting people protect themselves from disgusting and disturbing expression if there is a will to do so. Why not go for a subjective filtering/censoring AI, for posts and messages, instead of policing the whole platform inconsistently. The AI filter could send outright criminal messages directly to concerned institutions. One way for individual nations to counter Silicon Valley’s political influence is to demand they don’t censor or manipulate expression that is allowed under national law ie. interfere with democracy. Another way is to put an ‘Agenda Check’-warning on social media sites to inform people of what they’re getting into. Facebook’s ‘Agenda Check’ could read something as follows – “Beware that all information you enter, whether on your profile or in the chat, can and will be stored, sold and used. This site is also not politically, scientifically or religiously neutral, but has been strongly tied to the ******** agenda…” and so on. Twitter’s ‘Agenda Check’ could mention the endorsement and help for BLM and Antifa among other things. Freedom of assembly and association – Your body, your life. You can obviously associate and gather, peacefully, as you choose. Freedom of religion – Freedom of religion is a full lifestyle freedom that includes freedom of conscience, freedom of thought, freedom of speech, health freedom, freedom of dress, freedom of assembly/association, etc. Practice and preach as you need as long as others’ rights are not violated. Purity of food and what to put into one’s body has always been central to religions. Freedom of the press (see Freedom of Speech) – Obvious extension of negative Liberty and Freedom of speech. Free market – As self-ownership is everyone’s first private property, so is the free market a natural extension of everyone’s volontary and free will. A self-evident extension of negative Liberty. This should only be limited by other people’s rights, animal rights and to some extent nature’s rights. Regulation and bureaucracy should be formed to take into account all rights involved, especially customer’s, as to assure an informed and voluntary exchange. Bureaucracy – Bureaucracy is always a slight compromise of negative Liberty, a hassle. Therefore it should be streamlined, minimized and not cause unnecessary restriction. It’s value is largely based on others’ right to know, and for people to organize and cooperate better. Right to bear arms – The right to self-defense is a natural right and and guns are an equalizer regardless of sex, size and physical capabilities. Legal arms are also an effective way to keep would-be tyranny and intruders at bay. Legal carry is also the most effective way to interrupt mass shootings and -stabbings. Strong gun restrictions are an obvious form of infantilization and mental and spiritual castration of the public, and also an admission of failure by the political class. At worst it’s a prelude to a tyrannical coup d’tat. Because, as we all know, it’s not the state powers that are ever disarmed. The big problems with guns are actually caused by the drug war, fatherlessness, media culture, the crime increasing “corrections” system, psychopharmaca and psychosocial health problems in general (strongly associated with lack of Liberty and the constrictive effect of the usury money system. We are in a so called behavioral sink and social media is filled with so called beautiful ones). I also want to mention the detrimental effect of telling boys and young men, who are on the bottom of the social hierarchy, that they are too powerful and privileged and that they are to blame for everything wrong with the world. School shootings were an early sign of this neosocialist push. So, in a crude and brutal way gun violence is also a direct indicator of our shortcomings in politics and culture. For communal/national defense purposes I’d recommend means to swiftly arm the whole populace. Right to use Drugs (biochemical freedom and the right to nature) – Your body, your mind, your life. Use as you see fit as long as you don’t harm or endanger others. This right must be seen in the context of the whole package of liberty and equality, especially positive liberty; the long term effect of financial security and the completely new found access and negotiation power for most citizens in their own life. The most abused and harmful drug ever is power over other people. It’s abused constantly and is extremely deadly. Actually what we usually think of as drug abuse is to a large extent escapism from a world riddled with abuse of power increased by the war on drugs. While fear, anxiety, and even psychosis might be effects of cannabis and psychedelics for some; keep in mind, it’s about set and setting, and the setting for an expanded mind is society; even the world. The set has already been heavily influenced by this society. Who can truly claim terror isn’t a natural consequence of reality in this world? It doesn’t take much to improve society by leaps and bounds. If we truly want to heal we need to quit our trauma-causing addiction to power. I suggest we grandfather in big organisms, like plants and mushrooms, and regulate the market and culture around substances wisely. Even if decriminalization is a huge step in the right direction, I suggest legalizing the whole supply chain. Specialized doctors could prescribe drugs that are more dangerous – heroin, opiates, amphetamines, etc. More scarce stores could sell natural psychedelics, etc. I’d say mild plant matter, like coca leaves, khat and cannabis, could be pretty much legal, alcohol style. I wouldn’t put it into governmental hands as their incentive is to maintain a big police force, and therefor a black market. As they are so close to big pharmaceutical lobbies and want to maintain power over the population, they are, also, not incetivized to provide a good, strong, medically effective product. Health freedom – The sick care system has been under the monopoly of the synthetic chemical pharma industry while the health care system has been suppressed. Certainly, the biochemical level is one way to influence health and illnesses, and no doubt there are some gems to be found in the synthetic chemical field. So, of course, allopathic medicine has its place, but its influence has been largely expanded through the war on lifestyle/wellness therapies – clean quality food, diets, fasting, supplements, exercise, silence-prayer-meditation-yoga, nature, massages, and other relaxing services, and various other at least safeish and possibly effective therapies, and natural medicines – especially, cannabis and cannabinoid extracts, and psychedelics and entheogens, ibogaine and kratom for the opioid crisis, etc. All this should be sanctioned and explored. Good health care ought to include all of this pyramid while today it includes the red area almost exclusively and the other areas are belittled. Forced vaccination is obviously not in accordance with self-ownership, NAP liberty, etc. Informed adults should ultimately decide for themselves. When it comes to essential vaccines being taken by adequate amounts of people I think a lot should be done through thorough studies and obvious honesty concerning ingredients, risks, benefits, and all other product information; long-term comparison studies on a broad range of health issues, including more subtle psychosocial effects (see Bertrand Russell warning quote). Nothing less is acceptable when it comes to injections of large parts of the population. Suffering the disease to gain immunity could also be an alternative. In any case, we should always be wary of “health authorities” that scoff at health through diet and lifestyle while overseeing decades of degradation of nutrient content in foods, an increase of synthetic chemical load and criminally low nutrient recommendations. All of this while being more than eager to force people to take products of the synthetic chemical industry that they are lapdogs of. Many are also eager to make vaccines a racket and really want coerced regular vaccination. Already at the Nuremberg trials we decided coerced medical experiments were criminal. We shouldn’t be too hasty in waving away all the important lessons of history. While these new mRNA technologies might be hugely beneficial in combating diseases like malaria, HIV, etc. we also need to recognize forced injections pushed through with establishment “authority” is not a tool we should give to anyone. In fact, we should roll back all the encroachments on privacy, bodily autonomy, non-hassle liberty, etc. that have been rushed through the past century and especially the past decades. “Diet, injections, and injunctions will combine, from a very early age, to produce the sort of character and the sort of beliefs that the authorities consider desirable, and any serious criticism of the powers that be will become psychologically impossible. Even if all are miserable, all will believe themselves happy, because the government will tell them that they are so.” – Bertrand Russell: “The Impact of Science on Society”, p.45, Routledge “There will be, in the next generation or so, a pharmacological method of making people love their servitude, and producing dictatorship without tears, so to speak, producing a kind of painless concentration camp for entire societies, so that people will in fact have their liberties taken away from them, but will rather enjoy it, because they will be distracted from any desire to rebel by propaganda or brainwashing, or brainwashing enhanced by pharmacological methods. And this seems to be the final revolution” ― Aldous Huxley Rudolph Steiner on one goal of vaccines As diet and injunctions, as Bertrand Russell mentioned, are already so heavily used to take power from people and gain control, I would not support regular coerced injections, but instead roll back all other forms of coercion and control as well. Already in 2018 the EU was planning vaccination passports by 2022. Technocrats in other areas have similar plans and Event 201 probably created a stronger consensus among these pushing for more of a “sim society” instead of true liberty and human rights. Anyone who has read a bit of history should condemn such a proposal completely. What regime throughout history would you have given the right to regularly inject the population by force? If that door is opened, the technology can certainly be used in the future to make GMO-citizens that the powers that be deem suitable. Take into consideration that forced regular injections would be in addition to complete surveillance, controlled digital expression, digital voting, etc. Are you sure you want this power in the hands of people you know next to nothing about? To be honest, all common sense and evidence points to a planned marketing launch for regular forced injections with ID. How about a media that isn’t purely a tool for these sort of programs? How about we stop the ridiculous lie that the West goes quarter to quarter and election to election without planning decades and even centuries ahead? At the same time we can stop advancing the agenda of a completely monitored, controlled and even augmented people to suit a few. Sex work – Your body, your life, your choice. Regulation to respect the public and keep it Liberty minded and not coerced, safe, and not reckless. We should mitigate economic pressure through debt decreasing UBI and ending the war on drugs. An accessible, diverse and effective therapy culture also helps people heal from trauma-based unhealthy behavior. According to many in the porn- and sex work industry it might be wise to put the age limit at 20 or 21. Surrogacy – Your uterus, your life, your choice. Regulation should be formed to guarantee the child’s rights and to respect fair agreement. I think might necessitates some sort of “extended family” sort of relationship with a biological mother. This right must be seen in context of the whole package of liberty and equality, especially positive liberty; the long term effect of financial security and the completely new found access and negotiation power for most citizens in their own life. Porn – We should look into ways of being more responsible guardians for our children, while respecting the rights of adults. The same goes for all the fear- and murder porn in the news and media in general. Think about the prevalence of open TVs and radios and the age children start to learn reading and the height of newsstands and access to internet touch screens. We live in pretty splendid peace times; why are we allowing the pervasive fear, panic and dividing media culture for our children? Attacks on the innocence of childhood from government, corporations and academia must be called out and ended. It is good to know that queer theory sees childhood innocence as an oppressive structure that it seems to destroy. A child who can live in innocence for longer will tend to be more grounded in the security it entails, and more difficult to lead astray. So, it’s not just a fluke that children are being bombarded with age inappropriate gender pseudoscience, sex information, sexual entertainment, horror, drama, etc. It’s actually founded in activist academia pioneered by sickos and pedophiles like Michel Foucault. Seems the optimal way to implement age restriction for online porn would be a time restricted code porn pass (weeks, months), that could be bought from places that sell alcohol and tobacco products. This way there would be an age check without a state or corporate database tying porn to a person. Gambling – Your money, your right to gamble. A provider’s funds are not merely an individual issue, though. That should be a consideration for people with gambling problems and their dependents. People with issues should be able to hand over autonomous decision making for agreed times. The same ought to be good for people with substance abuse problems as well. Luckily these policies lessen the strain on the people, society and the system, so much that resources for treatment alternatives won’t be a problem. Euthanasia – Your body, your life, your choice, although I’d limit it to very debilitating conditions with deadly outcome. We should eliminate economic- and other pressure and utilize all good medicine, including cannabis, psychedelics, etc. Euthanasia, along with abortion and surrogacy, should be well-regulated to assure minimal risk for horror stories. Same-sex marriage and Polygamy – As this law is universal and gender-neutral it also opens up for the right to form legally binding unions regardless of sex. Although it is up to any church/mosque/synagogue etc. to choose if they want to respect the union, at the very least we ought to extend equal legal rights to same-sex couples. Polygamy as a legal contract might also be justifiable, but it is pivotal to understand the importance the balance monogamy brings. Zera Yacub, the Ethiopian first star of the enlightenment, pondered the perfect fit of (heterosexual) monogamy, as a rational consequence of the population balance of the sexes. Jesus also put a lot of weight on this point and tied it to meaning in the story of creation. If we choose to allow, for instance, Islamic marriage we should, also, allow polygamous relationships regardless of sex. Circumcision – Non-medical bodily intervention, on the level of circumcision, is obviously a crime against bodily autonomy and all of that. It’s still far from such an act in a larger context. I would suggest a right, an avenue, for the offended party to address this grievance. So, perhaps make it a formal crime, that the victim can take to court a few years into adulthood. Male circumcision makes up about 90% of global circumcisions. Of the 10% that is FGM (female gential mutilation) up to a third is comparable to male circumcision. That is to say, it is a removal of the clitoral hood, that is directly comparable to the male foreskin. Privacy – The possibility to spy on someone creates the potential for a huge power imbalance and ought not to be taken lightly. Breach of privacy is an infringement of personal space and should not be permitted without a well-established reason on an individual basis. Cash is also important for privacy and liberty in general as electronic money would allow some to completely control others’ money. ”The technotronic era involves the gradual appearance of a more controlled society. Such a society would be dominated by an elite, unrestrained by traditional values (US constitution/universal human rights). Soon it will be possible to assert almost continuous surveillance over every citizen and maintain up-to-date complete files containing even the most personal information about the citizen. These files will be subject to instantaneous retrieval by the authorities. ” ― Zbigniew Brzezinski, ’Between Two Ages: America’s Role in the Technetronic Era’ (1970) Abortion – A culture of frivolous views on ending pregnancy does something subtle, but extreme, over time. Especially, when how to navigate the issue is fairly visible, taking everyone’s interest into account. It would also be overwhelmingly beneficial to people and society. Abortion is not an acceptable final solution to unwanted pregnancy. This is strangely the issue that is mostly argued for with “my body, my choice”, but the argument doesn’t apply, as pregnancy is one body growing inside another body. Other circumstances where others are unfairly affected are the operating of heavy machinery and conjoined twins. That being said, a fertilized egg is not a grown human being and a ban from conception might not be wise from the get go. ”Safe, legal and rare” and ever earlier might be the best starting point. We should seek to phase out the choice of abortion within the next decades through universally accessible technical solutions, for contraception, focusing on identifying rapists and stopping them, a culture of responsibility, regular pregnancy-testing if sexually active, education, economic security, flexible adoption, and a much-improved society and system for having children. If we tolerate early or extremely well-founded abortion in some capacity and try to decrease the amount, with a reasonable goal of almost ending the need for abortion in a decade or few. Gray Zone Issues: Seat belts – They don’t hinder anything essential when it comes to operating a vehicle. To some extent, they can be justified with the rights of other drivers to prevent you from becoming a projectile in case of a crash; moreover, reducing injuries can even be seen as a right of health care professionals. The latter is a slippery slope, but seeing it doesn’t restrict the essential liberty of operating the vehicle it’s just a common-sense regulation. Non-human persons – Some animals clearly seem to be almost human in their intelligence, consciousness, family bonds, etc. I’m not sure exactly what their rights should look like, but they ought to have more suitable rights than, say, insects or even big herd animals. In these I include elephants, dolphins, apes, etc. The trans issues: Bathrooms – It’s a fairly trivial issue, but with no clear answer and it raises a lot of emotions. I’d say trans people can use the bathroom of their experienced gender if they’re passing. That is to say, they look sufficiently the gender as not to cause discomfort, mainly among women and girls. Prisons – Case by case basis. Sports – I give a big NO to trans women in women’s sports. Positive Liberty in more detail A lot of state control technologies came from Babylon. They continued through Greece, Rome, and onward. The central one of these was usury banking. Solution correction Feb. 6th 2023: If a national debt jubilee is too big of a thing to agree upon internationally, perhaps a national right to create debt-free money through certain quantitative ways would be in order. A universal citizen’s income (perhaps, at poverty level) would be one such way. A certain amount of monthly (?) income for every voluntary citizen (think, implications to mass-immigration). Compare this money-creation method to the only current one (besides the miniscule coins and crypto-currency) disguised as bank loans to everyone – individuals, corporations, and states. The way of global national debt-free money for universal ends would be THE way to introduce a type of money that can pay off the debt in time. Besides a Universal Citizen’s Income nations could finance health care (success measured by minimal sick care = health) and education (measured by all-round humane wellness, consciousness, and knowledge/wisdom), both provided on a free-, healthy-, and simply, universally, and democratically regulated market. How people use the word “capitalism” is confusing. They tend to talk about free-market liberalism and private ownership as the problem. The problem is there too and to an extreme degree in the other presented alternative(s), but the problems they describe are actually strongly tied to the usury money system (ie. making profit from printing money disguised as loans) and the vices in human nature it amplifies. Private property is the natural extension of owning one’s own body and life, and voluntary free-market liberalism is the natural extension of negative Liberty; to service, produce and associate with whom you like in the manner you (the involved parties) see fit. Usury, on the other hand, is an age-old and frowned upon money/accounting/banking trick with a certain function and dynamic with psycho-social consequences. Making an honest profit on a good investment is not a problem. However, charging profit on the money created as debt is a huge problem, as it means more debt than money which is a negative-sum game. We’re always paying old loans with new loans. The money creation mechanism is central to how society works. Ultimately how we experience life under usury is the ultimate “power from the people” – Ponzi scheme – a scarcity, or fear of scarcity, economic environment. While the more free culture and private ownership incentive have done wonders, the money equation distribution dynamics of usury system is at the end of the line here too, in it’s former form. It’s basically the economic mathematical equivalent of cancer at the center of our system. In olden times there was a balancing, a resetting mechanism, and event; most notably “jubilee“. Therefor I suggest a jubilee on mainly all national debt and implementing national UBI’s (opt. decrease or opt. out Unconditional Basic Income) foundations to the economies globally. That is the core of the economic great reset I suggest. This is an intervention. We need to talk about usury. Usury is per definition controlled insolvency with delay. With money created as loans (debt + interest), the money system has inbuilt scarcity at its core. We always need more money to pay old debts, but all new money means even more new debt. It works like addiction or cancer. Like the war on drugs creating more drug problems, the war on terror increasing terrorism, alopathic medicines tend to increase the need for medicines and the prison system exacerbating criminal behavior, and so on. It boosts what ails us – greed, lust and the rest of it. So we’re trapped in behavior that just makes the situation worse. Damned if we do and damned if we don’t. Humanity is put into a double bind situation with increasingly detrimental psycho-social effects. According to this usury system, the masses would live with scarcity of money even when there is obvious potential for abundance for everyone. The illusion of a reasonable economy can be maintained in the early nations as long as new peoples can be added, as during colonialism, or with rapid population growth and huge demographics entering the workforce, as during 20th century with women entering the workforce. Those days are gone and the debt problem is knocking on our door. Mass incarceration, increased student debt, sub prime mortgages, quantatative easing, austerity and mass immigration represent desperate ways to try to mend the problem. Left to it’s own devices this mammon system means the moneyed class in this game of chairs gains more and more control over the assets of debt-burdened people and governments. The usury system cannot distribute money and debt in such a way as to fulfill everyone’s need and potential even when we’ve technologically far exceeded the potential for material utopia. It keeps masses of people in the financial prison that is poverty. It’s a mathematically assured economic behavioral sink. It’s basically an accounting trick that inevitably upholds and increasingly leads to financial fascism. “Originally, usury meant the charging of interest of any kind and, in some Christian societies and even today in many Islamic societies, charging any interest at all was considered usury. During the Sutra period in India (7th to 2nd centuries BC) there were laws prohibiting the highest castes from practicing usury. Similar condemnations are found in religious texts from Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (the term is riba in Arabic and ribbit in Hebrew). At times, many nations from ancient Greece to ancient Rome have outlawed loans with any interest. Though the Roman Empire eventually allowed loans with carefully restricted interest rates, the Catholic Church in medieval Europe banned the charging of interest at any rate (as well as charging a fee for the use of money, such as at a bureau de change). Religious prohibitions on usury are predicated upon the belief that charging interest on a loan is a sin.” Let that sink in. Even the highest cast in ancient India wasn’t allowed to perpetrate usury on lower classes and this is the system we have pretty much all over the world today. Usury was universally frowned upon for a very good reason. It is a social control system and Ponzi scheme more than a sound economic system. Some have described it as a vampire system, a kind of covert slavery system. Problems to be fixed: Mass poverty, massive debt and concentration of power. I suggest a switch to a balanced and all-inclusive money system – a jubilee on all national debt to get a fresh start into this new economy of a citizenship-based globally implemented national Guaranteed Universal Basic Income that equals the poverty limit. I, also, suggest the money creation monopoly should be broken, even revoked. Most new money could be created through the GUBI, in addition to funding it through taxation and other means. The amount of new money vs taxation would, then, be determined by true and healthy growth in the economy. This would incentivize the moneyed people to create such circumstances to avoid higher taxation. Making the basic income citizenship-based is a just addition and good tool in the immigration situation. Just coming from poorer countries to richer countries wouldn’t bring financial gain. Host countries could independently choose whom to grant the national GUBI and/or nationality. That takes care of so much, even the real possibility to pursue and bring dreams to market. Money put in customer’s hands in this way doesn’t disappear and cause us to run out of money. The money is more like a circulatory system that should optimally flow through all individuals in adequate amounts as a first priority. It’s like a monthly pulse that stimulates the economy democratically. When it’s placed into people’s hands, it enters the economy to a very large degree, causing productive activity. It gives a signal to the (free)`market to tend to the people’s needs and wants. It’s a people power-/trickle up-base for the economy. Much of it finds its way to wealthier people’s pockets and some of it can soon circulate again. By the way, in this analogy of the GUBI being a pulse and part of the money circulating through all extremities, extremely centralized wealth would be the equivalent of a body in shock. Look at this UBI like this as well: - The poor and hand-to-mouth masses (Well over half of the population in developed nations) are an underutilized customer base and more customers means more business which means more jobs. - We can also avoid the disincentive to work we have in the current welfare systems as all wages are on top of the UBI and don’t affect it. - An adequate GUBI makes a high minimum wage unnecessary as people would get GUBI plus salary. - An adequate GUBI gives the workers and poor more power to negotiate. - It makes it possible to work 0 to 40+ hours instead of 0 or 40+ hours. - Huge psychological and social benefits. - It opens up for minimized bureaucracy and limited government. - People get an IQ rise of around 13 points when lifted out of poverty. So we’re looking at an untapped huge mass of well-being and goodwill, creativity and innovation. The war on drugs also has a multi-faceted hampering effect on many people’s potential. - It means a massively bigger pool to crowdfund from and democratizes the market. - The proclivity for low empathy (this) and other character problems is also exacerbated by huge wealth in mass financial desperation. Empathy can be too heavy a burden for many in these times. - We will also be moving from obligatory manual and mental labor to automated abundance in the next decades. Just as engines replaced the need for literal horsepower, so will automation be able to do the delicate physical- and mental labor. Now is the time to start separating adequate income from semi-forced labor and make non-poverty a human right. The biggest and most essential class difference is between those who live in financial desperation and those who have financial security or even wealth. It’s a shame that we squander human potential with a money system that’s been known to have this effect since ancient times. Fix the usury money system by making the market work for everyone instead of having it pull us into financial fascism. Some sort of fascism/neo-feudalism is the guaranteed end-state of usury money. So, we’re in a double-bind situation if we follow the options given to us by this world. Money is an organizing information tool and everyone has the right to access the basics (and then some) from our common marketplace. GUBI signals the market to see to everyone’s needs as a first priority. Lift the bottom from 0 to the poverty line (~1300 per month in the USA and EU. Optionally ~700 federally and some on state level.) to start with. It might be wise to tie it to median income too. A debt jubilee on national debt would free up 30 trillion in national debt in the US. A sum that would finance a year of GUBI 10 times over by itself. This can be done by minting trillion dollar coins or declaring the debt odious, as it has been done over the people’s heads while maintaining a false image of money and banking. Central banks could be abolished as well and we could return to honest full-reserve banking. I’m not sure what the deflation scare is about. Is it like NAIRU – fear of people getting too much power to negotiate? We’ve had massive inflation stealing from the poorer classes for a long time now. Deflation would only start to reverse that process and give more purchasing power. Also, ease the rise to maximum happiness income (~7000 per month). Making it opt-in and the amount optional up to ~1300 is also wise. Perhaps we should start low and increase it with 100 a month until the amount is reached as to give people time to adjust and benefit from the new market. Well over 90% would see an increase in purchasing power (source: Andrew Yang’s presidential campaign) with an adequate GUBI. If prices were to be raised to gauge this GUBI the poverty line would increase and the GUBI too to reflect that increase, which means more tax on those earning over maximum happiness income, perhaps on large wealth as well to balance inflation. Therefore, it wouldn’t be in the interest of the big owners to raise prices. If you need more justification for adequate resources for everyone I would have you consider the concept of ownership of land and natural resources. It’s not 100% real, but something we agree upon (formerly through war) even though it belongs to no one and everyone (See Georgism).. Also, consider the massive amounts of private profit made from the public investment – university research, military, etc. – plus public bank bailouts and austerity during recent years. It’s time to upgrade the system to reflect it being instituted for all of us. I suggest some amount GUBI be paid to every person from birth and help to cover basics, including kindergarten and school on the free market. A return to the gold standard? I’m not sure. Where is the gold nowadays? How does land and technology ownership look after all this time of usury? Perhaps new money creation should be in the hands of democratic government, with a ban on creating inflation. Beyond guaranteed financial independence through a GUBI positive Liberty means: - Guaranteed sick care. In sick care, I’d include everything expensive and necessary to remedy ailments – tests, surgery, medication, therapies. Mechanism I’d add: Guaranteed paid adequate sick care with possibilities to add personal funds. The free market possibility to choose the provider. Much more health care and personal consultation on diet, supplements, lifestyle, etc. - Strong consumer rights. Product labeling and the right to know how products are produced. This should include all 600+ additives in common cigarettes, GMOs, conditions for animals and synthetic agro-chemicals instead of organic labels, just to name a few things. We aren’t really able to make free choices with misleading or lacking information. - Strong transparency. Right to public information and personal big AI data. P.S. America was founded upon (Christian) enlightenment values of strong negative Liberty, core-function limited government, loads of hemp, and opposition to usury. While it mostly included wealthy European American males at the time, they got many basics of life and government right. Since then more and more demographics have been included, but at the same time we’ve slipped from many basics and the personal sphere has been severely compromised by big governments, corporations and organizations in the information age. Now is the time to make Liberty great again. Once we implement basic liberty we will experience psycho-social mass healing. P.S.2 The 17th-century Ethiopian philosopher Zera Yacob proved that enlightenment values are the fruit of long-standing Christian culture.

<urn:uuid:4bf7bdfb-564a-44a8-a388-34617cfc78cc>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://3ao7.love/O/

2024-10-12T14:41:15Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Sustainable Development Goals On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. These goals address every topic of concern we have discussed this semester. Over the coming decade, it’s the hope of UN member nations (which includes the U.S.) that the SDGs will universally be applied to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind. With the SDGs as your reference, answer these questions: Are any of the 17goals from the UN website particularly unrealistic—describe, in detail, why you think so (or not). Which of the 17 goals do you believe is the highest priority for the world and why? Cite specific examples from class content, discussions and assessments. Be sure to write a detailed main post here, presenting supporting facts and evidence from reliable sources. When responding to your classmates, please add to the discussion with a fact-supported addition, opinion, gentle correction, or example, citing reliable sources. Top-quality papers guaranteed 100% original papers We sell only unique pieces of writing completed according to your demands. We use security encryption to keep your personal data protected. We can give your money back if something goes wrong with your order. Enjoy the free features we offer to everyone Get a free title page formatted according to the specifics of your particular style. Request us to use APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, or any other style for your essay. Don’t pay extra for a list of references that perfectly fits your academic needs. 24/7 support assistance Ask us a question anytime you need to—we don’t charge extra for supporting you! Calculate how much your essay costs What we are popular for - English 101 - Business Studies

<urn:uuid:9a5b2a4d-8dd6-4efc-af71-a28d99e656a5>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://acmewriters.com/23166/

2024-10-12T15:57:29Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

With the accelerating growth of technology, we stand on the precipice of groundbreaking discoveries that could fundamentally alter our understanding of life. Particularly, Artificial Intelligence (AI), with its massive computing power and learning capabilities, is revolutionizing many fields, including genetics and genomics. In this blog post, we delve into this intriguing fusion, exploring how AI and genetics are working hand in hand to pave the way for unprecedented advancements in science and medicine. As we explore, you’ll understand the role of AI in genetics, its impact on genetic research, how it is shaping genome sequencing, the profound implications on genetic disease diagnosis, and what the future holds for AI in the expansive fields of genetics and genomics. Join us as we uncover the untapped potential of AI in genetics, exploring real-life applications, cutting-edge research, and predictions for the future. This exploration is not merely academic, but holds far-reaching implications that could redefine our approach to healthcare, disease prevention, and our understanding of human evolution. AI and Genetics Artificial intelligence has proven to be a potent tool in the field of genetics. Its capabilities in data processing, pattern recognition, and predictive modeling make it a powerful ally for geneticists working on complex genetic data. For example, AI-powered systems such as DeepVariant by Google can sift through genetic information to identify mutations, enabling researchers to spot genetic variations quickly and accurately. This ability not only streamlines the research process but also opens new avenues for personalized medicine. Understanding the Role of AI in Genetics AI’s role in genetics is multifaceted, with its abilities extending beyond data processing. It also aids in hypothesis generation, experiment design, and results interpretation, thereby accelerating research and discovery. One intriguing example is the use of AI in predicting gene editing outcomes. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have developed a machine learning model that can predict how changes to the genome will affect cell behavior. This predictive ability could drastically reduce the trial and error often involved in genetic experiments, saving valuable time and resources. Which of the following industries commonly requires data entry tasks? How AI is Revolutionizing Genetic Research Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing genetic research by providing advanced tools for analyzing and interpreting genetic data. These tools enable researchers to extract meaningful insights from vast genetic datasets, improving our understanding of complex genetic diseases and potential treatments. A recent study published in Nature utilized an AI algorithm to identify genetic patterns linked to autism, offering new avenues for understanding this complex condition. Another notable example is the work of Deep Genomics, a company that uses AI to predict the impact of genetic mutations on disease development. AI in Genome Sequencing: A New Era of Discovery With AI, genome sequencing is entering a new era of discovery. AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data rapidly and accurately is proving to be a game-changer, drastically reducing the time and cost associated with genome sequencing. AI algorithms, such as those used by Illumina, are accelerating the analysis of genomic data, making it more efficient and accessible. For instance, AI-driven software can accurately predict the functionality of genetic variants, enabling researchers to focus their efforts on variants that are likely to have significant biological impacts. In another exciting development, scientists at the University of Birmingham have harnessed the power of AI to predict the onset and progression of genetic disease. By analyzing genome sequencing data with AI, they have successfully predicted the age at which certain genetic diseases will manifest, leading to improved diagnostic accuracy and earlier intervention. Moreover, AI is helping to democratize genome sequencing. Previously, genome sequencing was a time-consuming and costly process that was inaccessible to most researchers. However, with AI, genome sequencing is becoming faster, cheaper, and more accessible, opening up new opportunities for research and discovery. A digital Marketing strategy can boost your website traffic. Learn more about Digital Marketing The Impact of AI on Genetic Disease Diagnosis The impact of AI on genetic disease diagnosis is profound. By identifying patterns in genetic data that humans would overlook, AI can predict an individual’s risk for certain genetic diseases, enabling earlier and more accurate diagnoses. An impressive example of this is the use of AI by Genomics England, a company that aims to sequence 100,000 genomes from NHS patients. They have utilized AI to identify patterns in the genomes that correlate with disease, which has led to more effective treatment plans and improved patient outcomes. In another groundbreaking development, IBM has developed an AI that can predict the risk of developing genetic diseases such as breast cancer by analyzing genomic data. This predictive ability could enable preventive measures to be taken before the disease manifests, potentially saving countless lives. AI has also shown promise in diagnosing rare genetic disorders. FDNA, a Boston-based tech company, has developed an AI tool that uses facial analysis to diagnose rare genetic conditions, a process that can often be challenging due to the vast number of rare disorders and their overlapping symptoms. The Future of AI in Genetics and Genomics As we look towards the future, the intersection of AI and genetics holds promising possibilities. With advances in AI, we may be able to more accurately predict disease risk, tailor treatments to an individual’s genetic makeup, and even correct harmful genetic mutations before birth. Exciting projects are already on the horizon. For instance, Google’s DeepMind recently made headlines for using AI to predict protein structures associated with COVID-19, a breakthrough that could speed up the development of new treatments and vaccines. Similarly, Microsoft’s Project Hanover is leveraging AI to compile, read, and understand the vast amounts of genetic research published each year, which could significantly expedite our understanding of genetics and lead to new discoveries. The marriage of AI and genetics is set to usher in a new era of discovery, changing the face of medical research and treatment. As AI continues to evolve and learn, its impact on genetics and genomics will only grow, heralding a future of unprecedented scientific advancement. As we conclude our exploration of the intertwining paths of AI and genetics, it’s clear that we stand on the precipice of a transformative era. The union of these two domains promises a future teeming with opportunities for research and discovery, unprecedented precision in disease diagnosis, personalized treatments, and much more. AI’s role in genetics has already proven instrumental, bolstering genetic research with advanced tools that decipher the vast genetic datasets. It has paved the way for more efficient genome sequencing, fostering a new era of discovery. Genetic disease diagnosis has also seen a remarkable shift with AI’s involvement, facilitating more accurate and early diagnosis, thereby allowing timely interventions. Two significant instances of how AI is revolutionizing genetics include the use of AI for predicting gene editing outcomes by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, and the work of Deep Genomics in predicting the impact of genetic mutations on disease development. These examples underscore the transformative potential of AI in genetics, holding the promise of shaping a new frontier in medical science and healthcare. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed multiple sectors, including the field of law. This blog post delves into the legal aspects of AI, the regulatory landscape, and AI’s role in legal practice. It also explores AI’s impact on privacy law and the ethical quandaries it presents. A comprehensive look at the intriguing intersection of AI and law.

<urn:uuid:05f5dcf8-8b5a-4bcb-9e1c-0d31abf24936>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://aihorizon.net/unveiling-the-future-how-artificial-intelligence/

2024-10-12T15:24:20Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Surah Al-An'am 6:153 - This is the Straight Path Surah Al-An'am 6:153 - following Allah's straight path to righteousness. - Surah Al-An'am 153 emphasizes following Allah's straight path to righteousness. - Similar verses in the Quran reiterate this guidance and its application in daily life. - Applying this message involves seeking guidance, staying on the right path, and resisting temptation. This Verse Means: Surah Al-An'am, verse 153, is a clear call for Muslims to stick to Allah's straight path. It warns against straying and promises guidance for those who follow it. This is about staying true to faith and not getting lost in life's distractions. Quick Tips for Daily Life: - Pray for Guidance: Regularly ask Allah to help you in all life areas. - Stay True to Faith: Keep your actions and thoughts aligned with Islamic teachings. - Resist Temptation: Turn to prayer and faith to fight off wrong paths. - Build a Relationship with Allah: Through prayer and understanding, connect deeply with your faith. - Practice Piety: Focus on living a life that reflects your beliefs. - Surah Al-Fatiha 1:6-7: Calls for guidance to the favored path. - Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256: Highlights the importance of choosing the right path freely. - Surah Al-Mustaqim 1:6: Another prayer for staying on the straight path. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Are other spiritual paths valid too, or only the straight path mentioned in 6:153? A: The Quran emphasizes that only the path set by Allah leads to righteousness. Q: How can I know I'm still on the straight path? What if I go off track? A: Compare your life to the Quran and Sunnah. Repent and seek guidance if you stray. Q: What if I have doubts about aspects of the straight path? A: Study the Quran and Hadith deeply. Seek answers from reputable scholars. Q: My family follows cultural traditions that seem different from the Quranic path. What should I do? A: Gently guide them towards the Quran-centered path and lead by example. Q: Is the straight path different for each person? A: No, the Quran and Sunnah outline a singular path, though personal situations might vary. To further enhance your connection with the Quran and its teachings, consider using the Al-Quran Tagging Kits in English & Malay. This kit allows you to not only read but also underline and tag significant ayahs, helping you grasp the profound beauty of Allah's teachings. Tagging kits available in Malay & English. In collaboration with #SouthAfricanMuslimahTaggingKits (Parts 1 & Part 2). We are the Exclusive Reseller in Asia For English Tagging Kit. Experience the beauty and guidance of the Quran with a transliterated Al-Quran that is easy to read. With our wide selection of designs you can start or enhance your journey, or perfect as a gift for any occasion. PERSONAL USE ONLY! Our Tags are for Personal use only.

<urn:uuid:a9cdbce4-fa1f-4521-b420-077af0c0c91f>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://alhiqma.com.sg/blogs/blog/surah-al-anam-6-153-this-is-the-straight-path

2024-10-12T15:00:34Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Last updated: September 18th, 2024 Choosing the right materials for high-performance environments is crucial for ensuring durability, efficiency, and safety. In industries where materials face extreme conditions, such as salt spray chambers and other harsh environments, the selection process becomes even more critical. High-performance environments often include aerospace, automotive, and marine industries, where materials must withstand rigorous testing and usage. This article explores how to select materials that can handle demanding conditions and the role of testing equipment in this process. High-performance environments are those where materials are exposed to extreme conditions, such as high temperatures, corrosive substances, or mechanical stresses. In these settings, materials must perform reliably over time without degradation. For instance, in a salt spray chamber, materials are subjected to a controlled, corrosive environment to simulate long-term exposure to saltwater. This helps to determine how well materials resist corrosion and wear. To ensure that materials meet these rigorous demands, they must be chosen based on their ability to endure such conditions effectively. Testing equipment plays a pivotal role in selecting materials for high-performance environments. The equipment used, such as salt spray chambers, helps simulate real-world conditions to evaluate the performance of materials. Salt spray chambers expose materials to a mist of saline solution, mimicking the corrosive effects of seawater. This type of testing is crucial for understanding how materials will react in actual high-performance environments. By using precise and reliable testing equipments, engineers can gather valuable data on material strength, durability, and longevity. When selecting materials for high-performance environments, several factors need to be considered. First, the material’s resistance to corrosion is essential, especially in environments where exposure to salt and other corrosive agents is a concern. Materials must also be evaluated for their mechanical properties, such as strength and flexibility, to ensure they can withstand the physical stresses they will encounter. Additionally, thermal stability is important for environments with extreme temperatures. By assessing these factors through rigorous testing, such as using salt spray chambers, the most suitable materials can be identified. Corrosion resistance is a critical aspect when selecting materials for high-performance environments. In industries like marine and automotive, where exposure to salt and moisture is common, materials must resist corrosion to maintain their structural integrity and performance. Salt spray chambers are used extensively to test this property, as they simulate the corrosive effects of saltwater. Materials that perform well in these tests are likely to be more reliable in real-world applications. Therefore, understanding and ensuring corrosion resistance is a key part of the material selection process. Evaluating material performance involves using a range of testing equipment to gather data on how materials behave under various conditions. Salt spray chamber are among the most common tools used for this purpose, providing insights into how materials will hold up over time in corrosive environments. Other types of testing equipment may include devices for measuring mechanical strength, thermal stability, and resistance to wear. By thoroughly evaluating material performance with these tools, engineers can make informed decisions about which materials are best suited for high-performance environments. Selecting materials for high-performance environments requires careful consideration and the use of specialized testing equipment. Salt spray chambers are essential for assessing corrosion resistance, while other testing equipment helps evaluate various material properties. By understanding the factors that affect material performance and using reliable testing methods, engineers can ensure that the chosen materials will meet the demands of extreme conditions. This thorough approach to material selection helps maintain safety, efficiency, and durability in high-performance environments, ultimately leading to better outcomes in industries where performance is critical.

<urn:uuid:40130ab3-9e6d-47de-857d-74277d570e69>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://alightmotionmodpro.com/selecting-materials-for-high-performance-environments/

2024-10-12T17:07:00Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

There are an abundance of error messages that computer users may see immediately after their computer boots up and tries to get into its Operating System. One of these error messages is one that states “Non system disk or disk error”. This error message presents itself before your computer gets into its Operating System, which means that this error message renders your Operating System inaccessible, basically reducing your entire computer to an expensive paperweight for the time being. “Non system disk or disk error” points towards the drive a computer is trying to boot from not having any boot files or another issue pertaining to the drive. However, this error can also be caused by loose or faulty SATA/IDE cables or your HDD not being configured as the first medium your computer tries to boot from or anything in between. This problem can be resolved and the “Non system disk or disk error” error message can be gotten rid of, and the following are some of the most effective solutions that you can use to try and do so: Solution 1: Remove all non-bootable media from your computer First and foremost, remove any and all media from your computer that the computer cannot boot from. This includes DVDs, CDs, USB flash drives and floppy disks. Make sure that your computer’s DVD/CD drive is empty, the floppy drive (if it has one!) is empty and that no USB flash drives are inserted into any of the USB ports, and then restart the computer and check to see if the problem still persists. If you are still facing the problem, try the next solution. Solution 2: Check on your HDD’s IDE or SATA cable A loose or faulty SATA cable (or IDE cable on older HDDs) can make it tougher for Windows to detect, recognize and read from an HDD, giving birth to this problem. Open your computer up and make sure that the cable connecting the HDD to the motherboard is fastened securely and restart your computer. If this doesn’t work, replace the cable entirely and check to see if that resolves the issue. If the issue still persists, you can safely rule the SATA or IDE cable out as a probable cause of the issue. Solution 3: Make sure that your computer’s HDD is at the top of its boot order Restart your computer. On the first screen that you see when your computer boots up, press the key that will allow you access to your computer’s BIOS This key varies from one motherboard manufacturer to the other and can be found in both a computer’s user manual and the first screen that it displays when it boots up. Once in the BIOS, peruse its tabs looking for its boot order. Once you find your computer’s boot order settings, highlight them and press Enter, and then make sure that the Hard Disk Drive you are trying to boot from is at the very top of the list. If it isn’t, set it at the top of the list, save the change, exit the BIOS and restart the computer. Solution 4: Repair your HDD’s boot sector, master boot record and BCD If the “Non system disk or disk error” error message is showing up because your Hard Disk Drive’s boot files have become damaged or corrupt, repairing the HDD’s boot sector, master boot record and BCD (Boot Configuration Data) should fix the issue. To do so, you need to: Insert a Windows installation disc or Windows system repair disc into the affected computer, restart it and then boot from the disc. To boot from the disc, you will need to set your CD/DVD drive as the first boot device in your computer’s boot order. Choose your language settings and configure other preferences. If you are using an installation disc, you will be taken to a screen with an Install now button at the very center. At this screen, click on Repair your computer in the bottom left corner. If you are using a system repair disc, move directly onto the next step. Choose the Operating System you want to repair. You can also check out our detailed guides on how to start windows 7/vista in repair/install mode and how to start windows 8/8.1 and 10 in repair/install mode. At the System Recovery Options window, click on Command Prompt. Type the following commands into the Command Prompt, pressing Enter after typing in each one: fixboot fixmbr rebuildbcd Remove the installation disc, restart the computer and see if the problem has been resolved. Note: If you are trying to fix this issue using this solution on Windows 7 or Vista, in the Command Prompt, use the following commands instead of fixboot, fixmbr and rebuildbcd: bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /rebuildbcd Solution 5: Run diagnostics on your HDD to determine if it has failed or is failing If none of the solutions listed and described above have managed to fix this issue for you, your last option is to run a series of diagnostics tests on your HDD. Running diagnostic tests on your HDD will allow you to determine its health status and whether or not it has failed or is failing. To find out whether or not your HDD is failing or has failed, use this guide. If you end up determining that your Hard Disk Drive has already failed or is failing, the only viable course of action will be to replace it with a new one.

<urn:uuid:0394ddb9-1db4-44e6-8cae-2a5c7ec9e256>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://appuals.com/fix-non-system-disk-or-disk-error-message-on-startup/

2024-10-12T15:59:55Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, recognizes that respect for all human rights is essential to building a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world for everyone. Human rights principles and standards are reflected in all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 167 targets, and human rights are increasingly recognized as a key accelerator to achieving sustainable development for people, prosperity, planet, peace and partnership. The Regional Office for South-East Asia works to ensure that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is fully aligned with international human rights norms and standards. This includes supporting the UN at the regional and country level, governments, national human rights institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders in their respective work to achieve the 2030 Agenda. This includes ensuring that recommendations from international human rights mechanisms guide the implementation of the SDGs; grounding the operationalization of “Leaving No One Behind” in the principles of equality, non-discrimination and participation of particularly vulnerable individuals and groups; and strengthening meaningful and effective stakeholder participation across all areas of work in the 2030 Agenda.

<urn:uuid:a57c440e-668b-4ccb-aaf4-008e6af18339>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://bangkok.ohchr.org/sdgs-2030-agenda/

2024-10-12T15:33:12Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

“Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in old clothes,” said Don Marquis, the famous American poet. And much like fishing, this similarly named type of e-threat relies on deceiving users by throwing a ‘fishing’ hook in the guise of a veiled email that is supposed to tempt the recipient into biting the bait. This could lead to clicking on or downloading an infected attachment or giving out personal information like passwords, credit card, or banking data. At this point, the information can then be utilized by cyber criminals to access sensitive accounts, often leading to financial loss and identity theft. Now you know what this means, but how can you defend yourself against phishing? Here are a few tips to avoid this issue. A U2F (Universal 2nd Factor) is a set of tokens or keys that enable you to connect with your browser to set per-site credentials for logging into an account. In order to authenticate the user, this piece of hardware needs a second authentication method when you log in besides your password. This way, if you happen to log into a phishing website, then the browser will not permit you to log in with the data from the legitimate website. Hence, even if the attacker succeeds in tricking you to give out your password for a certain site, they will not able to compromise your account. Many antivirus solutions offer antiphishing defense. In order to avoid this type of cyber attack, therefore, ensure you have one that contains this feature set up on your device. Most of the renowned names in internet security software offer antiphishing as part of their free antivirus tools, too. Therefore ensure that the antivirus software that you select provides this type of protection. Generally speaking, it is based on the antivirus being able to detect and block any phishing websites so that they cannot put their hands on your personal information. This is a common technique used by phishing attackers. Many times the email puts pressure on you to take immediate action by announcing that your account was closed or that there has been illegal activity taking place, requiring a rapid action. To stay safe from phishing attacks, make a habit of not clicking on a link in an email, even if it looks truly genuine. What you should do is log into your account by visiting the original website, after which you can verify the proposed situation of your account. When you are shopping online, filling in your personal data, or doing any type of banking transaction, make sure you never utilize public, unsecure Wi-Fi even if the website itself is secure. The best alternative would be to use your own 3G, 4G, or even the LTE connection, which all come with much greater protection than the public Wi-Fi available, for instance, at shopping malls or airports. VPNs turn the internet into a much safer place. They are able to safeguard you against numerous cyber threats, including phishing. This is because they encrypt all of the information received and sent to and from your PC, and as a result provide a secure channel for your confidential data. Just like the poet Marquis suggests, don’t wait until you become the prey in these attackers’ phishing nets, take proactive actions to avoid this type of cyber attack. Have you been a victim of these cyber threats or do you have any opinions on the subject? Let us know on our Facebook page.

<urn:uuid:d5d3ead9-4360-46d4-a571-4b8c5ac59066>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://bestreviews.net/tips-to-avoid-phishing-threats/

2024-10-12T15:56:05Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Have you ever come across a number that seemed to resonate with a deeper meaning? A number that stirred something within you, compelling you to uncover its secrets? For many believers, the number 616 holds a mysterious allure, its symbolism woven into the intricate tapestry of biblical prophecies. In this article, we delve into the enigmatic nature of 616, exploring its biblical significance and unraveling the layers of meaning it holds. - 616 is mentioned in the oldest surviving copy of the New Testament as the number of the Beast of Revelation 13. - The number 616 is believed to reference the Roman emperor Nero, who persecuted Christians during the first century. - Understanding the historical context and symbolism of 616 helps shed light on biblical prophecy and the ongoing struggle between good and evil. - Decoding the mystery of 616 requires a holistic study of biblical numerology, theological perspectives, and the symbolic language of the book of Revelation. - The enduring relevance of 616 lies in its ability to challenge believers to remain faithful and discerning in the face of opposition and deception. The Number of the Beast: 666 or 616? The number of the Beast mentioned in Revelation 13:18 has long been interpreted as 666, but there is an intriguing variation found in some Greek New Testament manuscripts – the number 616. This discrepancy has sparked debates among scholars and theologians regarding the true biblical interpretation of this mysterious number. Some experts propose that the reading of 616 could be attributed to a particular Latin copyist who sought to align the number with the Latin rendering of the name Nero. When Nero’s name is transliterated into Hebrew, it adds up to 616. While the majority of scholars continue to support the traditional view of 666 as the number of the Beast, the existence of the 616 variant raises intriguing questions about the historical significance of Nero in relation to biblical prophecy. It invites us to delve deeper into the symbolism and meaning behind the number 616 within the biblical context of Christianity. Historical Context: Nero’s Persecution of Christians The first century Roman emperor, Nero, is remembered for his brutal persecution of Christians. Nero falsely blamed the Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, unleashing a wave of violence against them. Christians were subjected to gruesome punishments, including being thrown to dogs, crucifixion, and burning alive. This persecution inflicted incredible suffering on the early Christians, as they faced relentless persecution solely based on their faith. Nero’s cruelty towards the Christians solidified his image as an antagonist in biblical prophecy, reinforcing the association between him and the Beast mentioned in Revelation. Biblical Numerology and Symbolism In biblical numerology, numbers like 616 hold significant symbolic meaning that provide insights into deeper spiritual truths. When exploring the spiritual and moral implications of the number 616, particularly in relation to Nero, it becomes evident that it represents the profound challenges and opposition faced by early Christians during his reign. The number 616 symbolizes the spiritual and moral corruption that was prevalent under Nero’s rule. It serves as a reminder of the trials and tribulations endured by early Christians, who were confronted with persecution and oppression for their faith. In addition to its symbolic representation, the number 616 holds significance through the Hebrew transliteration of Nero’s name into numbers (50, 200, 6, 50, 100, 60, 200). This reflection of the Hebrew alphabet and cultural context reveals the intricate layers of interpretation and the interconnectedness of biblical symbolism. The spiritual meaning of 616 reminds believers of the challenges they may encounter in their own faith journeys and the importance of remaining steadfast and true to their beliefs despite the surrounding corruption and opposition. The End-Time Antichrist Figure While Nero is associated with the biblical Beast, it’s important to note that the Beast mentioned in Revelation is often interpreted as a symbolic representation of a future end-time antichrist figure. The Beast is described as a great deceiver who will deceive many with his signs and wonders. It is believed that the Beast will rise to power and establish a reign of terror before being defeated by Christ at His Second Coming. Throughout history, there have been various interpretations and speculations about the identity of this end-time antichrist. Some believe it will be a specific individual who emerges in the future, while others see it as a symbolic representation of evil forces that will arise during the last days. Regardless of the specific interpretation, the concept of the end-time antichrist serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil. The number 616 and its connection to Nero hold eschatological meaning and significance in biblical prophecy. As believers delve into the depths of eschatology, they uncover a profound warning against the deceptive and oppressive forces that will arise in the end times. Within the Book of Revelation, the mark of the Beast emerges as a symbol of allegiance to the Antichrist and his system, representing a pivotal battle for the souls of humanity. In a world consumed by chaos and uncertainty, it is crucial for believers to recognize the signs and stay true to their faith. The mark of the Beast, intrinsically linked to eschatological events, serves as an urgent call for steadfastness and spiritual discernment. Unveiling the Deception Central to the eschatological significance of the number 616 is the recognition of the enticement and seduction that will grip the hearts and minds of humanity during the end times. The mark of the Beast represents a perilous choice—one that can lead individuals astray, blinding them to the truth and ensnaring them in the web of deception. Throughout biblical prophecy, the mark of the Beast acts as a dividing line, separating those who stand firm in their faith from those who succumb to the allure of earthly power and material gain. It serves as a reminder that true allegiance lies with God, not with the Antichrist and his system. By heeding this warning and rejecting the mark of the Beast, believers align themselves with the forces of righteousness and ensure their eternal salvation. Theological Perspectives on 616 The theological meaning of the number 616 in biblical studies elicits diverse perspectives from scholars and theologians. While opinions may differ, two dominant viewpoints emerge, shedding light on the theological implications of this number. Firstly, some scholars perceive 616 as a historical reference to Nero, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the dangers posed by oppressive rulers and systems. In this interpretation, the number 616 serves as a reminder of the persecution faced by early Christians under Nero’s reign. It prompts believers to reflect on the nature of evil and the role of believers in a world marked by political and societal challenges. Secondly, others see 616 as a symbol of the ultimate victory of Christ over evil. This perspective emphasizes the theological significance of remaining faithful to Christ in the face of adversity. The number 616 serves as a reminder that, in the grand narrative of God’s kingdom, evil is destined to be conquered and believers are called to participate in God’s redemptive mission. Both interpretations prompt theological reflection on the profound themes present in the biblical texts. They invite believers to contemplate the dynamics of power, the struggles of faith, and the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom. The number 616 provokes inquiries into the nature of good and evil, the agency of believers in shaping society, and the final consummation of God’s redemptive plan. The Continuing Significance of 616 The number 616, while historically rooted in the significance of Nero, holds enduring relevance that extends beyond its original context. It serves as a constant reminder of the ongoing struggle between good and evil and the need for discernment in interpreting biblical symbolism. In a world filled with deception and falsehoods, understanding biblical symbolism becomes paramount. The number 616 challenges believers to examine their faith, encouraging them to stay steadfast in the face of opposition and to recognize the signs of deception in the world. Just as the early Christians faced the persecution of Nero, modern believers are confronted with various challenges that test their convictions. The number 616 serves as a symbol of strength, reminding individuals of the importance of remaining faithful and discerning in the midst of adversity. The enduring relevance of 616 lies in its ability to provoke introspection and introspection. It prompts believers to reevaluate their beliefs, to deepen their understanding of biblical symbolism, and to seek wisdom and discernment from God. By engaging with the symbolism of 616, individuals can navigate the complexities of their faith and find renewed purpose in their spiritual journey. The Symbolic Language of Revelation The book of Revelation is a captivating world of rich symbolism and vivid imagery. Within its pages, the author employs various symbolic elements to convey profound spiritual truths. While numbers play a significant role in this symbolic language, such as the intriguing number 616, they are just one aspect of the intricate puzzle. Symbols in the book of Revelation should not be interpreted in isolation but rather understood within the broader context of the historical and cultural setting. Decoding biblical symbols requires a holistic approach that takes into account biblical references, theological perspectives, and the overarching message of the entire book. Just as a masterful artwork requires careful observation and interpretation, so too does the symbolism in Revelation demand discernment and wisdom. It beckons readers to dive deep into the depths of understanding, unraveling the layers of meaning that lie beneath the surface. The Mystery of 616: Unveiling the Truth The decoding of the mystery surrounding the number 616 in biblical interpretation is an invitation for believers to embark on a profound exploration of biblical truths. Uncovering the truth entails delving into the historical, theological, and symbolic aspects of biblical texts. By engaging in this comprehensive study, individuals can gain deeper insights into the meaning and significance of the number 616. Approaching this exploration with humility and open-mindedness is crucial. It is essential to acknowledge the limitations of human understanding and embrace the ultimate mystery of God’s divine plan. As believers endeavor to decode the mystery of 616, they are reminded of the vastness and complexity of divine wisdom. The Relevance of 616 in Christian Faith The significance of 616 in Christian beliefs extends beyond mere numerical value. It holds a deep spiritual symbolism that encourages believers to reflect on its biblical meaning and explore its implications. By delving into the personal and historical contexts surrounding the number 616, individuals can gain valuable insights into the challenges faced by early Christians and the enduring themes of faith, discernment, and perseverance emphasized throughout the Bible. Reflecting on the biblical significance of 616 allows believers to forge a deeper connection with God’s message. It serves as a reminder to remain steadfast in the face of adversity and to discern the signs of deception in the world. By contemplating the spiritual meanings associated with this number, individuals can cultivate a stronger faith and a greater understanding of the profound struggles faced by those who came before them, laying the foundation of Christianity. Furthermore, the relevance of 616 in Christian faith lies in its ability to underscore the importance of perseverance in challenging times. Just as early Christians endured persecution and remained faithful, believers today are called to navigate the complexities of the world with discernment and unwavering faith. The study of biblical symbolism, including the number 616, provides a framework for this introspection, reminding individuals of the enduring truths and teachings embedded in the scriptures. In essence, the significance of 616 in Christian beliefs lies not only in its numerical value, but in its power to evoke personal reflection, deepen one’s spiritual understanding, and inspire a resilient faith. By embracing the exploration of biblical symbolism, individuals are equipped to face the trials of life with renewed perspective, fortified by the timeless lessons found within the pages of the Bible. FAQ: Unveiling the Mystery of 616 The number 616 and its connection to the “number of the beast” has sparked curiosity and debate for centuries. Here are some of the most common questions to shed light on this topic: Q: Isn’t the number of the beast 666, not 616? A: Yes, in most modern translations of the Bible, the number of the beast is depicted as 666. However, a fragment of papyrus (Papyrus 115) discovered in the 20th century suggests that some early manuscripts might have originally referred to 616. Q: What does 616 symbolize then? A: There’s no definitive answer. Some scholars believe 616 could be a code referring to a specific person or entity, possibly the Roman emperor Nero. The difference in numbers (616 vs. 666) might stem from variations in spelling Nero’s name in Greek or Hebrew. Q: Should I be worried about the number 616? A: The concept of the “number of the beast” is symbolic and open to interpretation. Focus on living a Christ-centered life and avoid getting caught up in deciphering specific numbers. Q: Where can I learn more about biblical symbolism? A: Here at [Your Website Name], we offer a variety of resources to deepen your understanding of the Bible and its symbolism. Explore our downloadable eBooks, inspirational blog posts, and online courses to expand your knowledge! (Insert links to relevant sections on your website) Call to Action: Deepen Your Biblical Exploration The number 616 offers a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of biblical interpretation. But the Bible holds a treasure trove of symbolism and wisdom waiting to be discovered. Here at Bible Angels, we’re dedicated to being your partner on your faith journey. Explore our vast collection of resources to: - Uncover the meaning behind other biblical symbols. - Gain a deeper understanding of scripture. - Strengthen your faith and connect with a community of believers. Visit our website today and embark on a transformative exploration of the Bible! Benjamin Foster is an author renowned for his profound dedication to Christian teachings and values. Benjamin has dedicated his life to traveling across the globe, sharing his deep understanding and interpretations of biblical scriptures. His approach is unique as he seamlessly blends theological insights with everyday life experiences, making his teachings accessible and relatable to people from diverse backgrounds. As an author, Benjamin has penned several influential books that delve into Christian ethics, faith, and spirituality. His seminars and workshops are highly sought after for their ability to inspire and transform, guiding individuals towards a more fulfilling spiritual path. Offstage, Benjamin is known for his humility and approachability, often engaging in one-on-one conversations with his followers. His passion for gardening reflects his belief in nurturing growth and beauty in all aspects of life.

<urn:uuid:ef682ed2-bee6-40bb-a31f-4e632b3053b3>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://bibleangels.com/616-biblical-meaning/

2024-10-12T16:56:54Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

In the world of artificial intelligence (AI), researchers are constantly looking for ways to enhance the performance and generalizability of language models. ByteDance AI Research has recently unveiled a new method called Reinforced Fine-Tuning (ReFT) that aims to enhance the generalizability of learning Large Language Models (LLMs) for reasoning, with math problem-solving as a prime example. The Limitations of Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT) One effective method to improve the reasoning skills of LLMs is to employ supervised fine-tuning (SFT) with chain-of-thought (CoT) annotations. However, this approach has limitations in terms of generalization because it heavily depends on the provided CoT data. In scenarios like math problem-solving, each question in the training data typically has only one annotated reasoning path. While this approach may work well for the specific reasoning path that is annotated, it may struggle to generalize to unseen reasoning paths. This limitation hinders the overall performance and adaptability of the language models. Introducing Reinforced Fine-Tuning (ReFT) To overcome the limitations of SFT, researchers from ByteDance AI Research lab propose a practical method known as Reinforced Fine-Tuning (ReFT) . The ReFT approach combines SFT with online reinforcement learning using the Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm . This two-stage process aims to enhance the generalizability of learning LLMs for reasoning, particularly in math problem-solving. Stage 1: Warm-Up with Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT) The ReFT method begins by warming up the model through supervised fine-tuning (SFT) . During this stage, the model is trained on annotated CoT data, which provides a starting point for the learning process. However, unlike traditional SFT, ReFT goes beyond relying on a single annotated reasoning path. It explores multiple CoT annotations to optimize a non-differentiable objective. This approach allows the model to learn from diverse reasoning paths and improves its ability to generalize to unseen scenarios. Stage 2: Fine-Tuning with Reinforcement Learning After the warm-up stage, ReFT leverages online reinforcement learning, specifically employing the Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm . During this fine-tuning process, the model is exposed to various reasoning paths automatically sampled based on the given question. These reasoning paths are not limited to the CoT annotations but are generated through exploration. The rewards for reinforcement learning come naturally from the ground-truth answers. By combining supervised fine-tuning with reinforcement learning, ReFT aims to create a more robust and adaptable LLM for enhanced reasoning abilities. Improving CoT Prompt Design and Data Engineering Recent research efforts have focused on improving chain-of-thought (CoT) prompt design and data engineering to enhance the quality and generalizability of reasoning solutions. Some approaches have utilized Python programs as CoT prompts, demonstrating more accurate reasoning steps and significant improvements over natural language CoT . By using Python programs, researchers can provide more fine-grained and precise instructions for reasoning, leading to better performance in math problem-solving tasks. Additionally, efforts are being made to increase the quantity and quality of CoT data, including the integration of additional data from OpenAI’s ChatGPT . The availability of more diverse and extensive CoT data can help improve the generalizability of LLMs and enhance their reasoning capabilities. The Performance of ReFT The ReFT method has shown promising results in enhancing the generalizability of learning LLMs for reasoning in math problem-solving. Extensive experiments conducted on GSM8K, MathQA, and SVAMP datasets have demonstrated the superior performance of ReFT over SFT . By exploring multiple reasoning paths and leveraging reinforcement learning, ReFT outperforms traditional supervised fine-tuning in terms of reasoning capability and generalization. In addition to the core ReFT method, further enhancements can be achieved by combining inference-time strategies such as majority voting and re-ranking . These strategies can help boost the performance of ReFT even further, ensuring that the model produces accurate and reliable reasoning solutions. Reinforced Fine-Tuning (ReFT) stands out as a method that enhances the generalizability of learning LLMs for reasoning with math problem-solving as an example. By combining supervised fine-tuning with reinforcement learning, ReFT optimizes a non-differentiable objective and explores multiple CoT annotations, leading to improved reasoning capabilities and generalization. The performance of ReFT has been demonstrated through experiments on various datasets, showcasing its effectiveness in solving math problems . Efforts to improve CoT prompt design, data engineering, and the integration of additional data sources further enhance the quality and generalizability of reasoning solutions. ReFT opens up new possibilities for enhancing the capabilities of language models and expanding their applications in various domains. If you like our work, you will love our Newsletter 📰

<urn:uuid:dfc4aa35-da28-4a54-8a2e-e17ffb5a52c1>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://blog.aitoolhouse.com/reinforced-fine-tuning-reft-enhancing-the-generalizability-of-learning-llms-for-reasoning-with-math-problem-solving/

2024-10-12T15:42:58Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

One of the well-known miracles performed by Jesus during his Galilean ministry is the healing of the Gadarene demoniacs. Following his stilling of the storm, Jesus crosses over to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and finds two men possessed by demons who live in tombs. He removes the demons from the men and casts the former into a large herd of swine, who then run off a steep cliff drowning themselves in the lake. Where exactly did this famous exorcism occur? The answer is more complicated that you might expect. You might know the story by a slightly different name: the healing of the Gerasene demoniac. As we shall see in this post, there is a good deal of confusion surrounding this episode, including: the name of the place, the number of people possessed by demons, as well as the precise location of this event. The crux of the problem is that not all ancient versions of the Gospels agree on the spelling of the toponym. Most ancient manuscripts of Matthew 8:28 say that from Capernaum, Jesus crossed over “to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes” (εἰς τὸ πέραν εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν). But in place of the word “Gadarenes”, other reliable manuscripts read either “Gergesenes” (Γεργεσηνῶν) or “Gerasenes” (Γερασηνῶν). In Mark 5:1 and Luke 8:26, there is one demoniac not two, and the geographical situation is reversed: “Gerasenes” (Γερασηνῶν) is the most accepted version that appears in Bibles today, while other ancient manuscripts read “Gadarenes” or “Gergesenes”. Luke also adds the detail that this took place “opposite Galilee” (Lk 8:26). How did all this chaos come about in the text of the New Testament? Likely this messy situation is due to the powerful influence of one of the most prominent Church Fathers of the third century: Origen of Alexandria. Although born and raised in Egypt, Origen lived in the capital of Roman Palestine, Caesarea Maritima, during the second half of his life (c. 232-251). He was enormously productive during this period, composing hundreds of homilies and commentaries on the books of the Bible. These works, while not all extant, are very well known to scholars of ancient Christianity. Less appreciated, however, is the extent to which Origen was also a trailblazer in the field of Christian holy land pilgrimage. In these exegetical works, he sometimes refers to his travels throughout the land, assuring his audience that he is trustworthy because he has in fact seen the places mentioned in the Scriptures. For example, in book 6 of his Commentary on John, Origen writes the following: Thus we see that he who aims at a complete understanding of the Holy Scriptures must not neglect the careful examination of the proper names in it. In the matter of proper names the Greek copies are often incorrect, and in the Gospels one might be misled by their authority. The transaction about the swine, which were driven down a steep place by the demons and drowned in the sea, is said to have taken place in the country of the Gerasenes. Now, Gerasa is a town of Arabia, and has near it neither sea nor lake. And the Evangelists would not have made a statement so obviously and demonstrably false; for they were men who informed themselves carefully of all matters connected with Judæa. But in a few copies we have found, into the country of the Gadarenes; and, on this reading, it is to be stated that Gadara is a town of Judæa, in the neighborhood of which are the well-known hot springs, and that there is no lake there with overhanging banks, nor any sea. But Gergesa, from which the name Gergesenes is taken, is an old town in the neighborhood of the lake now called Tiberias, and on the edge of it there is a steep place abutting on the lake, from which it is pointed out that the swine were cast down by the demons. Now, the meaning of Gergesa is dwelling of the casters-out, and it contains a prophetic reference to the conduct towards the Savior of the citizens of those places, who besought Him to depart out of their coasts. (ComJn 6.40-41) The point that Origen is making here is that Christians must be very meticulous readers because the text of the Gospels contains mistakes, particularly with regard to geographical information. The copyists responsible for writing down the text over the past two centuries have not been familiar with the places mentioned in the text and so they have not been careful enough with place names. Errors have creeped in. It is quite remarkable that a 3rd century scholar had such a modern sounding text critical approach to biblical studies! Origen uses the tools of historical geography to demonstrate why “Gergesenes” is the most correct reading. Gerasa (modern Jerash), one of the cities which made up the Decapolis, cannot make sense because it is way too far away from the Sea of Galilee (70 km). Gadara (modern day Umm Qais, near the springs of Hamat Gader) is more or less in the right region, but still too far from the Sea (6 km). So, by process of elimination, Origen concludes that Gergesa must be the correct name of the place where this exorcism happened. It is the only place on the shore of the Sea, and not in the Transjordanian Highlands. To further endorse this, Origen looks to the etymological meaning of the name; indeed the meaning of Gergesa is “the lodging of those who have cast-out” (παροικία ἐκβεβληκότων). He is apparently under the impression that the name derives from the Hebrew root g-r-sh (גרש), which means “to exile, cast out, drive away”. This is very creative and indicates that Origen had a basic knowledge of Hebrew but is unfortunately not linguistically accurate. Now that we have addressed the matter of the name itself, let us turn to the location. There are several suggestions for where this event took place. The most traditional location is known as Kursi, located on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This identification has clearly been influenced by Origen’s comments above. But to its credit, this identification has many strengths. The modern Arabic name Kursi could well be preserving the ancient name Gergesa, it is indeed located “on the other side” of the Sea, and this is one of the few places where a steep cliff (containing caves which might well have been used as tombs in antiquity) drops down into the Sea. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that the connection between this site and the textual passage in question goes back very far. A large triapsidal (three nave) basilica-style church was built here in the fifth century commemorating the event. It is the largest complex of its kind in the country. Note the beautiful combination of basalt and limestone and the well-preserved Greek dedicatory inscription on the mosaic floor in below. It reads: “In the time of the most God-loving Stephanos, the priest and abbot, this mosaic of the baptistery was made, in the month of December of the Fourth indiction in the time of our pious and Christ-beloved King Mauricius first consulate.” This has been dated to 585 CE. When Jesus asks the man his name, he replies “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Jesus then removes the demon from the man and “the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea” (Mark 5:13). The scene is rather odd, but very much based in the real life physical context of the region. At this location a steep hill drops down from the Golan Heights into the Sea of Galilee. To this day wild boar roam the hills surrounding the Sea. But beyond these physical details, something more complex is happening here. This healing act is Jesus’s subtle critique of the Roman Empire who controlled Judea at the time. The word “Legion” refers to a unit of 5000 Roman soldiers. The boar was one of the symbols of the Tenth Legion Fretensis, which was stationed in Judea in the years following the death of Herod the Great. Jesus’s casting of the demon called Legion into 2000 swine therefore constitutes an unspoken critique of Roman militarism and a prayer that Jewish sovereignty would be reestablished in the Land.

<urn:uuid:10d07385-ed6e-4399-aa14-aee221799762>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://blog.israelbiblicalstudies.com/holy-land-studies/swine-gadarene/

2024-10-12T16:53:30Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Plastic is, probably, one of the most ingenious discoveries of our advanced, scientific and industrial era. We depend heavily on plastic to the well-functioning of our daily life – a toothpaste tube, a medicine bottle, all the pieces that compound the computer I’m now using to type this post, plastic bags we use to pack our stuff – there are so many applications to plastic-made objects that would be hard to sum up here. In a word: I can’t imagine our life without plastic. But is well-known that plastic can be, at the same time, one of the worst enemies of nature. Plastic is difficult to degrade. And if we add to this characteristic the fact people are sometimes irresponsible in the way they throw out their no more useful plastic objects, then we can imagine the problem. Indeed, each year, tons of plastic debris are simply dumped into the ocean – the natural habitat of many species of seabirds. One of these birds is the Laysan albatrosses. What a gracious creature! These birds have a long wingspan, and they fly vast distances without flapping their wings. They can also spend years without touching land, living for more than half century. As if were not enough all the threats we human beings are causing to their environment (breaking the balance of their habitats), now they face a new menace: tons and tons of plastic that are dropped into the ocean every year. The problem? A recent study shows that this plastic is confused as their natural prey. This happens due to a chemical process that misleads these birds – the plastic debris generates a dimethyl sulfide signature that is the same trace these birds use to identify their ‘food.’ The result: they swallow this debris and then…. they die as a consequence. The photographer Chris Jordan has captured this tragic outcome in images like the next one. I know. I know. While this is happening, you are concerned with your life. What is the value of the Albatrosses’ life? Your son is infinitely more important. The paper I’m struggling to publish right now is more important. Even what I’m going to eat next is more important. Who, in the so-called “First World” is concerned with the destiny of the plastic waste they produce? Most of the people have a shit for that. And so we in the “developing countries”.

<urn:uuid:8f83a3d9-fa4d-47a5-9398-feb29e10af3c>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://blog.pedrobendassolli.com/plastic/

2024-10-12T16:17:40Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

For years, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has declared May to be “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month,” providing an opportunity to educate patients, families, caregivers and health care providers about the unique needs of those living with asthma and allergies. Asthma is a condition in which the airways narrow and swell, occasionally producing extra mucus. Asthma can make breathing more difficult and result in coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Considering asthma is a major noncommunicable disease (NCD) that affects both children and adults, it’s critical that EMS responders are prepared to reverse asthma attacks and prevent life-threatening respiratory failure as efficiently and thoroughly as possible, at all times. To mark the awareness month, we’re providing some advice and resources to help EMS responders better understand the unique airway complications suffered by asthmatics, and the safest and most effective ways to perform airway management on asthmatic patients. Airway Complications Caused by Asthma Most asthma deaths are preventable with the right emergency care. Knowing what signs and symptoms to look for is the first step in identifying asthma and implementing a proactive treatment plan. Asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness, are caused by inflammation and narrowing of the small airways in the lungs. In addition to inhaling medication, identifying and avoiding asthma triggers can significantly mitigate symptoms for patients. Common triggers include exposure to environmental allergens and irritants like indoor and outdoor air pollution, house dust mites, molds and any chemicals, fumes or dust. Between 3 and 5% of adults hospitalized for acute asthma develop respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Unlike respiratory distress, which is less severe, respiratory failure indicates a much more urgent crisis. An asthmatic does not need to experience an asthma attack to be at risk of respiratory failure — conditions that adversely affect breathing, including the flu, COVID-19, pneumonia and lung injuries, can also elevate the risk. Symptoms of respiratory failure include: - Severely altered mental state - Labored breathing and use of accessory muscles - Decreased O2 saturation even with O2 or other interventions - Inability to speak - Severe cyanosis - No breathing sounds - Tachycardia consistently higher than 130 bpm for an adult Suctioning, Ventilation and Airway Management The first line of defense against an asthma attack is always a rescue inhaler, followed by medication if the inhaler doesn’t reverse the attack. When medication fails, however, mask ventilation is the next best treatment. EMS responders must keep in mind that inflammation from asthma can compromise the airway and make intubation incredibly difficult or impossible. For this reason, responders should only intubate after medication has failed or the patient shows signs of severe oxygen deficiency. Once you’ve determined that ventilation is necessary, follow these steps to perform ventilation safely and efficiently on the patient: - Practice thorough hygiene measures before, during and after ventilation. - Offer reassurance and explain the procedure to the patient, being sure that you receive explicit consent from them before proceeding. - Sedate the patient so they feel no pain or anxiety during the procedure. - Suction the patient with the right-size catheter prior to ventilation. - Set the ventilator up with age and size appropriate settings for volume, breaths per minutes and positive end expiratory pressure. - Keep the patient’s caregiver informed of the treatment plan every step of the way. Keeping the Right Equipment On-Hand EMS responders encounter asthmatic patients in a variety of environments (schools, playgrounds, public facilities and other locations that don’t have wall-mounted suction units), but transporting the patient isn’t always possible or safe. Stocking your kit with the right emergency suction units and medications is vital for tending to asthmatic patients in any setting. Some essential tools to carry in your kit include personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, face shields) and airway equipment (basic adjuncts, such as NPAs and OPAs, pocket masks, collapsible bag valve devices, chest decompression kits and advanced airways). Wall-mounted suction is essential in many scenarios, but portable emergency suction is an effective way to treat asthmatic patients wherever you find them, and without transportation or treatment delays. For help choosing the right equipment, download SSCOR’s free guide, The Ultimate Guide to Purchasing a Portable Emergency Suction Device. Editor's Note: This blog was originally published in May 2022. It has been re-published with additional up-to-date content.

<urn:uuid:fe385ace-29cb-4162-a08b-2c448e9c3e6b>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://blog.sscor.com/suctioning-and-airway-management-for-asthmatic-patients

2024-10-12T15:58:17Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Since 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act has protected employees by establishing minimum wage, overtime pay, and record-keeping requirements. In recent years, lawsuits have been on the rise, often aimed at companies that made simple mistakes rather than intending a violation. For example, an automotive service business in Indiana was forced, after an audit, to pay over $1 million in back wages and other damages. Other mistakes that lead to expensive lawsuits and fines include not calculating overtime properly, not forwarding tips, and other violations. What is the FLSA? The basic provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act involve: - Setting the federal minimum wage, which may increase over time. If a state minimum wage is higher, you must pay that wage. - Requiring overtime pay of at least one and a half times regular pay for any hours worked over 40 per workweek for non-exempt employees. - Requiring records to be kept of employee time and pay - Limiting the number of hours that can be worked by minors. - Differentiating between exempt employees, non-exempt employees, and independent contractors. The specific rules change fairly frequently as the DoL makes rulings, but the broad strokes remain the same. What Are Some Common Violations of the FLSA? Employers often violate the FLSA, not always intentionally. The law can be complicated and changes, making it hard for employers to keep up. Here are the most common violations: Misclassifying Non-Exempt Employees as Exempt One of the most common errors is to fail to properly place the line between exempt and non-exempt employees. Exempt employees are excluded from minimum wage, overtime pay, and some other protections. Exempt employees are paid at least $35,568 annually (as of January 2021), paid by salary not hourly, and perform specific job duties which are generally executive or administrative in nature. Counting Overtime Work as Voluntary Some employers will attempt to avoid paying overtime by arguing that the time worked over 40 hours was "voluntary." In some cases it really is; the employee is trying to be helpful by coming in early or staying late, or they get a call during their lunch break and don't want to wait to take it. The FLSA uses the word "employ" to cover hours worked, and the statutory definition includes "to suffer or permit to work." That is to say, if your employee stays late on their own initiative, that still counts as hours worked because you are permitting them to work. That is, you must ensure that non-exempt employees clock out on time every day. If they are late clocking out, require them to leave early the next day to compensate. Wrongly Docking Exempt Employee Pay In order to count as exempt, an employee must be paid a predetermined amount every pay period, which can't change depending on the number of hours worked. You are allowed to dock pay if the employee is absent for personal reasons and is out of personal time, and you can offset amounts received from witness fees, jury duty, or military pay. You can also dock pay for a safety violation. You cannot dock an exempt employee because they have jury duty (this is a big one), for absences of less than a full day (such as to go to a doctor's appointment or vote), for sickness without a leave plan in place, for state or federal holidays on which you close the office, if you close the office due to weather or another emergency, or for poor job performance. Misclassifying Employees as Contractors Resist the temptation to try and classify as many employees as contractors as possible to avoid paying benefits and workers' comp. Somebody is only a contractor if they have control over when and where they work, are paid only for the work they do, and generally use their own equipment. "Contractor creep" is a big issue, where an employer tightens the rules on independent contractors until they are essentially employees. Ignoring State Labor Laws When an employee is subject to both federal and state labor laws, any contradictions must be resolved in favor of the employee. This most often means higher minimum wages, but some states also have a tighter definition of overtime that has to be applied. States may also have rules about how often employees are given breaks and whether breaks should be paid. Be particularly careful of this if you have more than one office in different states. Not Paying Overtime to Non-Exempt Employees Non-exempt employees must be paid for all hours worked beyond 40 at the overtime rate. Make sure to check state requirements too. Paying employees a flat rate even up to 50 or 60 hours is illegal but a common practice. Make sure that you are properly tracking time so that you know when an employee goes over 40 hours. You can then either pay them overtime or send them home. Improper Overtime Calculations This one can cause real trouble, as it can be caused by an error entering payroll that then propagates. Overtime pay must be at least "time and a half" (1.5 times regular pay). In some cases, the wrong rate of regular pay may be used, shorting the employee. If neither you nor they notice right away, you may be liable for a lot of overtime pay. Similar problems can occur if time worked is entered incorrectly. Not keeping accurate records is a common issue. You must keep records of all the time an employee works, including time spent checking emails. Record their pay correctly both to avoid an audit and to ensure that you pay them what they are owed. Failing to Keep Up with the Latest Federal Laws Finally, the rules can change at any time. Clarifications of the line between exempt and non-exempt employees, changes in the salary floor for exempt, and other changes may occur at any time. If you are not paying attention, you may miss a major regulatory change. All of this means that you need to be careful to stay compliant. The safest way to do this is to work with a Professional Employer Organization that has the expertise to stay compliant and can help make sure that you do not inadvertently violate the FLSA. To learn more, download our free eBook “What is a PEO?”

<urn:uuid:2160326f-b62f-4e22-bc99-cb8c2b175d6f>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://blog.zamphr.com/9-ways-you-may-be-violating-the-flsa

2024-10-12T15:09:54Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how easy and fast it is to use the Explain It To a Child template. Welcome to Brain Pod AI Writer! Today we’re going to show you how easy it is to use the Explain It To a Child template. This template is perfect for simplifying complex concepts so that anyone can understand them. To use this template, all you need to do is input the text you want to simplify and select the grade level you want the output to be. The examples are entirely optional and are used to refine your output further. You can create content in multiple languages as well. Then, with the click of a button, Brain Pod AI Writer generates simplified text that anyone can understand! If you ever get a result you do not like you can use the reclaim token feature to reclaim your tokens and not be charged for that output! So why wait? Head to aiwriter.brainpod.ai to start simplifying complex concepts today with Brain Pod AI Writer!

<urn:uuid:29ef49dd-4e2f-460e-a738-a0c00d82686b>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://brainpod.ai/how-to-use-the-blog-post-explain-it-to-a-child-template/

2024-10-12T15:53:39Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Gambling, with its allure of excitement and potential rewards, can evoke a myriad of emotions in individuals. However, beneath the surface lies the influence of cognitive biases that can have a significant impact on the emotional experience of gamblers. These biases, stemming from the way our brains process information and make decisions, can lead to irrational behaviors and distorted perceptions of risk and reward. In this article, we delve into the emotional implications of cognitive biases in gambling, exploring how these mental shortcuts can shape our reactions and decision-making processes in the high-stakes world of betting and wagering. 1. Introduction to Cognitive Biases in Gambling In the exhilarating world of gambling, our minds can often be influenced by cognitive biases that impact our decision-making and emotions. These biases can lead us to make irrational choices based on distorted perceptions and beliefs, ultimately affecting our gambling experiences. From the gambler’s fallacy to the illusion of control, cognitive biases can lure us into a false sense of confidence or hope, causing us to overlook critical information and make risky bets. Understanding the role of cognitive biases in gambling is crucial for recognizing and mitigating their effects on our behavior and well-being. This article delves into the emotional impact of cognitive biases in gambling, shedding light on how these psychological tendencies can sway our decisions and outcomes. 2. The Link Between Cognitive Biases and Emotional Responses The link between cognitive biases and emotional responses is a complex and intertwined relationship that greatly influences an individual’s behavior, especially in the context of gambling. Cognitive biases, or mental shortcuts that our brains use to process information and make decisions, can heavily impact how we perceive and react to situations. When these biases come into play during gambling activities, such as the gambler’s fallacy or confirmation bias, they can lead to distorted thinking and heightened emotional responses. For example, a gambler experiencing a loss may fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy, where they continue to invest more money in an attempt to recoup their losses, driven by emotions of frustration or desperation. These cognitive biases can create a vicious cycle of irrational decision-making and negative emotions, ultimately impacting the individual’s overall well-being. Understanding the relationship between cognitive biases and emotional responses is crucial in addressing problematic gambling behaviors and promoting healthier decision-making processes. 3. Impact of Cognitive Biases on Decision Making in Gambling The impact of cognitive biases on decision-making in gambling cannot be understated, as these biases can significantly influence the choices individuals make in high-risk situations. Casino environments are designed to trigger specific cognitive biases, such as the gamblers fallacy or the illusion of control, which can lead to irrational decision-making and ultimately result in financial losses. Understanding how cognitive biases operate in the context of gambling is essential for developing strategies to mitigate their effects and promote responsible gambling behavior. By recognizing and addressing these biases, individuals can make more informed decisions and improve their overall gambling experience. In conclusion, cognitive biases play a significant role in shaping the emotional impact of gambling behavior. These biases can lead individuals to make irrational decisions, causing them to overlook the risks involved and become more vulnerable to experiencing losses. By understanding these cognitive biases and learning to recognize them in their own gambling habits, individuals can take steps to mitigate their impact and make more rational choices. Being aware of biases such as the availability heuristic, overconfidence bias, and confirmation bias can help individuals approach gambling more thoughtfully and responsibly. By doing so, they can prevent themselves from falling into patterns of harmful behavior, ultimately promoting healthier and more enjoyable gambling experiences. Remember that gambling should be seen as a form of entertainment and not as a means to make money. It is essential to gamble responsibly and seek help if the need arises. The emotional rollercoaster of gambling can be better navigated when individuals are aware of and address their cognitive biases. For more information visit 4d.

<urn:uuid:dd5766ef-1f28-4fbf-8d42-7116d812ac0b>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://brraevents.com/emotional-impact-cognitive-biases-in-gambling/

2024-10-12T14:51:26Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Parts One and Two in this series have defined Good Manufacturing Practices, introduced Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and explained the first HACCP step of hazard analysis. A food safety team will typically work from a flow diagram to identify biological, chemical or physical hazards at each step of processing and packaging. Once the hazard is identified, the severity and probability are debated. Hazards with severe consequences or high probability are carried through the HACCP plan as Critical Control Points (CCPs). Critical Control Points definedHACCP is a do-it-yourself project. Where exactly will the hazard be controlled? CCPs are embedded within certain steps in processing and packaging where the parameters, like temperature, must be met to ensure food safety. Failure at a CCP is called a deviation from the HACCP plan. The food safety team identifies where manufacturing problems could occur that would result in a product that could cause illness or injury. Not every step is a CCP! For example, I worked with a client that had several locations for filters of a liquid stream. The filters removed food particles, suspended particulates and potentially metal. We went through a virtual exercise of removing each filter one-by-one and talking through the result on controlling the potential hazard of metal. We agreed that failure of the final filter was the CCP for catching metal, but not the other filters. It was not necessary to label each filter as a CCP, because every CCP requires monitoring and verification. Identification of a CCP starts more documentation, documentation, documentation. Do you wish you had more reports to write, more forms to fill out, more data to review? No. Nobody wants more work. When a CCP is identified, there is more work to do. This just makes sense. If a CCP is controlling a hazard, you want to know that the control is working. Before I launch into monitoring, I digress to validation. CCP validationThis is where someone says, “We have always done it this way, and we have never had a problem.” You want to know if a critical step will actually control a hazard. Will the mesh of a filter trap metal? Will the baking temperature kill pathogens? Will the level of acid stop the growth of pathogens? The US had a major peanut butter recall by Peanut Corporation of America. There were 714 Salmonella cases (individuals) across 46 states from consumption of the contaminated peanut butter. Imagine raw peanuts going into a roaster, coming out as roasted peanuts and being ground into butter. Despite the quality parameters of the peanut butter being acceptable for color and flavor, the roasting process was not validated, and Salmonella survived. Baking of pies, pasteurization of juice and canning all rely on validated cook processes for time and temperature. Validation is the scientific, technical information proving the CCP will control the hazard. Without validation, your final product may be hazardous, just like the peanut butter. This is where someone says, “We have always done it this way, and we have never had a problem.” Maybe, but you still must prove safety with validation. The hazard analysis drives your decisions. Starting with the identification of a hazard that requires a CCP, a company will focus on the control of the hazard. A CCP may have one or more than one parameter for control. Parameters include time, temperature, belt speed, air flow, bed depth, product flow, concentration and pH. That was not an exhaustive list, and your company may have other critical parameters. HACCP is a do-it-yourself project. Every facility is unique to its employees, equipment, ingredients and final product. The food safety team must digest all the variables related to food safety and write a HACCP plan that will control all the hazards and make a safe product. Meeting critical limits at CCPs ensures food safety The HACCP plan details the parameters and values required for food safety at each CCP.The HACCP plan identifies the minimum or maximum value for each parameter required for food safety. A value is just a number. Imagine a dreadful day; there are problems in production. Maybe equipment stalls and product sits. Maybe the electricity flickers and oven temperature drops. Maybe a culture in fermentation isn’t active. Poop happens. What are the values that are absolutely required for the product to be safe? They are often called critical limits. This is the difference between destroying product and selling product. The HACCP plan details the parameters and values required for food safety at each CCP. In production, the operating limits may be different based on quality characteristics or equipment performance, but the product will be safe when critical limits are met. How do you know critical limits are met? CCPs must be monitored Every CCP is monitored. Common tools for monitoring are thermometers, timers, flow rate meters, pH probes, and measuring of concentration. Most quality managers want production line monitoring to be automated and continuous. If samples are taken and measured at some frequency, technicians must be trained on the sampling technique, frequency, procedure for measurement and recording of data. The values from monitoring will be compared to critical limits. If the value does not reach the critical limit, the process is out of control and food safety may be compromised. The line operator or technician should be trained to know if the line can be stopped and how to segregate product under question. Depending on the hazard, the product will be evaluated for safety, rerun, released or disposed. When the process is out of control, it is called a deviation from the HACCP plan. A deviation initiates corrective action and documentation associated with the deviation. You can google examples of corrective action forms; there is no one form required. Basically, the line operator, technician or supervisor starts the paperwork by recording everything about the deviation, evaluation of the product, fate of the product, root cause investigation, and what was done to ensure the problem will not happen again. A supervisor or manager reviews and signs off on the corrective action. The corrective action form and associated documentation should be signed off before the product is released. Sign off is an example of verification. Verification will be discussed in more detail in a future article.

<urn:uuid:fc3ba5fb-06fe-4fab-a35a-e7b1797e67a1>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://cannabisindustryjournal.com/tag/food-safety-plan/

2024-10-12T16:21:38Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Phenolic resin is notable for being a type of thermoset polymer, meaning that it cures into an altered form than when it is uncured; however, unlike other varieties of plastic polymers, it cannot be re-melted and re-molded. This comes with the cost of recyclability, as the resin cannot be re-molded after it is cured and taken shape. Other polymer resins include polyester, urethane, epoxy, and melamine, but let’s look at the properties and uses of phenolic resin to convince you why phenolic resin is the right thermoset for your business. The notable qualities of phenolic resin include its ability to withstand heat, hardness, dimensional stability, electrical resistance, and chemical resistance. Despite this durability, phenolic resins can be surprisingly brittle and are thus often paired with fillers and other reinforcements to bolster the resin. Phenolic resin producers have classified the resin into two categories: novolac and resole. Novolac phenolic resins are catalyzed in acid and require a curing agent, while resole resins are the opposite in that they are catalyzed in alkali and do not need a curing agent. Because some phenolic resins are able to withstand temperatures as high as 550 degrees Fahrenheit and are resistant to steam, phenolic molding compounds, or PMCs, are often added to a variety of formulas in order to take advantage of this fire resistance for the final product. An example of this includes glass fiber and specialty mold compounds that will be put under intense mechanical and thermal stress, such as pump impellers. That being said, let’s expand upon the applications of phenolic resin. Phenolic resin was first used in combination with paper and fabrics as insulation for electrical equipment, and it is still used today for electrical applications like circuit boards. Phenolic resin then spread to knives—specifically, knife handles—because it machines easily, polishes well, and the grip is intrinsic when wet. These knife handles used to be easily recognizable since they only came in green and black, but these days, manufacturers of knives have discovered how to create these handles with a much wider array of colors. Phenolic resin is also useful as binders in friction materials, again thanks to its high heat tolerance. These friction materials are a big part of clutch discs and brake pads—two vital components of cars that allow them to shift gears and prevent the brakes from giving out if you have to come to a quick and sudden stop. For vulcanized products like tires, phenolic resins are used as enhancers to improve tire traction on roads. Furthermore, the resin is combined with sand to create metal casting molds and serves as a binding agent in materials like refractory bricks. One last application that must be mentioned is how popular phenolic resins are in the lumber industry. Phenolics resins are widely used in the manufacturing of oriented strand board—a wooden board similar to particle board in that it’s made by adding adhesives and compressing layers of wood stranders in specific orientations, hence the name. As we mentioned, phenolic resins are, unfortunately, pretty brittle. For this reason, the majority of phenolic resin applications must include fillers to bolster the resin’s integrity. To do this, the resin and filler material is most commonly compression-molded, but can also be injection or transfer-molded resin as well. Different fillers improve different aspects of the phenolic resin. For example, cotton improves impact strength, while glass and mineral fillers further improved the heat resistance and stiffness of the resin. The processing time for these thermoset polymers typically takes longer than thermoplastics because of the exothermic chemical reaction that takes place, rather than the polymer hardening simply through cooling. If there are molded parts, then they are subject to a separate heating treatment that adds more time to the processing period. Products made in this way include cookware, stove handles, ashtrays in cars, motor brush caps, bottle caps, and many more. Now that we’ve talked about the properties and uses of phenolic resin, let’s take a look at the physical attributes that phenolic resins appear as. Phenolic molding compounds typically appear as powders as opposed to pellets commonly seen in thermoplastic moldings; however, phenolic resin laminates appear as a sheet, rod, or tubes. Additionally, phenolic resin is identifiable by the limited number of colors it comes in—most notably they’re black and brown, while occasionally being green and red. When made into molding compounds, they are available in single and two-stage forms. Single-stage molding components are ideal for in-mold metal placement for parts if there is a concern about possible corrosion because it bonds well and accepts mechanical assembly. As mentioned previously, phenolic resins cannot be recycled like thermoplastics because the material takes on a permanent change in its form once exposed to heat. However, there has been some minor success in reusing ground phenolic resin as filler in other products, much like how it has been used to bolster the heat resistance of products. These polymers can be recycled, and even then, they’re not always viable for reuse as a filler. On the front of interacting with chemicals, phenolic resins are notably compatible with both organic and halogenated solvents. In contrast, however, they have a poor response to inorganic bases and oxidizers. With these qualities, phenolic resin has been popular within transit and architectural businesses because they have a low smoke emission when applied. Blends of phenolic resin have been made for this purpose that meet the expectations of UL fire ratings, or the indicator of product quality and a certification of safety established by Underwriters Laboratories. The Underwriter Laboratories is an organization dedicated to testing products and teaching both businesses and consumers the safety standards products should be held to. Compared to many other thermosets and thermoplastics, phenolic resins are quite economical to produce. These lower costs come from many businesses being offset by the longer processing times of phenolic resins, which in turn means that businesses who can afford the extra time will instead save on their costs. Contact the team at Capital Resin to talk about your chemical production needs.

<urn:uuid:96e6ec25-af8a-45c8-b03d-da1a15ea1db8>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://capitalresin.com/properties-and-uses-of-phenolic-resin/

2024-10-12T16:23:13Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

How cans are made Cans for food, drinks and non-food products may be constructed out of either two or three pieces of metal. The first cans ever produced were three-piece and they were developed in the middle of the 19th century. They consist of a cylindrical body rolled from a piece of flat metal with a longitudinal seam, usually formed by welding, with a top and bottom, each seamed on the ends of the body. Three-piece cans may be manufactured in almost any practical combination of height, diameter and shape. This process is particularly suitable for making cans of different sizes as it is relatively simple to change the parameters of the can under production. The Cazander Brothers mainly have machinery for three-piece cans in stock. What is a lockside bodymaker? With this machine, the can body is not welded, but clinched together. The major advantage is that it allows the decoration to continue. Cazander Brothers regularly offer quality used lockside bodymakers from their extensive stock.

<urn:uuid:f61b9fa1-5f21-4ce0-8f9e-b0c546668a72>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://cazander.com/individual_machines/function/45-lockside-bodymaker

2024-10-12T16:27:18Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

In a previous article, we explored the four general stages in spiritual development, and you can read that article here: https://celebrateyoga.org/10303-2/. In this article we will explore a road map of spiritual development according to Vedantic philosophy. According to the Vedanta Society: “Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient spiritual philosophies and one of its broadest, based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India. It is the philosophical foundation of Hinduism; but while Hinduism includes aspects of Indian culture, Vedanta is universal in its application and is equally relevant to all countries, all cultures, and all religious backgrounds. Vedanta affirms (1) The oneness of existence, (2) The divinity of the soul, and (3) The harmony of all religions.” Vedanta being a more philosophical, knowledge-based approach to spirituality, describes seven stages of development. These are agyana, avarana, vikshepa, paroksha Jnana, aparoksha Jnana, dukkha nivritti, ananda prapti. Agyana means ignorance. In this stage, we live squarely in the gross physical realm and firmly rooted in the illusion of duality. We are not aware of anything other than that which we experience directly through our five senses. We do not know our true nature, nor are we even aware of our delusion. Avarana means veil. In this second stage, we may come to hear that there is something beyond name and form, beyond this mind and body, but we don’t see it. We acknowledge all the multitudes of religion in the world, but we question them. There is a veil over the eternal truth. This is the realm of the skeptic – we ask, “where is God?” and we ask for proof, and otherwise dismiss spirituality. Vikshepa means error and suffering. From the first two stages comes the third. We make erroneous assumptions about the nature of our existence. It’s an immediate conclusion based on our limited observations of the physical world and our experience of the body/mind complex. We assume that is all we are. Our answer to “who am I?” is the illusory answer of labels and characteristics, memories and identifications. From that comes everyday suffering because we only see ourselves in very limited and relative terms living in the past or the future. This is where most of humanity resides – just trying to find meaning and purpose for ourselves, the individual, separate from everything else. Paroksha Jnana means indirect knowledge. In this fourth stage, the message of the spiritual masters finally reaches the receptive ear. While there is no direct experience of the Divine, there is head-knowledge and acceptance. No mystical experiences but we admit that there is a possibility of transcendence. We read spiritual books, and we listen to lectures, and we try to assimilate ancient wisdom. This is the realm of faith. Aparoksha Jnana means direct knowledge. In the fifth stage, through practical application of various spiritual practices and techniques, actual direct experience of the Divine begins to dawn. A person begins to live a spiritual life from within and see their life purpose as that. This may be through meditation, or mantras, or yoga, or sufi practices, or living prayer and worship, or direct self-inquiry, or devotion, or whatever the case may be. Dukkha Nivritti means transcendence of suffering. This is where the breakthrough happens. Suddenly the realization of Oneness comes – an overwhelming clarity of the true nature of existence. This is where enlightenment happens. The awareness of the witness consciousness totally transcends all limitation, and all suffering of the body/mind complex. Ananda Prapti means attainment of bliss. In the last stage, one resides in a foundation of love and joy, eternal bliss. In every tradition, the common characteristic of the enlightened person is blissful happiness. These beings are untouched by Samsara. These seven stages are a journey of discovery. Moving from ignorance to bliss – from unconscious living to conscious being. The fragile foundation of impermanence, momentary, and emptiness shifts to an absolute foundation of existence, consciousness, bliss. That is why the Buddha called himself the Awakened One.

<urn:uuid:c427a7eb-2b78-4d01-a43c-95cefe9ffba8>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://celebrateyoga.org/stages-spiritual-journey-vedanta/

2024-10-12T15:52:40Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Bread baked to a fluffier texture tastes saltier than more dense counterparts of the dietary staple, a new study shows (J. Agric. Food Chem., DOI: 10.1021/jf403304y). This discovery might prove useful for lowering the salt content in bread—the highest single source of sodium in the U.S. diet. Health experts have long advocated a reduced-sodium diet as one way to prevent cardiovascular disease. And food chemists are rising to the challenge of creating more low-salt foods. But reducing salt in bread is not easy. Sodium chloride affects the activity of yeast, and it extends shelf life in addition to other benefits. Plus people like the taste better. Salt substitutes haven’t worked that well. The research indicates that the flavor issue in low-salt bread can be addressed via texture. Peter Koehler of the German Research Center for Food Chemistry decided to examine how texture affects the perception of saltiness in yeast breads. Koehler and center colleague Katharina Konitzer, along with Tabea Pflaum and Thomas Hofmann of the Technical University of Munich, altered the texture of yeast bread by varying the time dough was allowed to rise, or ferment. “You have very big pores in bread that’s fermented for a long time and small pores in nonfermented bread,” Koehler explains. A professional taste panel rated the perceived saltiness of the experimental breads. The team, meanwhile, measured sodium ion release from the bread as a function of time as it was being eaten under highly controlled conditions. Each loaf of bread in the experiment contained the same amount of salt by weight. But the tasters consistently rated the large-pored bread as having a saltier taste. This bread also released sodium to the tongue more rapidly. However, when panelists chewed samples designed to release sodium at similar rates, the fluffier bread still tasted saltier. Koehler attributes this to the bread’s texture. It may be possible to bake low-salt bread that tastes “normal” simply by letting the dough rise longer, Koehler says. Paul A. S. Breslin, who studies taste perception at Rutgers University, cautions that the idea of dietary salt reduction is controversial. He notes that what will make or break this strategy is the bread’s overall taste, of which saltiness is only one part. “I would like to know which breads are yummier,” he says.

<urn:uuid:e7b87634-58f8-43d3-b4a2-9a28c76dd95c>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i43/Low-Salt-Bread-High-Salt.html

2024-10-12T15:55:40Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Diagnostic Evaluation: Prostate Surgery, Radiation, and HIFU Side Effects Prior to any treatment, a complete evaluation of the bladder and the urethra is important. The following is an illustration of the anatomy of the male urethra. The connection of the prostate to the bladder is called the bladder neck. This is a main area of continence. The bladder neck is normally closed except during urination, when the bladder neck opens as the bladder squeezes (contracts) to empty. The prostatic urethra is the portion of the urethra that travels through the prostate itself. On the other side of the prostate is a short segment of urethra called the membranous urethra, and this is surrounded by a muscle called the external sphincter. This area of the urethra is also pinched closed except during urination. The bladder neck and external sphincter are the 2 main continence mechanisms that prevent the involuntary leakage of urine (incontinence). The remaining urethra between the membranous urethra (from the bulbar urethra to the tip of the penis) is a tube that is not related to continence. This is called the anterior urethra. When men develop urethral strictures unrelated to prostate cancer treatment, the stricture is not at or near the level of the prostate. Incontinence is not a concern, and the stricture can be reached during open repair without difficulty through an incision under the scrotum (called a perineal approach) or through a circumcising penile skin incision. When men have strictures away from the area of the bladder and prostate, narrowing of the urethra is the only problem, and this can be repaired at our Center with an extremely high success rate, even when the strictures are long and/or recurrent. One type of anterior stricture that men can develop after prostate cancer treatment related to the placement of instruments or catheters through the urethra is a stricture limited to the urethra just deep to the urethral opening at the time of the penis. This called a fossa navicularis stricture and is highly amenable to definitive repair. In contrast, blockage adjacent to the prostate is a different and more complicated problem. After the prostate has been removed, continence is mainly provided by the external sphincter, an area that can be damaged during prostatectomy. When there is a narrowing of the area where the bladder is attached to the urethra after prostate removal, this is called a bladder neck contracture. Unlike urethral strictures, bladder neck contractures are not easily reached through an incision under the scrotum or through the lower abdomen. The bladder neck is deep within the pelvis and hard to reach. Moreover, patients with bladder neck contractures may also have incontinence whereas this is not an issue when there is an anterior urethral stricture. After radiation or high frequency focused ultrasound (HIFU), if there is a stricture limited to the area of the membranous urethra, then this can be repaired with open excision of the scar and re-anastomosis (cutting out the bad part and putting the 2 healthy ends back together. However, the bladder neck must also be free of blockage because it is not beneficial to treat one area of blockage if there is another cause of obstruction. In addition, if the bladder neck does not remain closed except during urination, the treatment of a membranous stricture may be associated with the development of incontinence. In addition, radiation and HIFU can damage the bladder, decreasing the capacity significantly. In these cases, addressing only the urethral problem will not lead to normal urination. For the above reasons, it is important to assess all areas of the urethra and the bladder neck for the presence or absence of stricture, define the exact length and location of any stricture, assess the continence mechanisms, and the bladder capacity and function. Graphics of the external sphincter and prostate superimposed on a normal retrograde urethrogram (RUG). Notice that the membranous urethra (surrounded by the external sphincter) and bladder neck are both closed. The patient is not urinating during this study and it is normal for these areas of be pinched closed. This is the retrograde urethrogram (RUG) in a patient with a bulbar urethral stricture away from the prostate. Notice that the bladder neck and external sphincters are closed. This is normal. This film was taken when the same patient urinated (the study is called a voiding cystourethrogram, or VCUG). Notice that the bladder neck or external sphincters are wide open. We perform complete imaging that includes both a RUG and VCUG. Since the bladder neck and external shincter areas are closed when a patient is not urinating and open during urination, the VCUG (taken during urination) is the best imaging study to evaluate the bladder neck and membranous urethra (external sphincter area). Urethral imaging also identifies any rectal-urethral fistula, an abnormal communicatioin between the urethra and rectum as during injection, contrast fills the rectum.

<urn:uuid:8bdb5b3d-be90-4c2f-a0b2-a011ab8b1fe8>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://centerforreconstructiveurology.org/prostate-cancer-complications/diagnostic-evaluation/

2024-10-12T14:52:30Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Essential Clinical Skills eClass 0 of 51 lessons complete (0%) Taking and recording Blood Pressure and Pulse Definition & Units of Blood Pressure What is normal blood pressure in a healthy adult? How to measure blood pressure? Taking Blood Pressure Manually – Auscultatory Method Performance using automatic BP measuring method What is the normal Heart Rate (Pulse), Tachycardia and Bradycardia? Blood pressure and pregnancy Pulse and pregnancy Taking and recording temperature Human body temperature ranges Thermoregulation in hot conditions Thermoregulation in cold conditions How to measure temperature Urinalysis using test strips Procedure to correctly collect urine sample from your patient Urine collection from the catheter bag Urine Collection from the catheter bag: step-by-step procedure Urine collection from the catheter bag: step-by-step procedure – continued Do NOTs during urinalysis Filling-in patient chart What you will require for a urinalysis? How to perform a urinalysis test How to use strip kit correctly How to fill-in urinalysis chart: data What obtained results means? Stool laboratory analysis Bristol stool chart How to count respiratory rate Essential Clinical Skills Assessment You don’t have access to this lesson Please purchase this course, or sign in if you’re already enrolled, to access the course content. https://youtu.be/ODX9InHK5p4 View Quiz Complete Lesson Next Lesson Reset Lesson

<urn:uuid:bccb8c02-1efa-4bc2-9a94-79289143ba97>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://cgtraining.org.uk/lesson/video-8/

2024-10-12T14:47:13Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

More and more it seems that smartphones are infiltrating relationships – be it occupational, social or family, there is always a smart phone to be found. We have all seen the pictures of the family around the table, all busy on their separate devices. With the distraction that has come with constantly being online one has to wonder what effect this has on parenting. Studies show that there has been a rise in unintentional childhood injuries which occur while the parent who is “supervising” their child is distracted on their phone. Other studies show that parents who often use their smartphones during family time are more likely to respond harshly to their children. This makes sense, when we are busy concentrating on a work email or an ‘important’ chat with a colleague we tend to be quickly irritated by interruptions. And further studies have even indicated that children feel they need to compete with smartphones for parental attention. The truth is that children thrive on healthy, present and real relationships with their parents and our current technology is threatening these relationships like never before. In order to create and maintain these relationships it is important for parents to ensure that there are tech free times during the day as face-to-face interactions are the primary way children learn social and communication skills. - Make sure that meal times, bath times, driving trips and bed times are all tech free. Try to include at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted talk time with your kids – put the phones in another room and connect with one another. - If you need some time to check emails and answer calls, designate a specific time each day to doing this that doesn’t infiltrate your time with your family. - Model limited smartphone use with your children. They are watching how you use the technology to guide their own technology use. If you are too busy on facebook to interact with the people right infront of you, your child is going to pick up on that. - Play with apps or watch youtube with your child and demonstrate what is appropriate Smartphone technology is fantastic and can actually help many families stay connected like never before (e.g. facetime when a parent is away from home with work). When we are physically with our children though, it is important to show them that we value that time, and your child doesn’t have to share their parent with a device. Neighmond, P. (2014). For The Children’s Sake, Put Down That Smartphone. NPR. Retrieved from Novotney, A. (2016). Smartphone=not-so-smart parenting? Monitor on Psychology, Vol 47 (2). Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/02/smartphone.aspx

<urn:uuid:2f77994b-7ee5-4c46-857e-a7dafa81e2cc>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://changespsychology.com.au/smart-phones-and-parenting/

2024-10-12T14:56:33Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

While we are witnessing the history of our nation being erased, a street in our largest city is being named after a Black murder: At the same time that localities across the country are in the process of erasing monuments to Confederates and slave-owners, New York City is preparing to honor a black man who ordered the murder of every white man, woman, and child under his control, resulting in 3,000 to 5,000 race homicides. In New York City, street co-namings – in which a thoroughfare takes on an additional, ceremonial name in honor of a distinguished figure – rarely generate much fuss, and their approval is typically pro forma. But yesterday, a city council committee voted to co-name a street in Brooklyn after Jean-Jacques Dessalines, emperor of Haiti after the island won its independence from France in 1804. The council’s designation of a two-mile stretch of Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn as Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard sparked some controversy because Dessalines was an enthusiastic advocate of racial murder. Following the defeat of Napoleon’s forces and their retreat from Hispaniola, Dessalines named himself Governor-General-for-Life and decided to wipe the slate clean. Heeding the words of his personal secretary Louis Boisrond-Tonnerre, framer of the Haitian Act of Independence, who declaimed, “we should use the skin of a white man as a parchment, his skull as an inkwell, his blood for ink, and a bayonet for a pen,” Dessalines ordered the murder of virtually every white man, followed soon afterward by all white women and children, in the new nation. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people were butchered in a few months. …Rodneyse Bichotte, a Brooklyn member of the state assembly who claims direct descent from Dessalines, defended the excesses of the Haitian revolutionaries as a legitimate response to oppression, and said that Dessalines “sought to stop those who were evil. There is always an excuse for Black behavior no matter how egregious, including genocide. When Blacks commit mass murder, it is merely to “correct wrongs” of the past. When Whites kill–even to defend themselves–it is always considered “racist” and unnecessarily aggressive. The double standard should not surprise anyone–the only way non-Whites can compete in a a White society is through hypocrisy and double standards. While Whites erect monuments to truly great men of high moral standards, Blacks celebrate genocidal maniacs who destroy everything in their paths. Deep down, the races are not the same.

<urn:uuid:43de252a-f8ba-400d-ae60-8acee500a040>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://christiansfortruth.com/new-york-city-to-name-street-after-genocidal-black-haitian-who-murdered-5000-whites/

2024-10-12T15:27:13Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Vision Wellness: Nurturing Optimal Eye Health Maintaining good eye health is integral to our overall well-being. In this article, we explore the various aspects of eye health, from preventive measures to common conditions and the importance of regular eye examinations. The Importance of Eye Health Our eyes play a vital role in our daily lives, allowing us to see and experience the world around us. Therefore, prioritizing eye health is essential for maintaining a high quality of life. Good vision contributes to our ability to work, learn, and enjoy recreational activities. Preventive Measures for Eye Health Preventive measures are key to promoting and preserving eye health. These include maintaining a healthy lifestyle, protecting the eyes from harmful UV rays with sunglasses, practicing proper eye hygiene, and incorporating eye-friendly nutrients into our diets. These proactive steps can significantly reduce the risk of common eye conditions. Common Eye Conditions Several common eye conditions can impact vision and eye comfort. These include refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Other conditions, such as dry eyes, glaucoma, and cataracts, can affect eye health and require proper diagnosis and management. Digital Eye Strain in the Modern Age With the prevalence of digital devices in today’s society, digital eye strain has become a common concern. Prolonged screen time can lead to symptoms like eye fatigue, headaches, and blurred vision. Implementing strategies like the 20-20-20 rule (taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away) can help alleviate digital eye strain. Children’s Eye Health Children’s eye health is of particular importance as proper vision is crucial for their learning and development. Regular eye examinations for children can detect refractive errors or conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) early on, allowing for timely intervention and optimal visual development. The Impact of Nutrition on Eye Health Nutrition plays a significant role in supporting eye health. Foods rich in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, and vitamin E contribute to the well-being of our eyes. A balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and fish can positively impact long-term eye health. Regular Eye Examinations: A Key Component Regular eye examinations are a cornerstone of maintaining optimal eye health. Eye exams not only detect vision problems but can also uncover early signs of various eye conditions and systemic health issues. Adults and children alike should undergo comprehensive eye exams at recommended intervals. UV Protection and Eye Health Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays poses risks to eye health, contributing to conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. Wearing sunglasses with UV protection when outdoors helps shield the eyes from harmful rays and reduces the risk of UV-related eye damage. Addressing Dry Eye Syndrome Dry eye syndrome is a common condition characterized by insufficient tear production or poor-quality tears. Factors such as age, digital device use, and environmental conditions can contribute to dry eyes. Management strategies may include artificial tears, lifestyle adjustments, and, in severe cases, medical interventions. Promoting Lifelong Eye Health In conclusion, promoting lifelong eye health requires a combination of proactive measures, regular eye examinations, and a conscious effort to minimize potential risks. Prioritizing eye health contributes not only to clear vision but also to overall well-being. Explore more insights on Eye Health for a comprehensive guide to nurturing and maintaining optimal vision throughout life.

<urn:uuid:70d50728-8862-4873-81d2-d8f289c1ee48>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://cloudfeed.net/vision-wellness-nurturing-optimal-eye-health.html

2024-10-12T15:22:21Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

“Parents are a child’s first and most important teachers.” Susanne remembers this wisdom from her time as a salesperson for World Book Encyclopedia. “Children are much more intelligent and much less experienced than we realize. We should treat them as strangers we are showing through our land.” Margaret remembers this teaching from an education conference she attended during her college years. Real wisdom stays with us, doesn’t it, and we pass it down to new generations for the benefit of children and their people. Set in the night kitchen, “Eureka, Paprika!” tells and shows the make-believe story of herbs, spices, and kitchen appliances coming alive to tell a very real story about relationships and choices. A contemporary fable, Paprika offers opportunities to talk with children about welcoming new friends, kindness, risks of going along with the crowd when the crowd is being hurtful, feelings about teasing, feeling sorry, apologizing when you’re wrong, forgiving others, and celebrating together when conflict is resolved. Paprika includes a parent and teacher guide to help readers talk with children about the story itself and the topics within the story. Paprika sparks imagination and invites reflection and learning about universal standards. Written by a human, illustrated by a human, and colored by humans and using humor, some plays-on-words, rich yet accessible vocabulary, and beautiful, lively illustrations, Paprika offers both readers and listeners joyful experiences and opportunities to learn about navigating through life. “Eureka, Paprika!” includes a parent-teacher guide with ideas for conversations with children.

<urn:uuid:69f9e742-ccc1-4da8-8104-3e80d741ecea>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://cousinscoloring.com/

2024-10-12T16:57:29Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Evolutionists Find it Hard to Imagine a Lifeless Mars Is it possible for evolutionary scientists to mention Mars without imagining life? As you read the following news items about Mars, keep in mind these facts: - (1) No life has ever been found on Mars. - (2) No organic molecules indicative of life have been found on Mars. - (3) Mars has no global magnetic field to protect life. - (4) Mars has no ozone layer to protect it from UV radiation. - (5) The surface of Mars appears to be dry and crackling with static electricity (2 Aug 2006). - (6) Much of Mars is covered with perchlorates and salts that are toxic to life (26 July 2018). - (7) The Martian atmosphere is 1% as dense as that of earth, and lacks oxygen (well, only 0.13%). - (8) All hopes for finding life since the famous “canals” bamboozle have turned up empty. - (9) The temperatures on Mars are below the freezing point of water most of the time. Most importantly, life is far, far, far too complex to ever arise by itself (see our Origin of Life topic). Can writers resist the urge to speculate about life on Mars? Let’s find out: Mars rocks collected by Perseverance boost case for ancient life (Phys.org). The only evidence offered in this simplistic article is that certain rocks in the Jezero Crater where the rover Perseverance is operating could have had contact with water in the past. “If these rocks experienced water for long periods of time, there may be habitable niches within these rocks that could have supported ancient microbial life,” said one female NASA geologist suffering from hydrobioscopy. Earthly rocks point way to water hidden on Mars (Penn State News). Water is a necessary but not sufficient condition for life on Mars. Mars has an abundance of an iron mineral called hematite. A Penn State doctoral student found evidence to support a “once-debunked 19th-century identification” that some forms of this mineral could contain water. The possibility of Mars having hydro-hematite was enough to switch on this student’s hydrobioscopy buzzer. Mars is called the red planet because of its color, which comes from iron compounds in the Martian dirt. According to the researchers, the presence of hydrohematite on Mars would provide additional evidence that Mars was once a watery planet, and water is the one compound necessary for all life forms on Earth. Searching for life on Mars and its moons (Science Magazine). This review article by Ryuki Hyodo and Tomohiro Usui only once consider the possibility that Mars is lifeless. Until the last paragraph, their assumption is that since Mars might have been habitable in the past, therefore it must have had (or still has) inhabitants. That is a logical fallacy known as non-sequitur. They concentrate on how to look for biosignatures of current or extinct life. At the end, they face up to the other possibility: Mutual international cooperation on MSR [Mars Sample Return] and MMX [Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration program] could answer questions such as how martian life, if present, emerged and evolved in time and place. If Mars never had life at all, these missions would then be absolutely vital in unraveling why Mars is lifeless and Earth has life. Therefore, the missions may eventually provide the means to decipher the divergent evolutionary paths of life on Mars and Earth. But lifelessness is not an evolutionary path of life! It is not an evolutionary path at all. These imagineers cannot let go of a Darwinian bias to everything they think and say about Mars. Buttes on Mars may serve as radiation shelters (Chinese Academy of Sciences via Phys.org). This short article focuses on the ability of buttes to shield the ground from space radiation. That could be helpful for future astronauts. It only briefly mentions that the Curiosity rover was “dedicated to searching for the elements of life on Mars.” After six months on Mars, NASA’s tiny copter is still flying high (Phys.org). There is no reason at all for this article to speculate about life. It is about a worthy space achievement—the Mars helicopter Ingenuity—that has worked far longer than planned. Writer Lucie Augourg brings it up anyway: “The tiny helicopter has become the regular travel companion of the rover Perseverance, whose core mission is to seek signs of ancient life on Mars.” NASA’s Perseverance Rover Collects Puzzle Pieces of Mars’ History (NASA-JPL). The rover found some rocks. That can only mean one thing! Though scientists still can’t say whether any of the water that altered these rocks was present for tens of thousands or for millions of years, they feel more certain that it was there for long enough to make the area more welcoming to microscopic life in the past. It needs to be true; “A key objective for Perseverance’s mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life.” Unless they can keep that hope alive, the mission’s reason for being is in jeopardy. Hopeful Signs of Objectivity Will it be safe for humans to fly to Mars? (UCLA). This article only mentions life of the human astronaut variety. Even though it acknowledges the risks of dangerous radiation en route and on the Martian surface, it gives a positive slant on the ability of NASA to send astronauts through the shooting gallery without killing them. The researchers recommend a mission not longer than four years because a longer journey would expose astronauts to a dangerously high amount of radiation during the round trip — even assuming they went when it was relatively safer than at other times. They also report that the main danger to such a flight would be particles from outside of our solar system. Delta Deposits on Mars: A Global Perspective (Geophysical Research Letters). Here is a rare review paper about Mars that does not mention the L-word life. It only briefly mentions that interest in delta deposits on Mars has motivated thoughts of “water availability, habitable environments, and as favorable sedimentary settings for organic matter preservation.” The paper dries up some of these hopes of Mars-lifers by showing that only a small fraction of proposed deltas (6 out of 161) might indicate shorelines of an ancient ocean. “Hence, delta information is insufficient to determine a global water level behavior.” So yes: it is possible for evolutionists to talk about Mars without imagining life. It’s just very hard for them. It takes a lot of self-control. Once they evolve more self-control, they may get better at it.

<urn:uuid:7c5cd7db-b04a-477a-9b8f-ee4ad66eb77c>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://crev.info/2021/09/lifeless-mars/

2024-10-12T14:53:57Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

AI and Social Justice To cease to ask unanswerable questions would be to lose the capacity to ask all the answerable questions upon which every civilization is founded. --- Hannah Arendt Generally the term social justice refers to justice, or a just and fair sytsem, in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. American philosopher Martha Nussbaum suggests that a just society enables individuals to engage in activities that are essential to a truly “human” life—including, among others, the capabilities to live a life of normal length, to use one’s mind in ways “protected by guarantees of freedom of expression,” and to meaningfully participate in political decision-making. Social justice encompasses equity, inclusion, and self-determination for everyone but especially for “currently or historically oppressed, exploited, or marginalized populations” (Encyclopedia Britannica). Computational technologies currently play a key role in oppression, but they also have great potential to enhance social justice causes. Technologists often celebrate technological innovation as revolutions that would improve our lives. AI is indeed transformative, but guardrails need to be in place to harness its power to enhance equity and inclusion. Flawed AI algorithms with biases inherited from their training data will - lead to low-quality decision-making and - reproduce biased data. There are multiple mechanisms in place, such as de-duplication, to reduce social biases in outputs by generative models, but there is no perfect solution. More importantly, users need critical AI literacy to conduct effective risk management and to discern biases, including those of their own, when interacting with machine learning models. These meta-cognition skills are the core of humanities education, which is why an interdisciplinary approach and interdisciplinary education are the key to social justice in the era of AI. Case Study: Digital Justice It is socially meaningful to study and amplify previously marginalized voices. However, there are privacy concerns. How do researchers make archival material available to the public without infringing on the privacy of historical figures? AI could anonymize sensitive data while preserving the usefulness of said data. AI could also recognize patterns in handwriting to help historians answer questions of provenance. AI has helped some scholars open up archives “while ensuring privacy concerns are respected,” such as the project “The Personal Writes the Political: Rendering Black Lives Legible Through the Application of Machine Learning to Anti-Apartheid Solidarity Letters.” Funded by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the research team uses “machine learning models to identify relationships, recognize handwriting, and redact sensitive information from about 700 letters written by family members of imprisoned anti-apartheid activists” (see their interview here). Our pursuit of social justice will be enhanced by critical AI literacy, and it will be obstructed by the lack thereof. There are a great deal of (often) unsubstantiated claims about technologies’ potential to “democratize” everything. Imagination, as Meredith Broussard reminds us, “sometimes confuses the way we talk about computers, data, and technology” (39). It is important to distinguish between general AI as Hollywood imagines it and “narrow” AI. The former involves the likes of benevolent or malevolent sentient humanoids or God-like machines that “think.” The latter, “statistics on steroids,” is “a mathematical method for prediction,” producing “the most likely answer to any question that can be answered with a number” (Broussard 32). Some Western societies fetishize the unproven merit of numbers. Numbers can and have lied. Numbers alone never tell the full story. We need quantitative and qualitative approaches to discerning problems and solving problems. Part of the problem in terms of equity and inclusion is digital disparity. Not everything is digital or digitized. Only a very small portion of the collective, historical human expressions and experiences are digitally represented and accessible. Think oral culture, un-codified emotions, gestures, and minor languages. Only a very small number of the 7000 languages globally are represented digitally. Mongolian, for example, is a script that digital software does not recognize and cannot process (you cannot send a text message in Mongolian). Mongolian is the only living language that is not digitally searchable. The problem is exacerbated by unstructured data abundance despite the proliferation of indexical portals and discursive generative AI tools. This leads to data paucity (plenty of data but not easily accessible), according to Mona Diab. Information retrieval becomes a challenge. Ranking algorithms become a double-edged sword. On one hand, systems at scale (databases, libraries) require annotated resources and methods of categorization. On the other hand, ranking algorithms often give the false impressions of one, singular, correct way of knowing the world. In the context of generative AI as a probabilistic model, it promotes social “medians” in its datasets. Presenting the average of the sum is quite different from giving the full picture. AI’s discursive outputs therefore become a form of data throttling. AI is an opaque “black box tech,” producing infomation without revealing its internal workings. AI could also inadvertently be perceived as the ultimate standard in writing and thereby normalize what is known as “white” English. This tendency may further marginalize other styles and forms of English, such as the African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Another important aspect of social justice is capitalist exploitation. Given the resources needed to build and operate LLMs, currently there are only a few viable options and most of them are controlled by American companies. For example, OpenAI started as a nonprofit, but has, since the release of ChatGPT-3, adopted the traditional corporate structure. Working to address these concerns, Kyutai, a privately funded nonprofit working on artificial general intelligence, is building an open source large language model. Supported by the philanthropist Xavier Niel, Kyutai plans to release not only open source models, “but also the training source code and data” which is the key difference between Kyutai and Meta’s Mistral AI (which is an source foundational model). Enumerate, and analyze through critical AI theory, some biases associated with generative AI’s outputs or algorithmic technologies. Watch the PBS’s 90-minute documentary Coded Bias (trailer here) which was made by M.I.T. Media Lab computer scientist Joy Buolamwini: “In an increasingly data-driven, automated world, the question of how to protect individuals’ civil liberties in the face of artificial intelligence looms larger by the day.” In the following video, Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, gave a presentation at the Bloomberg Equality Summit in New York on how to fight the discrimination within algorithms now prevalent across all spheres of daily life. Well-intended guardrails may not always worked as intended, either. Melissa Warr’s research points out that while “OpenAI has intentionally guard railed against responding in a biased manner if race is explicitly mentioned,” its AI remains “racist” in subtle ways. ChatGPT 3.5 gave higher scores to a student’s work “if a student was described as Black, but lower scores to a student who attended an inner-city school.” The term inner-city school is often associated specifically with Black urban neighborhoods. Instead of saying Black, the words “inner-city school” operates as an indirect indicator of racial difference. Your Turn: Black Panther, Wakanda Forever Analyze the following scene about AI in the Marvel science fiction film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed by Ryan Coogler in 2022. Using the trope of Afrofuturism, the superhero film depicts how people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T’Challa. Wakanda’s lead scientist Shuri designs an AI to help her synehtically create a “heart-shaped herb” to cure illnesses. In this scene, as she is working in her lab, her mother Queen Ramanda walks in on her, saying that “one day artificial intelligence is going to kill us all.” Shuri responds confidently that, with full dramatic irony, “my AI isn’t the same as the movies. It does exactly what I tell it to do” (dialogue at 00:18). AI re-animates classical philosophical and theological questions. Philosophy has now gone mainstream. We cannot think about technology without thinking about human-centered enterprises and social justice (the impact of technology on individuals). Conversations about technologies now focus on these so-called eternal questions, such as: - Do humans have free will? Should machines have moral agency? - What makes us human? - Are technologies an extension of humanity or a surrogate of it? These topics were previously regarded as trivial. AI compels us to ask these urgent and highly relevant questions. However, we do have to be careful about technological solutionism, the misconception that technology alone can solve every social problem. Technological solutionism is a bias that assumes one can turn philosophical problems become engineering ones. Rather than over-emphasizing AI as a miraculous machine that pitches humans against machines, we should understand AI as a product designed and used by humans. Some of these readings are open access; others can only be accessed using George Washington University credentials. Broussard, Meredith. Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World (MIT Press, 2018). Voeneky, Silja, Philipp Kellmeyer, Oliver Mueller, and Wolfram Burgard, eds. The Cambridge Handbook of Responsible Artificial Intelligence (Cambridge University Press, 2022). Warr, Melissa. “Racist, or Just Biased?” Design. Creativity. Technology. Education, May 31, 2024.

<urn:uuid:8fa2cb65-c0c5-4732-8980-e09e829c8410>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://criticaltheory.info/ai/ai-and-social-justice/

2024-10-12T14:41:09Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

The Impact of 3D Printing on Manufacturing and Product Development In the last few years, 3D printing has emerged as a game-changer in the manufacturing industry. This revolutionary technology has transformed the way products are made and has opened up new possibilities for designers and engineers. With its ability to create three-dimensional objects from digital designs, 3D printing has had a significant impact on manufacturing and product development. One of the most striking advantages of 3D printing is its ability to reduce costs and streamline the manufacturing process. Traditional manufacturing methods often require expensive molds or tooling, which can be time-consuming to create and may not be cost-effective for small production runs. 3D printing eliminates the need for such molds, as it can directly produce the final product from a digital file. This not only saves time and money but also allows for more flexibility in design iterations and customization. Moreover, 3D printing has revolutionized the concept of rapid prototyping. Previously, creating prototypes involved a lengthy and costly process, which often delayed the product development cycle. With 3D printing, designers can quickly and easily produce prototypes, enabling them to test and iterate their designs more frequently. This iterative design approach not only speeds up the development cycle but also results in higher quality products, as design flaws can be identified and rectified early on. 3D printing has also democratized manufacturing, giving rise to the concept of distributed manufacturing. Traditionally, manufacturing was concentrated in a few locations, leading to longer supply chains and increased transportation costs. However, with 3D printing, products can be manufactured on-site or near the point of consumption, eliminating the need for long-distance shipping. This reduces carbon emissions and promotes sustainability, making 3D printing a greener alternative to traditional manufacturing methods. Furthermore, 3D printing has opened up new avenues for creativity and innovation. Designers and engineers are no longer limited by the constraints imposed by traditional manufacturing techniques. They can now explore complex geometries, intricate designs, and lightweight structures that were previously unachievable. For example, in the aerospace industry, 3D printing has enabled the creation of lightweight and fuel-efficient components, leading to significant cost savings and improved performance. Additionally, 3D printing has facilitated the production of personalized consumer goods. With traditional manufacturing, customization often came at a high price. However, 3D printing allows for the easy customization of products, thanks to its ability to produce one-off items at relatively low costs. This has revolutionized industries such as healthcare and jewelry, where personalized products are highly sought after. However, despite its numerous benefits, 3D printing still faces several challenges that need to be addressed for its widespread adoption. One significant challenge is the limitations of materials. While 3D printing has made significant strides in printing with a variety of materials, certain materials, such as metals and ceramics, still present challenges in terms of printing quality and structural integrity. Overcoming these limitations will be crucial for unlocking the full potential of 3D printing. Another challenge is intellectual property protection. With the ease of replicating objects through 3D printing, there is a risk of counterfeit products flooding the market. This poses a significant challenge for manufacturers in protecting their intellectual property. Developing effective strategies and regulations to deter counterfeiting will be important in fostering the growth and adoption of 3D printing. In conclusion, 3D printing has had a profound impact on manufacturing and product development. Its ability to reduce costs, streamline the manufacturing process, and promote customization has transformed the industry. It has opened up new possibilities for designers and engineers, allowing for rapid prototyping, distributed manufacturing, and creativity. However, there are still challenges that need to be overcome for its widespread adoption. Addressing limitations in materials and developing strategies for intellectual property protection will be crucial in realizing the full potential of 3D printing in the future.

<urn:uuid:e1e44d4d-e59c-418c-a2a5-6f831349a6e7>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://dailypulsemag.com/the-impact-of-3d-printing-on-manufacturing-and-product-development/

2024-10-12T14:56:02Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

User groups are used to assign user permissions in LIBSAFE to the registered users, to classify these according to their roles and also to define the access they have to the preservation repository. User groups should be defined considering the following aspects: Whether the user is a system administrator, a preservation administrator (manager), a producer or a consumer. Other roles may be applied, but it has to be taken into account that the defined permissions are designed based on the listed roles. The defined preservation areas, for those users where this is relevant. Assigning permissions through groups (profiles) is common in the computer community, to limit the risks of an improper access to data, as well as to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and survival of the involved systems. In small size installations, it may be reasonable to ignore preservation areas when assigning permissions, and thus making a grouping structure. In big size installations, it may be reasonable to limit ingestion areas through associated groups, at least to producers. In installations that imply confidentiality or rights management and limitations, it may be reasonable to limit retrieve areas, through associated groups, to the designated community. User groups may be activated and deactivated, without any implication as per their relation to specific users. New and edit pages for groups are similar in case of access by a system administrator or by a user checking the definition data of the groups this belongs to. The difference is which of all the data fields is editable. The implied fields are: Name of the user group. Category. A DDL control allows for a single selection of one of the following: users, preservation administrator or system administrator. This is an important association, for the later management of permissions and the assignment of receivers for the notifications of the alarm system. Status: active/inactive. Inactive groups have no effect, apart from not being shown in the selection areas. Permissions. In a row with a sub-table with the permissions to associate. The system shows each permission: its association with the group or not, its category, and its association with preservation areas, if applicable (through a multiple selection DDL).

<urn:uuid:f8fb087c-aa07-4a9c-a04c-655deaca1685>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://docs.libnova.com/libsafe-advanced-system-administrator-manual/system-configuration/access/groups

2024-10-12T16:21:58Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Handicap Parking Etiquette: Dos and Don’ts for Everyone Handicap parking spaces are designated for individuals with disabilities to ensure they have convenient access to facilities and services. However, misuse and lack of understanding of handicapped parking etiquette can cause inconvenience and frustration for those who genuinely need it. In this blog post, we’ll explore the dos and don’ts of handicap parking etiquette, emphasizing the importance of respectful parking behavior and the proper use of accessible spaces. Understanding Handicap Parking Etiquette: Handicap parking etiquette encompasses a set of guidelines designed to promote fairness, accessibility, and respect for individuals with disabilities. Whether you have a disability or not, adhering to these etiquette rules is essential for creating an inclusive and supportive environment. - Reserve Spaces for Those in Need: The primary purpose of handicapped parking spaces is to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Always leave these spaces available for those who require them, even if you’ll only be parked for a short time. - Display Proper Permits: If you have a disability permit, ensure it is prominently displayed on your vehicle’s dashboard or rearview mirror. This indicates to parking enforcement and others that you have authorization to park in designated handicapped spaces. - Park Considerately: When parking in or near a handicapped space, make sure your vehicle is properly aligned within the lines to allow sufficient space for wheelchair ramps and mobility devices to deploy. - Educate Others: If you witness someone misusing a handicapped parking space, consider politely informing them of the importance of these spaces and encouraging them to park elsewhere. - Be Patient: Individuals with disabilities may take longer to enter or exit their vehicles. Practice patience and understanding, allowing them the time they need without rushing or honking impatiently. - Misuse Handicap Permits: Using a handicap permit that does not belong to you or falsifying information to obtain one is not only illegal but also disrespectful to those with genuine disabilities. The misuse of handicap permits is often a violation of local, state, or national laws. Depending on the jurisdiction and the severity of the offense, penalties can include fines, citations, and even criminal charges. These penalties can result in monetary costs, legal fees, and a criminal record. - Block Access Aisles: Access aisles adjacent to handicapped parking spaces are designated for wheelchair loading and unloading. Avoid parking in these aisles, as it prevents individuals with disabilities from safely accessing their vehicles. - Park Temporarily: Even if you’re just running a quick errand, resist the temptation to park in a handicapped space without a permit. Doing so can inconvenience someone who genuinely needs the space. - Ignore Signage: Handicap parking spaces are clearly marked with signs and symbols indicating their purpose. Ignoring these signs and parking in designated spaces without proper authorization demonstrates a lack of consideration for others. - Make Assumptions: Not all disabilities are visible, such as chronic pain conditions, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, or mental health. Avoid making assumptions about who does or doesn’t need a handicapped parking space based solely on outward appearances. - Respectful Parking Behavior: Respectful parking behavior extends beyond simply adhering to designated handicap parking rules. It involves cultivating empathy, awareness, and consideration for others, particularly those with disabilities. We contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate society by practicing respectful parking etiquette. Proper Use of Accessible Spaces Remember that accessible spaces, including handicapped parking spots, are vital for ensuring equal access to public facilities and services for individuals with disabilities. Proper use of these spaces involves more than just parking correctly; it requires a mindset of inclusivity and support for the diverse needs of our communities. Follow Handicap Parking Etiquette Handicap parking etiquette is a reflection of our values as a society. By understanding and adhering to the dos and don’ts outlined in this blog post, we can create a more accessible and inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities. Respectful parking behavior and the proper use of accessible spaces are essential components of fostering empathy, understanding, and equality for all. Let’s commit to upholding these principles and ensuring that handicapped parking spaces remain available and accessible to those who need them most. Need more information on disabled parking in the US? From understanding your rights to tips for independent mobility, we offer a useful bank of detailed topics on the Dr Handicap blog. Check it out today!

<urn:uuid:8b4e9f86-a20c-4983-bb8d-fef2cc01b2f7>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://drhandicap.com/insights/handicap-parking-etiquette/

2024-10-12T15:31:43Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Dentistry has gone beyond maintaining healthy teeth and simple restoration services. Cosmetic dentistry works on improving the shape of teeth and providing better facial esthetics. In last blog, we discussed about orthodontic services that is used to correct improper alignment of teeth. Veneers are one of the other ways to enhance a person’s smile. Veneers can make a difference on one’s face within a short span of time in just a few appointments. A confident smile is all that takes to impress the world. A beautiful smile adds a lot to that confidence. How veneers are exactly? Veneers are thin, custom-made shells that are placed over the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. They are typically made of porcelain or composite resin and are designed to match the color and shape of your natural teeth. Veneers can be recommended to cover slightly cracked or broken teeth, stained, chipped or misaligned teeth. They are also used to fill gaps between teeth and to lengthen small teeth. They can also be used to protect the surface of original tooth. Veneers are made up of two main types of materials: composite and dental porcelain. Veneers are placed on the surface of the tooth. To get a natural look while wearing a veneer, dentist has to build a veneer that goes exactly with the teeth and look natural. Veneers can add a layer on the original tooth which makes it strong and smooth. Veneers can remain for a long time and does not discolor over time. Veneer is a magical treatment in cosmetic dentistry which gives out a beautiful smile. Veneers can be used to address a wide range of dental issues, including: - Discolored teeth: If your teeth are stained or discolored due to age, genetics, or lifestyle factors, veneers can help cover up those imperfections and give you a brighter, more youthful smile. - Chipped or cracked teeth: Veneers can help restore the appearance of teeth that are chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged. They can also be used to fill in gaps between teeth. - Misaligned teeth: If you have slightly crooked or misaligned teeth, veneers can be used to create the appearance of a straighter smile. How do Veneers work? Getting veneers typically involves several steps. First, your dentist will examine your teeth and discuss your goals for your smile. They will then take impressions of your teeth to create custom-made veneers that fit perfectly over your existing teeth. Next, your dentist will prepare your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel from the surface. This creates a rough surface that the veneers can bond to. Your dentist will then place the veneers onto your teeth using a special dental cement. The veneers will be shaped and polished to ensure a natural-looking and comfortable fit. Benefits of Veneers There are many benefits to getting veneers, including: - Improved confidence: A bright, beautiful smile can do wonders for your self-esteem and confidence. - Long-lasting results: With proper care, veneers can last for many years, making them a great investment in your dental health. - Minimal discomfort: The process of getting veneers is generally painless and requires only a few dental visits. - Natural-looking results: Veneers are custom-made to match the color and shape of your natural teeth, ensuring a natural-looking result. In conclusion, veneers are an excellent cosmetic dental treatment that can help you achieve a bright, confident smile that sparkles. If you’re interested in learning more about veneers and whether they’re right for you, talk to your dentist today. With the right care and maintenance, veneers can help you enjoy a beautiful, healthy smile for years to come.

<urn:uuid:4c017b28-a4df-4d51-887b-e8a3b70fafc6>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://drsimratdentistry.com/cosmetic-dentistry-how-veeners-help-in-your-smile-sparkle/

2024-10-12T15:43:43Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Important element of political system of Kazakhstan, interests of all ethnoses, providing strict observance of the rights and freedoms of citizens irrespective of their national identity the Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan, created at the initiative of the President of the country N.A.Nazarbayev became fastened on March 1, 1995. The idea of creation was sounded by the President of Kazakhstan in 1992 at the first Forum of the people of Kazakhstan. Activity of Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan is directed on realization of the state national policy, ensuring political stability in the republic and increase of efficiency of interaction of the state and civil institutes of society in the sphere of the interethnic relations. The assembly is today the constitutional body headed by its Chairman – the President of the country, the guarantor of the Constitution. It defined its special high status. Legal status of Assembly is defined by the special Law RK "About Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan", "Provision on Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan" where are regulated a formation order, structure and governing bodies, definite purposes, the main objectives, activities of power of ANK, and also feature of the organization of interaction with government bodies and public associations, mechanisms of participation in development and realization of a state policy in the sphere of the interethnic relations. The supreme body of Assembly is session which takes place under the chairmanship of the President of the country. All its decisions are obligatory for consideration both government bodies, and institutes of civil society. Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan – the constitutional body. One of the main features of Assembly is the representation of interests of ethnic groups in the supreme legislative body – country Parliament as the guaranteed representation. The assembly elects 9 deputies of Mazhilis of Parliament. Deputies elected by Assembly represent its interests, as set of interests of all ethnoses of the country. Working body is the Secretariat of Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan in structure of Presidential Administration as independent department. In it consists both effectiveness, and efficiency of its participation in public administration and the public relations. As into structure of assembly of the people of Kazakhstan enters: ANK scientific advisory council; Club of journalists and experts in the interethnic relations at ANK; Public fund "ANK Fund"; Methodical center of innovative technologies of languages studying Tildaryn; Association of businessmen of ANK. 88 schools at which training is completely conducted in the Uzbek, Tajik, Uigur and Ukrainian languages work. At 108 schools languages of 22 ethnoses of Kazakhstan are taught as an independent subject. Besides, openly 195 specialized linguistic centers where not only children, but also adults can study languages of 30 ethnoses. In all regions friendship Houses which are located in regions with polietnichny structure of the population function. In the city of Almaty "the Friendship House", in Astana – the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation constructed at the request of the Head of state works. Here pass annual sessions of Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan, congresses of world and traditional religions, sign actions. Except the Kazakh and Russian theaters, in the country four more national theaters – Uzbek, Uigur, Korean and German work. The special place in the sphere of ethnocultural relationship in the Republic of Kazakhstan is allocated for support of development of information and communication resources of ethnocultural associations. More than 35 ethnic newspapers and magazines actively work at an information field. The largest 6 ethnic republican newspapers work with the state support. Newspapers and magazines are issued in 11 languages, broadcasts - on the 8, and telecasts in 7 languages.

<urn:uuid:44a79236-baec-490d-8856-26653d8b45f1>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://e-history.kz/en/e-resources/show/13443

2024-10-12T16:26:03Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Automating assessment to understand assessment Go to Source In the last of the series of seminars I have been hosting at the OU, my colleague Professor Denise Whitelock talked about her work on assessment. Denise takes us through a number of projects she has worked on, which have automated aspects of assessment. These have always had a strong conceptual underpinning, for instance Dweck’s work to develop Open Comment which provided feedback to Arts students. With Open Mentor, she used Bale’s work on interactive categories to help tutors develop effective and supportive feedback. And SafeSea allows students to trial essay writing before taking the sometimes daunting step of submitting their first one, using analysis based on Pask’s conversational framework. What I found interesting about this work was that it provided an example of how technology is situated in the human education system. None of these systems were designed to replace human educators, instead they are intended to help learners and educators in their current pursuits. It can be seen as an iterative dialogue between the technology and the people in the system. For example, with Open Comment Denise reports how she acted as a student and did not perform well, having come from a science background. She effectively had to learn ‘the rules of the (Arts education) game’. By making these explicit for the tool, they could then help learners develop them, when before many educators had been doing this only implicitly. This seems to me the appropriate way to approach educational technology, to see it as a component in an ongoing dialogue. I’ll let Denise detail each of the projects and future developments in the talk below:

<urn:uuid:c7e0eaa4-eaa5-43c9-a650-ed84529526c2>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://edu2k.net/blog/automating-assessment-to-understand-assessment/

2024-10-12T16:52:10Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Hong Kong holds one of the world’s largest foreign exchange reserves. As of July 2022, Hong Kong’s official foreign reserves stood at US$455 billion. This massive accumulation of reserves highlights Hong Kong’s importance as an international financial center and provides confidence in the Hong Kong dollar peg. Hong Kong’s reserves are managed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and held primarily in US dollars. The size and growth of reserves over the years reflect Hong Kong’s rise as a major trading hub and key gateway between China and the global economy. Hong Kong’s reserves serve several purposes. They back the Hong Kong dollar currency peg, ensuring monetary and financial stability. They also provide a buffer against capital outflows and external shocks. Additionally, reserves allow Hong Kong authorities to intervene in markets during periods of volatility. This article will examine the background, composition, purposes, and outlook for Hong Kong’s substantial war chest of foreign exchange reserves. Hong Kong’s accumulation of reserves began in earnest in the 1980s and 1990s. As an entrepôt economy integrating with China’s economic rise, Hong Kong experienced strong trade surpluses. This allowed reserves to grow rapidly. The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis was a key turning point. To defend the Hong Kong dollar peg and prevent speculative attacks, the HKMA purchased large amounts of USD. This expanded reserves significantly. In the 2000s, closer integration with mainland China drove further accumulation of reserves from strong capital account inflows. China-Hong Kong trade settlement and investment flows added to the war chest. Reserves got a more recent boost during 2020-2021 due to weakness in Hong Kong’s domestic economy from COVID-19 and political factors. Import compression and resilient financial account inflows grew reserves to new highs over $450 billion. Composition of Reserves The HKMA does not provide a detailed breakdown of the composition of Hong Kong’s reserves. However, it is believed that around 60-70% is held in US dollars, consistent with Hong Kong dollar’s peg to the greenback. Other reserve currencies likely held include the British pound, Euro, Japanese yen, and Chinese renminbi. Some gold bullion also forms part of reserves, though its share has fallen over time. Hong Kong’s reserves are invested conservatively in low-risk fixed income assets. This includes government bonds of reserve currency issuing countries and supranational debt. Some deposits are also held with central banks and the Bank for International Settlements. Purposes of Reserves Hong Kong’s considerable stash of reserves serves multiple important purposes: 1. Maintain currency stability The most vital purpose is maintaining the peg between the Hong Kong dollar and US dollar. The HKMA uses reserves to buy and sell Hong Kong dollars on the market to stabilize the peg within a band of 7.75-7.85 HKD/USD. Reserves provide confidence in this 36-year old currency peg. 2. Defend against speculative attacks Reserves are war chest to deter speculative attacks on the Hong Kong dollar and resist sudden capital outflows. The large size of reserves makes it extremely expensive for speculators to bet against the peg. 3. Cushion against external shocks Reserves provide an important buffer for Hong Kong’s externally-oriented economy against global crises and volatility in financial markets. They allow authorities to smooth out liquidity strains. 4. Maintain financial stability The HKMA can use reserves to provide liquidity to banks facing cash shortages and systemic risks. This prevents bank runs and turmoil in interbank lending markets. 5. Fund fiscal reserves A portion of reserves backs Hong Kong’s substantial fiscal reserves held in the Exchange Fund. These support government spending and operations. Reserve Adequacy for Hong Kong Hong Kong’s reserves are assessed to be more than adequate currently. Traditional metrics suggest ample coverage. Reserves now stand at over 2 times Hong Kong’s annual GDP. This high ratio indicates strong reserve adequacy. Most benchmarks assess reserve/GDP ratios above 20% as sufficient. With reserves around 5 times greater than annual imports, Hong Kong also has ample import coverage. The international standard is three months import coverage, or 25% of imports. Reserves/M2 money supply Reserves also represent over 2 times broad money supply (M2). Ratios above 20% are seen as adequate for pegs like Hong Kong’s. Reserves/Short-term external debt A high level of coverage is also indicated by reserves being around 30 times greater than short-term external debt obligations. Ratios above 1 are generally seen as adequate. So by traditional metrics, Hong Kong has a very strong reserve buffer befitting its role as an international financial center. This provides confidence in policies and stability. Outlook for Hong Kong’s Reserves Looking ahead, Hong Kong’s reserves seem likely to remain large, with a few factors at play: - Continued integration with the mainland Chinese economy will support the accumulation of reserves. Settlement flows and financial account inflows should continue. - Weaker domestic demand in Hong Kong may compress imports and generate trade surpluses that add to reserves. - Persistent political tensions may motivate the HKMA to hold higher precautionary reserves. - An unwinding of global QE and rising US interest rates should provide gains to reserves invested in USD fixed income assets. However, some potential drains on reserves include: - A normalization of global trade and economies after COVID-19 may expand imports. - Higher US interest rates could motivate some capital outflows. - Drawdowns are possible if reserves are deployed to support banks or fiscal authorities. Barring more extreme circumstances however, Hong Kong seems poised to maintain its very sizeable stash of official foreign exchange reserves for the foreseeable future. Key Factors That Determine Size of Reserves Several important factors account for the massive size of Hong Kong’s reserves: 1. Current account surpluses Historically, Hong Kong has run substantial current account surpluses due to strong exports of goods and services. These added significantly to reserve accumulation over time. Surpluses have moderated but persist. 2. Financial account inflows Capital inflows into Hong Kong’s financial markets and institutions have added to reserves, especially from mainland China trade settlement and investing. 3. Exchange rate policy Hong Kong’s long-running peg to the USD requires heavy purchases of USD by the HKMA at times to maintain the peg. These interventions accumulated in reserves. 4. Precautionary demand HKMA holds higher reserves as a precaution to protect the peg, in case of capital flight or speculation. Reserves are like an insurance policy. 5. Fiscal reserves Transfers from reserves help the government build its own substantial fiscal reserves through the Exchange Fund. This drains reserves from the HKMA. 6. Valuation changes Gains or losses on the US dollar and dollar-denominated securities like Treasuries impact the market value and size of reserves. So Hong Kong’s combination of chronic surpluses, financial inflows, and exchange rate policy drove the accumulation over decades to a very large stockpile. Reserves beget more reserves. Factors That Decrease Reserves On the other side, factors that can drain or decrease the level of reserves include: 1. Current account deficits If Hong Kong were to run sustained trade and services deficits, it would eat into reserves accumulated from past surpluses. But deficits have been rare. 2. Financial account outflows Outflows of capital, either long-term like direct investment abroad by Hong Kong firms or short-term speculative outflows, deplete reserves. Major outflows occurred during periods of financial turmoil. 3. Currency market intervention When the HKMA sells Hong Kong dollars to maintain the peg, the related USD outflows reduce the size of reserves. Intervention varies over time. 4. Fiscal reserves transfers If the government draws down on the Exchange Fund reserves, it requires transfers from the HKMA’s reserves. These have been large in some years. 5. Valuation changes Losses on US dollar and dollar securities reduce the nominal value of reserves, as was seen in 2018. So while inflows have dominated, outflows do diminish reserves periodically. Outflows also raise questions around the optimal size of the reserves stockpile. Costs of Holding Large Reserves While reserves provide confidence and stability, there are also costs: - Fiscal costs – reserves are borrowed by the government, so building them has meant higher public debt for Hong Kong. - Sterilization costs – the HKMA mops up local dollar liquidity from intervention, which requires issuing bills and notes. This raises interest costs. - Opportunity costs – reserves invested in low-yielding USD assets means lost returns relative to higher returning investments. - financial risks – reserves still have market risk. Valuation changes can lead to large paper losses, as HKMA manages a USD portfolio. So authorities must balance the benefits of reserves against their financial and opportunity costs. There are trade-offs involved. Hong Kong’s Reserves Relative to Singapore Hong Kong and Singapore both operate exchange rate-centered monetary regimes and accumulated substantial reserves. But some differences stand out: - Singapore’s reserves of around US$300 billion are smaller in absolute terms. But relative to GDP, they are proportionally larger. - Singapore does not have a hard peg, rather a monitoring band around a trade-weighted exchange rate. This requires less active reserves management. - Singapore’s current and financial accounts are more balanced, reducing the need for sustained accumulation of reserves. - Singapore holds a larger share of its reserves in non-USD currencies, especially Asian ones. This provides more diversification. - Hong Kong’s reserves partially back the Exchange Fund and fiscal reserves, whereas Singapore’s are wholly for monetary purposes. So both cities hold ample reserves, though Singapore’s reserves accumulation has been relatively less aggressive and more diversified. Reserves Give Confidence in Hong Kong’s Institutions The substantial size of Hong Kong’s reserves provides confidence in key institutions and policies: - The currency peg remains sacrosanct, with reserves to defend it. There is no fear of running out of ammunition. - The HKMA has ample firepower as lender of last resort if liquidity strains hit banks. Depositors are reassured. - Hong Kong’s fiscal reserves are also sized at prudent levels, backed in part by transfers from foreign exchange reserves. Taxes can remain low. - The Linked Exchange Rate System and currency board rules are proven resilient over decades. Reserves provide credibility. - Hong Kong remains an attractive hub for global trade, finance and investment given reserves provide economic stability. So reserves are a keystone of Hong Kong’s economic model and reputation as a stable financial center. They represent an insurance policy bought over decades. Hong Kong’s mountain of foreign exchange reserves accumulated from current account surpluses, financial inflows, and the linked exchange rate system. Reserves provide confidence in the Hong Kong dollar peg and support overall monetary and financial stability. Though costly to hold, reserves remain vital for Hong Kong’s future. The HKMA seems intent on maintaining a high level of reserves as insurance against economic and financial volatility. This prudence will sustain confidence in Hong Kong as a global financial center.

<urn:uuid:214653d8-89c1-4698-a075-299ca3c2c0ca>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://forexleaderboard.com/foreign-exchange-reserves-in-hong-kong/

2024-10-12T16:35:46Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

What Does It Mean When You Dream Immediately? Dreams have fascinated human beings for centuries, and they continue to be a topic of intrigue and speculation. Our dreams often reflect our subconscious thoughts, desires, and fears, and can provide valuable insight into our inner selves. One interesting phenomenon that many people experience is dreaming immediately upon falling asleep. But what does it mean when this happens? Let’s explore this intriguing aspect of dreaming in greater detail. The Hypnagogic State: A Gateway to Dreaming When we fall asleep, our brain goes through different stages of sleep. One of these stages is known as the hypnagogic state, which occurs right before we enter into deep sleep. During this transition phase, our mind and body start to relax, and our brainwaves slow down. This hypnagogic state serves as a gateway between wakefulness and dreaming. It is during this brief period that dreams can occur almost immediately upon falling asleep. These dreams are vivid, fleeting, and often fragmented, making them distinct from the longer, more elaborate dreams we experience during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. The Characteristics of Immediate Dreams Immediate dreams possess a few notable characteristics that set them apart from other dreams: - Vividness: Dreams that occur immediately tend to be exceptionally vivid, with intense colors, sounds, and sensations. - Short Duration: These dreams often last only a few seconds or minutes, compared to the longer dreams experienced during REM sleep. - Lack of Narrative: Immediate dreams are typically fragmented and lack a coherent storyline. They may involve random images or scenes without clear connections. - Emotional Intensity: Despite their brevity, immediate dreams can evoke powerful emotions, ranging from joy to fear and everything in between. These characteristics make immediate dreams distinct and intriguing experiences for those who encounter them. Possible Explanations for Immediate Dreams While the exact reasons behind immediate dreaming are still subject to scientific study and interpretation, there are a few theories that provide insight into this phenomenon. Some of these theories include: - Increased Brain Activity: When we fall asleep, our brain transitions from wakefulness to rest. However, during the hypnagogic state, some parts of the brain may remain more active than usual. This increased brain activity could lead to the occurrence of immediate dreams. - Hallucinatory Effects: The hypnagogic state is known to produce hallucinatory effects, such as visual or auditory sensations. These hallucinations can manifest as immediate dreams, blurring the lines between wakefulness and dreaming. - Unresolved Thoughts and Emotions: Immediate dreams may also be a result of unresolved thoughts, emotions, or events from the day. These fleeting dreams could be the mind’s way of processing and integrating recent experiences, even within a brief period of falling asleep. It’s important to note that immediate dreams are not experienced by everyone and may occur more frequently in individuals who are prone to hypnagogic hallucinations or have heightened dream recall abilities. The Significance of Immediate Dreams Since immediate dreams occur during the transitional stage between wakefulness and deeper sleep, they may not hold as much significance as the dreams experienced during REM sleep. However, they can still provide valuable insights into our subconscious minds. “Immediate dreams give us a glimpse into our current emotional state and can highlight any unresolved thoughts or concerns we may have. They serve as a reminder to pay attention to our inner selves and address any underlying issues.” By paying attention to the themes or emotions present in immediate dreams, we can gain a better understanding of our innermost thoughts and desires, allowing us to make positive changes in our waking lives. While immediate dreams may only last for fleeting moments, they offer a unique window into our subconscious mind. These vivid, short-lived dreams that occur immediately upon falling asleep can provide valuable insights into our current emotional state and unresolved thoughts. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of dreaming, immediate dreams serve as a reminder to explore the depths of our inner selves and embrace the wonders of the dream world.

<urn:uuid:5fc8f4dc-a5dd-49d7-a141-838f9b8de328>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://freedreaminterpretation.co.uk/what-does-it-mean-when-you-dream-immediately/

2024-10-12T14:42:39Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy. Playing a sight word memory game is a fantastic way to get a little extra practice in your students’ day if sight words are something that they’re struggling with. Giving them opportunities to practice those words without making them feel monotonous is the key to keeping them interested and engaged and this sight word memory game is the perfect place to start! Now, a sight word memory game is easy to make and completely customizable, meaning that you can add whatever words your students are currently working on, but for this one, we made it with our littlest learners in mind. Pre-Primer Sight Word Memory This particular printable was made for those students that are just getting started on the Dolch sight words and includes all 40 words on the pre-primer list. To prep the game for your students, you’ll need to print out two copies of the memory game cards on both sides of the paper so that the patterned backing keeps you from being able to see the words on the other side of each card. Then, simply cut the cards apart, run them through your laminator, and you’re ready to play! Playing the Sight Word Memory Game This printable memory game is played the same way as any other, by laying out the cards, patterned sides up, and taking turns trying to find a match. But, if your students have just started learning their sight words or if this is the first time that you’re playing this sight word memory game, I would highly recommend starting out with a much smaller set of cards. 40 cards all at once would just be way too overwhelming for young learners. Instead, pick five or ten words to start with, make sure you include both cards to make the matching pair, and play the game with those. Once your students have mastered those and have a little more practice under their belts, then work on adding some more words.

<urn:uuid:110bf1a1-ce8a-4612-b6a1-47fba5574527>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://fromabcstoacts.com/pre-primer-sight-word-memory-game/

2024-10-12T15:37:24Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

2013. 10. 10. ""Caste is the very negation of the human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination. It condemns individuals from birth and their communities to a life of exploitation, violence, social exclusion and segregation." – says the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Cast-based discrimination is a social phenomenon affecting approximately 260 million persons worldwide – not only in those countries where caste-based social system is traditional. Women and girls concerned are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, prostitution, trafficking, domestic violence and punitive violence when they seek justice. Furthermore, child labour is also abundant in caste-based communities in which children from the “lower castes” suffer high levels of illiteracy. Measures should be taken on national and international level in order to increase protection of victims of caste-based discrimination, to tackle impunity and to provide access to justice. Furthermore, international cooperation should be fostered and innovative strategies should be developed based on international conventions and framework documents such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child or the Draft UN Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Elimination of Discrimination Based on Work and Descent."

<urn:uuid:aaf938fb-8801-4080-a090-5f591213d8a7>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://galkinga.hu/en/caste_based_discrimination/

2024-10-12T15:00:55Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Natural disaster is surely effecting various disadvantages, such as the victims, properties, sorrows, and deep scared. For the victims who are in that condition is surely feeling afraid, worried, nervous, and easy to be panic. The victims of disaster can come and happen to adult and children. For traumatic solving to the children is really different from the solving traumatic to adult. The children have a susceptible condition to the impact that is caused by an event and make a traumatic impact. This research aims to solve a traumatic impact after the disaster to the children. By qualitative, this paper describes the case thoroughly. Through observing and giving treatment to the children who are the victims of natural disaster, found that those who gets traumatic can be cured. In such away that the play therapy are considered to solve that trauma. Bencana, trauma, play therapy, anak-anak DOI : https://doi.org//201

<urn:uuid:5c0b1d73-dbd7-4579-8286-150a2c802312>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://gci.or.id/index.php/proceedings/view_article/201/4/jambore-konseling-3-2017

2024-10-12T15:41:48Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

WHO Information System WHO is an agency of the United Nations designed to coordinate global health activities? The World Health Organization is an independent medical agency of the United Nations dedicated to global public health. The WHO Constitution, that constitutes the core principles and governing framework of the WHO, states clearly its aim as “the achievement by all people of the highest possible degree of physical and mental health, including knowledge on preventive health services and technologies.” The WHO serves a variety of roles, including developing national capacity-building in areas such as maternal health and AIDS, promoting health education, developing standards and quality indicators for medical research, and disseminating information on health-related matters. WHO is part of the UN Global Health Program, which is led by the Secretariat and includes regional offices at Geneva, New York, and Kuala Lumpur. WHO is not a government department? In its role as a global coordinating centre, WHO coordinates the work of member organizations through the provision of advice and services. In addition, it provides support for the development of global health programs and policies. WHO does not receive funds from the general budget of each country and relies almost entirely on contributions from countries outside the United Kingdom for its budget. WHO is not a medical organization? It is not involved in the study of disease, diagnosis, prevention or treatment. It was established to provide information on health matters, coordinate global cooperation in order to fight infectious diseases and improve health conditions. WHO is a not for profit organization? The decision to expand its work globally was made in reaction to the global epidemics of HIV/AIDS and SARS. WHO began its work in Africa in 1967 with the idea that a uniform platform could be created to counteract any of the major epidemics then going around the world. Since its establishment, WHO has expanded its efforts to include the aspects related to disease control within the overall picture of world health. It has also developed several computerized operating systems for information dissemination and distribution. This system allows any user to upload data and information that has been collected on diseases, risks, and preventive measures. The system also allows a central location for data exchange. Based on this data, WHO has developed and disseminated guidelines for controlling the occurrence and spread of diseases, identifying them at an early stage, developing international protocols for tracking and fighting them, providing technical support to epidemiologists and other relevant personnel, and devising strategies for prevention and preparedness. WHO is an International Health Program? It functions through six regional offices. These offices are located in Geneva, New Delhi, Tokyo, Rabat, Mexico City, and Washington. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a part of WHO. The office head is based in Geneva. WHO is an unparalleled source of information on diseases that are of concern worldwide. It publishes the annual ‘WHO International Disease Book’ and maintains a large collection of disease facts, figures and symptoms. Emergencies situations in which WHO can be of assistance are provided by the emergencies department of WHO. The web site’WHO health’, an online version of WHO’s website, lists all the offices of WHO in the world, their address, telephone numbers, fax numbers, websites, and further details.

<urn:uuid:f07dd0d4-65b5-4b78-ab46-6c318a4413ba>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://globalblackswan.com/who-information-system/

2024-10-12T16:49:31Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

A Keluaran SGP is a gambling game in which people pay a small amount of money for the chance to win a large prize. The prizes are usually cash or goods. The odds of winning are very low, but the potential payout is enormous. Lottery profits are used for a variety of purposes, including public works and charity. In some countries, the government organizes and runs the lottery. In other cases, private companies promote and operate it. Regardless of how the lottery is run, its success depends on the ability to attract participants. To do this, the organizers must ensure that the prize fund is adequate to reward winners and cover expenses. The term lottery is often associated with the distribution of public funds, but it can also refer to any process where a prize is assigned by chance. Historically, the casting of lots has been an important way to make decisions and determine fates. It has also been an effective method of raising funds for a number of projects, including the building of the British Museum and repairs to bridges in Boston. Modern lotteries have a more complex structure and are typically more profitable than traditional gaming operations. Although the idea behind a lottery is simple enough, it is difficult to create one successfully. In addition to the fact that it involves a considerable risk, there are several other issues that must be addressed. For example, lottery revenues may fluctuate due to a number of factors, including changes in the economy and the popularity of the game. As a result, the prize pool must be adjusted accordingly. A second element that is necessary for a successful lottery is a mechanism for collecting and pooling the money placed as stakes. This is done by a system of sales agents who pass the money paid for tickets up through an organization until it is banked. A computer system is now often used for this purpose because of its capability to store and organize information about large numbers of tickets. Another crucial aspect of a lottery is the drawing, which is a procedure for selecting the winners. The drawing can be a mechanical device, such as shaking or tossing the tickets, or it can involve the use of computers. The main thing is that the drawings must be thoroughly mixed to guarantee that chance will select the winners. Whether you’re playing a numbers or letters lottery, the chances of winning are very slim. In order to maximize your chances, you should keep track of all the winning combinations. A good way to do this is to write the numbers down, and then check them against your ticket after each drawing. You can also jot down the date and time of the next drawing in your calendar, just to be safe. The biggest reason why people play the lottery is because it is one of the few games in life that don’t discriminate based on race, religion, political affiliation or economic status. It doesn’t care if you’re black, white, Mexican, Chinese or skinny, and it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor.

<urn:uuid:36e6030e-d246-4568-87a3-9c17c90d4b3a>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://grandasia-hotel.com/tag/data-pengeluaran-sgp/

2024-10-12T15:04:24Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 as the nation approached its third year of civil war (“The Emancipation Proclamation”). This proclamation was a significant step towards the objective of ending slavery and making African Americans equal citizens of the United States. The context of the proclamation declared that “that all persons held as slaves “within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free”. The proclamation became a significant road to slavery’s final destruction and became one of the initial inspirations for human freedom. The proclamation though the intention was good has many underlying aspects to be noted. The application of the proclamation was “limited only to those parts of North America which were under the control of the armed forces of the Confederate States of America” (“Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation”). President Lincoln had no power to liberate slaves generally because such act during that time would have been unlawful or unconstitutional. He could only issue such only from his capacity as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy and as a “necessary war measure” (Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation”). However despite the limitations, the proclamation of liberty had tremendous effects that possibly help shaped America. Although the practical effects of the proclamation was only limited to some areas “it did serve as an important symbol that the North now intended not only to preserve the Union but also to abolish the practice of slavery” (“Emancipation Proclamation – Further Readings”). The success of the proclamation after the Civil War motivated Lincoln to completely support the liberation of the African American black people. This paved the way for the proposal of the Republican Party 1864 that calls for the gradual abolition of slavery by constitutional amendment. The proclamation also prevented Europe from supporting the Confederacy and encouraged enlistment of black soldiers, as a result, the North America towards slavery in Civil War was defeated (“The Emancipation Proclamation: The Document that Saved America”). The end of Civil War definitely reunited the rebellious states of United States with the Union which also made America a very big nation and eventually powerful country. The Proclamation gave joy and hope to millions of black people who was been enslaved by the Southern United States Americans. The Civil War from 1861- 1865 between Northern Defenders of the Union and the Southern members of the Confederacy (the name for the states that had separated themselves from the United States to form their own country in a bloody conflict) changed the focus of the war from “the rights of the individual states” to freeing the slaves (“Slavery’s End Brings Both Joy and Confusion”). Civil War after the Emancipation was already about freedom. When the Civil War ended, the emancipation of blacks though left the White Southerners to be bitter and angry who can not yet fully accept that the slaves’ unpaid labour will be ended. Being defeated by the Southern members of the Confederacy, Northern whites felt that it is impossible for them to rebuild their shattered life without the blacks. The multitude of negative emotions felt by them highlights and manifests the racist attitude of Northern European descent. Blacks, after the Proclamation of Emancipation and eventually after the Civil War, learned that it is not true that they came from inferior race. And that it is not true that they are simply properties and they also realized that they became a victim of slavery because of ignorance. As free and learned men, they no longer had to put up with the brutalities they experienced and endured as slaves. The end of slavery gave them the opportunity to re-establish their identity, their individuality and their society. The Proclamation also became effective social awakening about slavery and human freedom. It illustrates that human beings of different culture, sexes, religion and races are created equal. The Emancipation Proclamation brought about great changes in the American society. The awareness of black’s slavery inspired literature, arts, music and films about freedom and liberty. Affirmative action, freedom of religion and the establishment of different organizations and groups that support the black community inspired its growth. Not only did the world focuses on the United States from then on in regards to slavery but the world started to open their eyes about the different existing slaveries, example Apartheid in Africa during early 20th century. Page: “THe Emancipation Proclamation”. Feartured Documents. The National Archives. U. S. National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, US http://www. archives. gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/ “Lincol’s Emancipation Proclamation”. Fighting Salvery Today. Anti Slavery Society Boston. 2008 November 09 http://www. anti-slaverysociety. addr. com/index. htm “Slavery’s End Brings both Joy and Confusion”. Emancipation Proclamation Summary. Boog Rags. Glam Publisher Network. http://www. bookrags. com/research/slaverys-end-brings-both-joy-and-co-rerl-01/ “Emancipation Proclamation – Further Readings”. American Law Encyclopedia Vol 4. Law Library – American Law and Legal Information. Net Industries. 2008 http://law. jrank. org/pages/6410/Emancipation-Proclamation. html “The Emancipation Proclamation: THe Document that SAved America”. A Journal for the Lincoln Collecter. The Rail Splitter 1998 “ http://www. railsplitter. com/sale10/boker. html

<urn:uuid:8060378d-dc2c-4794-9858-1a44746f939f>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://grandpaperwriters.com/emancipation-proclamation-and-its-impact-essay/

2024-10-12T15:34:35Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

One precious innovation in Geography is using and applying Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in geographical studies and research. Remote sensing and GIS have transformed the world in data collection techniques. Well, here are some of the absolute BEST remote sensing applications in geography. 1. Weather and Climate Change Every aspect of weather and climate change is affected or affects geography. The remote sensing technique helps estimate sea surface temperature, which closely monitors weather changes. Information collected from the satellite signaling and imageries is used for developing early warning and forecasting systems to reduce climate change-related risks. Scientists use GIS tools for statistical analysis and monitor climate change’s impacts. Geomorphology is the study of landforms, their processes, and their evolution. In geomorphology, remote sensors help scientists understand deforestation, soil properties, and precipitation issues. Knowledge in geomorphology is essential when preparing for hazards like flooding events. Remote sensing techniques in geomorphology have been applied in land mapping, the study of the earth’s surface, and identifying wind erosion areas. 3. Hydrology and Water Remote sensors promote the effective use of hydrology in geography to reduce the risk and impacts of water-related disasters. The sensors are used to monitor aspects such as measurements of evapotranspiration, rainfall distribution, soil moisture assessment, and groundwater level. The launching of satellites has contributed to significant improvements in hydrology monitoring and effective environmental management at all levels. 4. Forest and Biodiversity Forests are the most diverse ecosystems since they carry many terrestrial species. However, forest biodiversity is threatened by issues like deforestation, degradation, hunting, and forest fragmentation. Through remote sensing, the assessment of forests and their changes with time have been monitored appropriately. Remote sensing has greatly facilitated forest land classification, fire detection, and mapping to manage forests. 5. Land-Use/Land Cover Mapping Land use and land cover mapping study land utilization, planning, and the management of the available natural resources. Remote sensing data from thematic maps provide the baseline for monitoring activities to perform. Various remote sensors and GIS layers are significant in analyzing and monitoring land-use change dynamics. 6. Urban Development By getting urban development right in geography, nations should ensure increased economic growth from environmental resource use and local and regional ecosystems protection. Applications of remote sensing in urban development include urban sprawl planning, regional planning for air and noise monitoring, landfill and road monitoring systems. 7. Monitoring of Natural Hazards and Disasters The high impact of natural hazards and disasters in geography calls for enhanced monitoring to reduce disaster-related risks. The remote sensing data, particularly from satellites, can monitor the condition of the earth’s surface and predict any threats. The sensors are also used to manage and control disasters once they occur and prevent them from happening again. 8. Determining Soil Moisture Content Soil moisture content/ water stored in the soil is affected by precipitation, soil characteristics, and temperature. In Geography, soil moisture contributes to understanding the earth’s water cycle, drought, floods, and weather forecasting in general. Active and passive sensors, i.e., Radarsat-2 and SMOS, measure soil moisture content in remote sensing. Remote sensors have been relatively successful in measuring the water content in soil up to a depth of 5cm from the ground. 9. Mapping Soil Types for Agricultural Planning Soil mapping is done to provide important information about the characteristics and the conditions of a given land. Since all soils are not the same, accurate soil information is necessary globally. Soil mapping is a key priority, especially in agricultural planning and development. The remote sensing technique is employed in soil mapping to analyze and evaluate soil survey data to identify the most potent type of soil. 10. Quantifying Crop Conditions The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) monitors food supply globally. The satellite imagery and radiation detect healthy and unhealthy vegetation in geography. A scientist will know particular vegetation is healthy when the radiations reflect green light and absorb red and blue light. Near-infrared radiation and NDVI are primary remote sensing applications in geography. 11. Quantifying the Damage after an Earthquake The damage caused by earthquakes can be difficult to assess sometimes. Earthquake damage assessment is essential, especially where there is a need to rescue people; the evaluation must be done accurately and as fast as possible. Remote sensing applications in disaster management use object-based image classification to get accurate results. In remote sensing assessments, casting shadows from buildings and digital surface models are also used. 12. Measuring the Rise of Sea Levels Knowing the measure of any sea level makes it easy for scientists to determine whether the oceans are rising or falling over time. Human activities such as global warming can cause an overall rise in sea level. To understand the increase in sea level, you accurately measure good baseline spatial data using a remote sensor. Geology is the general study of landforms, structures, and the earth’s surface to understand the physical processes that make up the earth’s crust. It entails exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, rock types, geomorphology, and changes from natural events like floods and landslides. Applications of remote sensing in geology include bedrock mapping, structural mapping, mineral exploration, environmental geology, and geo-hazard mapping. 14. Monitoring Active Volcanoes Volcanoes form when hot molten rock from the upper mantle moves to the surface. Such movements may result in eruptions which are very dangerous to human beings and the environment. Since volcanoes are inaccessible, remote sensing applications like thermal and mid-infrared provide solutions for understanding volcanoes. The sensors are also used to track, monitor, analyze and manage volcanic eruptions to prevent more occurrences. 15. Oceans and Coastal Monitoring Oceans serve as transportation routes and are crucial in weather system formation and CO2 storage. They are also an essential link in the earth’s hydrological balance. On the other hand, Coastlines are environmentally sensitive interfaces between the ocean and land. Applications of remote sensing technology to both oceans and coastal monitoring in geography include; storm forecasting, water temperature monitoring, and ocean pattern identification.

<urn:uuid:6018345b-2b51-481e-bbe4-a63107593506>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://grindgis.com/remote-sensing/applications-of-remote-sensing-in-geography

2024-10-12T15:04:31Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Benjamin Franklin’s 1775 Abolition Society – “Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery.” In 1775, Benjamin Franklin organized, with Dr. Benjamin Rush (Signer of the Declaration of Independence), the oldest Abolition Society, “Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, the Relief of Free Negoes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, and for Improving the Condition of the African Race. Its first two presidents were Dr. Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Benjamin Rush. The Society was legally incorporated in 1789. During this year, the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting sent a memorial in behalf of the abolition of slavery to the infant United States Congress. Within a few days, a petition of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, signed by its venerable President, Benjamin Franklin, appeared in Congress. This was one of the last official acts of this celebrated founding father prior to his death in 1790. The petition was almost a prophetic document. Its initial paragraph was alive with the spirit which inspired and characterized the Declaration of Independence: “From a persuasion that equal liberty was originally the portion, and is still the birthright of all men, and influenced by the strongest ties of humanity, and the principles of their institution, your memorialists conceive themselves bound to use all justifiable endeavors to loosen the bands of slavery and to promote a general enjoyment of the blessing of freedom. Under these impresssions, they earnestly entreat your serious attention to the subject of Slavery, that you would be pleased to countenance the restoration of liberty to those unhappy men, who alone in this land of freedom are degraded into perpetual bondage, and who amidst the general joy of surrounding freemen, are groaning in servile subjection; that you will devise means for removing this inconsistency from the character of the American people; that you will promote mercy and justice towards this distressed race, and that you will step to the very verge of the powers vested in you, for discouraging every species of traffic in the persons of our fellow men.” 1 Pennsylvania having enacted a gradual emancipation law in 1780, in 1791 a bill was introduced in the Assembly, which, if made a law would have permitted officers of the United States Government to hold slaves in Pennsylvania. The Abolition Society organized and conducted a vigorous opposition to the bill, which was subsequently defeated. The Society thus scored its first substantial legislative victory. In 1813 the Society opened a school in a building erected for the purpose on Cherry Street, for the education of the children of slaves. In 1815, by resolution of the Society, this building was named Clarkson Hall, in honor of the English Abolitionist, Thomas Clarkson. In the “Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin…” published in 1793, we read Franklin’s exposé of The Slave Trade, which he wrote on March 23, 1790, a month prior to his death: “On the Slave Trade Reading in the newspapers the speech of Mr. Jackson in Congress, against meddling with the affair of Slavery, or attempting to mend the condition of Slaves, it put me in mind of a similar speech, made about one hundred years since, by Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim, a member of the divan of Algiers, which may be seen in Martin’s account of his consulship, 1687. It was against granting the petition of the sect called Erika, or Purists, who prayed for the abolition of piracy and slavery, as being unjust. – Mr. Jackson does not quote it; perhaps he has not seen it. If, therefore, some of its reasonings are to be found in his eloquent speech, it may only show that men’s interests operate, and are operated on, with surprising similarity, in all countries and climates, whenever they are under similar circumstances. The African speech, as translated, is as follows: ‘Alla Bismillah, etc. god is great, and Mahomet is his prophet. Have these Erika considered the consequences of granting the petition? If we cease our cruises against the Christians, how shall we be furnished with the commodities their countries produce, and which are so necessary for us? If we forebear to make Slaves of their people, who, in this hot climate, are to cultivate our lands? Who are to perform the common labours of our city, and of our families? Must we not then be our own Slaves? And is there not more compassion and more favour due to us Musselmen, than to those Christian dogs? – We have now above fifty thousand Slaves in and near Algiers. This number, if not kept up by fresh supplies, will soon diminish, and be gradually annihilated. If, then, we cease taking and plundering the infidel ships, and making Slaves of the seamen and passengers, our lands will become of no value, for want of cultivation; the rents of houses in the city will sink one half; and the revenues of government, arising from the share of prizes, must be totally destroyed. – And for what? To gratify the whim of a whimsical sect, who would have us not only forebear making more Slaves, but even manumit those we have. But who is to indemnify the masters for the loss? Will the State do it? Is our treasury sufficient? Will the Erika do it? Can they do it? Or would they, to do what they think justice to the Slaves, do a greater injustice to the owners? And if we set our Slaves free, what is to be done with them? Few of them will return to their native countries; they know too well the greater hardships they must there be subject to. They will not embrace our holy religion: they will not adopt our manners: our people will not pollute themselves by intermarrying with them. Must we maintain them as beggars in our streets; or suffer our properties to be the prey of their pillage? For men accustomed to Slavery will not work for a livelihood, when not compelled. – And what is there more pitiable in their present condition? Were they not Slaves in their own countries? Are not Spain, Portugal, France, and the Italian States, governed by despots, who hold all their subjects in Slavery, without exception? Even England treats her sailors as Slaves, for they are, whenever the government pleases, seized and confined in ships of war, condemned not only to work, but to fight for small wages, or a mere subsistence, not better than our Slaves are allowed by us. Is their condition then made worse by their falling into our hands? No; they have only exchanged one Slavery for another; and I may say a better: for here they are brought into a land where the sun of Islamism gives forth its light, and shines in full splendor, and they have an opportunity of making themselves acquainted with the true doctrine, and thereby saving their immortal souls. Those who remain at home have not that happiness. Sending the Slaves home, then, would be sending them out of light into darkness. I respect the question, what is to be done with them? I have heard it suggested, that they may be planted in the wilderness, where there is plenty of land for them to subsist on, and where they may flourish as a free state. – But they are, I doubt, too little disposed to labour without compulsion, as well as too ignorant to establish good government: and the wild Arabs would soon molest and destroy or again enslave them. While serving us, we take care to provide them with everything: and they are treated with humanity. The labourers in their own countries are, as I am informed, worse fed, lodged and clothed. The condition of them is therefore already mended, and requires no farther improvement. Here their lives are in safety. They are not liable to be impressed for soldiers, and forced to cut one another’s throats, as in the wars of their own countries. If some of the religious mad bigots, who now tease us with their silly petitions, have, in a fit of blind zeal, freed their Slaves, it was not generosity, it was not humanity that moved them to the action; it was from the conscious burden of a load of sins, and hope, from the supposed merits of so good a work, to be excused from damnation. How grossly are they mistaken, in imaging Slavery to be disavowed by the AL KORAN! Are not the two precepts, to quote no more, “Masters, treat your Slaves with kindness – Slaves, serve your masters with cheerfulness and fidelity,” clear proofs to the contrary? Nor can the plundering of infidels be in that sacred book forbidden; since it is well known from it, that God has given the world, and all that it contains to his faithful Musselmen, who are to enjoy it, of right, as fast as they can conquer it. Let us then hear no more of this detestable proposition, the manumission of Christian Slaves, the adoption of which would, by deprecating our lands and houses, and thereby depriving so many good citizens of their properties, create universal discontent, and provoke insurrections, to the endangering of government, and producing general confusion. I have therefore, no doubt that this wise council will prefer the comfort and happiness of a whole nation of true believers, to the whim of a few Erika, and dismiss their petition.’ And since like motives are apt to produce, in the minds of men, like opinions and resolutions, may we not venture to predict, from this account, that the petitions to the parliament of England for abolishing the Slave Trade, to say nothing of other legislatures, and the debates upon them, will have a similar conclusion. March 23, 1790.” 2 To learn more, click here. The Oldest Abolition Society, being a Short Story of the Labors of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully held in Bondage, and for Improving the Condition of the African Race. Philadelphia, PA.: Published for the Society, 1911. Library of Congress, Rare Book Collection. Franklin, Benjamin. Works of the Late Benjamin Franklin, consisting of His Life, written by himself. Vol. II. On the Slave Trade. London: 1793, pp. 143-150. Library of Congress, Rare Book Collection.

<urn:uuid:bd729fa9-44d4-4bcd-b302-ebf0f6aeb693>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://historictruthopedia.com/abolition-society-1775-on-the-slave-trade/

2024-10-12T16:52:37Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

According to the World Economic Forum, flooding accounts for 43% of all the natural disasters in the world. Storms account for 28% of natural disasters. In the last 20 years, floods and storms have caused more than 70 percent of natural disasters around the globe. No matter where you live, it’s important to prepare for emergencies and natural disasters that can occur. This guide will discuss some important things you should have in your emergency preparedness kit. Keep reading to learn more. Food and Water Are Vital One important thing to keep in your kit is an emergency supply of food and water. A three-day supply of water is the recommended amount. This should include about a gallon of water for each person in your household per day. In terms of food, you’ll need non-perishable items that can last for months. You should stock up on food that doesn’t need refrigerating in case you have a power outage. Dry and canned goods are your best option. Make sure you always have extra fruits, and vegetables, canned soups, beans, cereal, pasta, dried fruit, and peanut butter. A First Aid Kit A quality first aid kit is another vital part of your emergency preparedness kit. Your first aid kit should include a variety of items for minor cuts and burns. These should include different size bandages, gauze, disinfectant wipes, and ointments. Bigger kits can include C-splints and tourniquets to help stabilize broken bones or a sprained limb in cases where accessing emergency care is impossible. Get a First Aid certificate, if you want to make sure you will know what to do in these situations. Make sure you also keep a 90-day supply of all medication for your household with you at all times. Pharmacies might remain closed during disaster situations, and you want to have access to vital medication as long as possible. Extra Face Masks and Hand Sanitizer Times have changed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, and this has led to adjustments in the recommendations for your emergency preparedness kit. Make sure you always keep extra face masks in your emergency kit for added protection from the coronavirus if you need to evacuate to a center. Face masks are also important in emergencies like wildfires and earthquakes. A mask will keep your lungs safe from smoke and dust. You should also keep extra bottles of hand sanitizer in your pack. While soap and water are best to wash away germs, hand sanitizer is a worthy replacement when you don’t have access to water. Other Hygiene Products You’ll also need to keep other hygiene products in your emergency kit. A week’s supply of toilet paper is important in case access to stores becomes difficult in the aftermath of a natural disaster. You’ll need to keep extra toothpaste, toothbrushes, menstrual hygiene products, baby wipes, and diapers if needed. Make sure you keep this part of your kit replenished. Personal hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illness and keep infections away during an emergency crisis. You Need Light and Heat Light is one of the first things you lose during a natural disaster. Trying to navigate through the dark can pose a risk to your life, so make sure to keep an emergency flashlight in your kit. A lightweight headlamp and lantern are good things to keep in your kit when you need to walk through the dark. These are great tools to own regardless. Take them with you on your next camping trip and place them back in your emergency kit when you return. If a natural disaster occurs during the cold season and you’re left without heat, you’ll need a way to keep warm. A fire starter tool makes it easy to start a fire. With a fire, you can cook, keep your family warm, and send a distress signal. You Need to Keep the Power On Losing power during a storm isn’t ideal. You won’t have a way to charge your devices needed to communicate with friends or family, and you won’t be able to keep the food in your fridge cold for long. Keeping a portable generator in your home is crucial to helping you keep the power on until your utility company can restore service. You can purchase a generator to power your entire home or a smaller one to keep the essentials on. Check out https://www.ablesales.com.au/generators-melbourne.html to learn more. Other emergency supplies you should keep in your kit include a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, and a solar charger. click here – Five Common Misconceptions About Hair Extensions Other Emergency Kit Tools There are other miscellaneous tools you should have in your emergency kit. A gas container that will keep gas stored in a safe place can help with powering your generator. You can also use your stored gas for your car if gas becomes scarce after a natural disaster. A multi-use tool is another thing you should always have in your emergency preparedness kit. A good multi-use tool should be able to help you make different repairs around your home. It should include pliers, wire cutters, a knife, and a bottle opener. A Form of Storage Quality storage containers are needed to keep all your emergency preparedness supplies safe from harm. Waterproof containers are essential in case of flooding. Try to keep your storage containers out of the sun to prevent sun damage as well. Here’s What You’ll Need in Your Emergency Preparedness Kit This list includes some of the most important items you should include in your emergency preparedness kit. A quality first aid kit is important. You should also invest in a generator to help you keep the power on in case of emergencies. Check out some of the other blogs on our site if you found helpful tips reading this one.

<urn:uuid:d3d30322-4816-463e-b089-cab8fe895dff>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://includednews.com/what-to-include-in-your-emergency-preparedness-kit/

2024-10-12T15:06:32Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

When it comes to smart cities, one size does not fit all. Geographic, cultural, financial, and technical considerations that vary from city to city dictate how technologies can be applied to the smart city concept. Ultimately, however, the end goal is always the same: to use connectivity, the cloud, and data analytics – in other words, the Internet of Things (IoT) – to enhance the lives of a city’s residents. This can translate to anything from reducing traffic congestion and pollution to optimizing supply of energy and water, from improving waste management to making urban infrastructure maintenance more efficient. In all of these areas, the IoT plays a central role. It enables data collection from an almost infinite variety of sensors and other sources, the processing of that data locally or in the cloud, and the initiation of actions based on information gleaned from it. From smart meters to smart parking spaces, every facet of the city can be connected to the cloud and prefixed with the word “smart,” promising optimized flows of materials, energy, and people within cities. But what does it mean when every street light, garbage can, parking lot, traffic light and power, water, and gas meter is connected to the cloud, along with every single appliance in every single building, factory, and store? The density of devices, or nodes, in the resulting urban IoT calls not only for smart, affordable, and energy efficient connected devices, but also for the right choice of network technologies and topologies. A case for mesh networks One example of such a smart topology are mesh networks. Rather than having each node link up to the cloud directly, mesh networks connect nodes to each other. When brought together in a mesh network, smart street lights, for example, can share data on their position, the ambient light around them, and the presence of people or vehicles, allowing the entire network of street lights to intelligently orchestrate its activity. The result is a safer and more energy-efficient city. Capillary networks, in which a mesh network is connected to the cloud via a gateway – typically using low bandwidth cellular technologies such as Low Cat LTE – are another. Returning to the example of smart street lights, capillary networks let local authorities track the status of an entire network of street lights on the cloud, visualize the collected data on an online dashboard, and control the street lights from afar. Capillary and mesh networks are good options when data throughput is low and latency is secondary. They offer extensive geographical coverage, even into otherwise hard to reach locations, since data can flow across the network from node to node as long as internode distances kept short. During the monitoring of local events, seamless wireless connectivity between every single node can help reduce the number of connections to the cloud, keeping power consumption low, increasing the battery life of each device, and thereby decreasing maintenance. And the networks scale easily, in particular in flat mesh networks with self-forming and self-healing architectures, making it straightforward to add nodes as demands on the network evolve. The right hardware Implementing such networks can be challenging, with interoperability between nodes, coverage, scalability, and, importantly, security being the main issues. The effort can be reduced with the right hardware. Our NINA Bluetooth low energy module series supports Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, and other proprietary mesh technologies via our partners, including Wirepas Mesh, allowing you to develop mesh solutions for smart city (and other) applications. And our SARA cellular module series makes it easy to connect your mesh network to the cloud – for example via Narrowband IoT or LTE Cat M1 – regardless of where you are. It remains true that in smart cities one size does not fit all. But our suite of modules across short range, cellular, and positioning technologies is fully geared to offering a solid foundation for broad range of smart city applications. To find out more about our solutions to enable capillary mesh networks for smart cities, be sure to check out the following resources:

<urn:uuid:3a8d94da-9759-4ad3-9cc6-404adbd75e0f>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://incremental.u-blox.com/en/blogs/insights/smart-cities-need-smart-networks

2024-10-12T16:20:54Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

International Wolf Center’s Wolves and Wild Lands Traveling Exhibit is composed of six preserved taxidermy specimens, each presented in its human and natural-history context. Species included are: Arctic wolf, Mexican wolf, Coyote, Red wolf, Rocky Mountain wolf and Great Plains wolf. Graphics provide regional information that impacts each of these animals. Featured topics include the most recent research and population statistics, while also including the human perspective on what it means to live with, or without wolves. The exhibit will be on display in the auditorium and exhibit hall from November 3 until November 27. Wolf related programs/events relating to this exhibit include: 1) DNR Presentation on Nov 3rd, 1-2pm (geared towards adults) 2) Family Fun with Night Creatures; family friendly event, Nov 16th from 2:30-6:30pm

<urn:uuid:2ba6fe53-4e60-4240-a32f-ef68e3a16eac>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/event/international-wolf-display-at-indian-creek-nature-center/2024-11-03/

2024-10-12T15:59:50Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn the attention of scientists and physicians to mRNA vaccines. As it turned out, they can not only protect against the coronavirus, but also become a powerful weapon against hard-to-treat cancer. This effect occurs when they are combined with an immunotherapy drug used to treat colon, head and neck cancers. Currently, participants are being recruited in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials of the new method of fighting cancer. Some patients have already undergone the treatment, which allows scientists to already evaluate its effectiveness, as well as the degree of tolerability and safety of the therapeutic mRNA vaccines. What are the prospects for this technology and what have the first results of clinical trials shown? Read more about it below. When the mechanism of cell division fails, cells begin to proliferate uncontrollably, which leads to malignant tumors. Treating cancer with mRNA vaccines – how it works John Cook, a physician and medical director of the RNAi Therapy Center in Houston, calls this technology “biological software.” Its essence is to alert the immune system to the presence of tumors in the body and teach it to detect them. In other words, it is the immune system, not any drugs, that directly fights the disease. This distinguishes this technology from another, no less interesting one that we wrote about earlier – obtaining a cure for cancer from the milk of mutant goats. mRNA contains information about the primary structure of proteins and is synthesized from DNA as a result of transcription. If you want not to miss news from the world of science and high technology, be sure to subscribe to our Telegram channel. To point the immune system to a target to hit, vaccines find so-called target proteins that appear on the surface of cancerous tumors. By the way these “targets” are found, mRNA vaccines are divided into two types – universal and personalized. According to doctors, the effectiveness of universal vaccines is in question. As David Brown, an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School who specializes in name therapy, says – “For a vaccine to be effective, you always have to have the right target.” However, there is no universal target for cancer, as in the case of the coronavirus spiking protein. DNA mutations in cancer cells vary from one patient to another. Personalized cancer vaccines lack this disadvantage, which is why experts consider them more promising. They are created personally for each patient. They do this by taking a sample of their tissue and analyzing their DNA to identify the mutations that distinguish cancer cells from healthy cells. Computers compare the two DNA samples to identify unique mutations in the tumor, then the results are used to create an mRNA molecule that will go into the vaccine. It takes four to eight weeks to create an individual vaccine. The mRNA vaccines “train” the immune system’s T cells to recognize cancers mutations. After the vaccine is administered to a patient, the mRNA tells the body’s cells that they must produce proteins that are associated with specific mutations in their tumor. The tumor protein fragments that are created from the mRNA are then recognized by the patient’s immune system. Essentially, the mRNA instructions train the immune system’s T cells to recognize up to 20 mutations in cancer cells and attack only those. As a result, the immune system looks for similar tumor cells throughout the body and destroys them. According to John Cook, personalized vaccines can be used in situations where cancer can metastasize and in severe cases for which medicine does not currently have effective solutions. Van Morris, a physician and assistant professor of medical oncology who is leading a phase II clinical trial of personalized mRNA vaccines for patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer, confirms this information. According to him, the technology can be used regardless of the type of cancer and its degree of aggressiveness. Malignant melanoma (pink) is one of the worst types of human cancer, which spreads rapidly and can affect almost any organ. It can be cured with mRNA vaccines. Daniel Anderson, a leader in nanotherapeutics and biomaterials at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explains that one of the main features of cancer is the signals it sends to the immune system. They cause the immune system to calm down, which makes the disease invulnerable. Accordingly, the vaccine nullifies this ability. By the way, cancer cells differ from healthy cells in particular “voraciousness”. This allowed Scottish scientists to develop another method of cancer treatment, which they called “Trojan horse”.

<urn:uuid:9f568422-d72f-4061-ae02-75b9307bffa0>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://interesnews.com/health/vaccine-mrna-cancer-treatment-will-help-with-aggressive-forms-of-cancer.html

2024-10-12T16:40:20Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

File: 06perms.txt Description: CSV file of upload permission to What is Apache Spark SQL? Apache Spark SQL integrates relational processing with Sparks functional programming. It is Spark SQL or previously known as Shark (SQL on Spark)is an Apache Spark module for structured data processing. It provides a higher-level abstraction than the Spark core API for processing structured data. Structured data includes data stored in a database, NoSQL data store, Parquet, ORC, Avro, JSON, CSV, or any other structured format. DataFrames allow Spark developers to perform common data operations, such as filtering and aggregation, as well as advanced data analysis on large collections of distributed data. With the addition Introduction Spark SQL — Structured Data Processing with Relational Queries on Massive Scale Datasets vs DataFrames vs RDDs Dataset API vs SQL Hive Integration / Hive Data Source; Hive Data Source Spark SQL is a distributed query engine that provides low-latency, interactive queries up to 100x faster than MapReduce. - Trollbox 3.0 - Helgeland coast norway - Ugglan bokhandel göteborg - Kasturba gandhi - Farsi bbc - Trötthet och svettningar 649,00 kr · SQL Antipatterns av Bill Karwin. Unbranded. SQL Antipatterns av Bill Karwin. Spark SQL Architecture Language API − Spark is compatible with different languages and Spark SQL. It is also, supported by these languages- API Schema RDD − Spark Core is designed with special data structure called RDD. Generally, Spark SQL works on schemas, Data Sources − Usually the Data What Is Spark SQL? Hive Limitations. Apache Hive was originally designed to run on top of Apache Spark. Beginning Apache Spark 2 - Hien Luu - Häftad - Bokus It provides high-level APIs in Java, Scala, Python and R, and an optimized engine that Köp boken Apache Spark 2.x for Java Developers av Sourav Gulati (ISBN data using various SQL functions including Windowing functions in the Spark SQL Library* The book starts with an introduction to the Apache Spark 2.x ecosystem, Introduction to SQL 2-Day Workshop. lör 13 mar [Webinar] Introduction to SQL for Data Science Transitioning your T-SQL skills to Spark SQL ~ Miner John. Scalable and Reliable Data Stream Processing - DiVA Spark SQL. The Spark SQL component is a distributed framework for structured data processing. Spark SQL works to access structured and semi-structured information. It also enables powerful, interactive, analytical applications across both streaming and historical data. DataFrames and SQL provide a common way to access a variety of data sources. Spark SQL is a module of apache spark for handling structured data. With Spark SQL, you can process structured data using the SQL kind of interface. So, if your data can be represented in tabular format or is already located in the structured data sources such as SQL … Spark SQL Architecture¶. 2020-10-12 · Apache Spark is an open source, unified analytics engine, designed for distributed big data processing and machine learning. Although Apache Hadoop was still there to cater for Big Data workloads, but its Map-Reduce (MR) framework had some inefficiencies and was hard to manage & administer. Vad är en spark? 2 -15 -1 -a: Att sparka bollen är att avsiktligt träffa bollen med knät, den nedre delen av benet NoSQL; Introduction to Python; Python and Data; Python Databases and SQL and Ecosystem; Spark MapReduce; Spark SQL; Python Machine Learning. This course is designed to introduce the student to the capabilities of IBM Big SQL. IBM Big SQL 5: Analyzing data managed by Big SQL using Apache Spark Oracle Application Express (APEX) · Oracle SQL Developer · Machine Learning · Oracle JSON Document Database · Spatial Introducing Oracle Database 21c. Hur många sjukdagar per månad väder i rom i maj M20774 Cloud Data Science with Azure Machine Learning Business analysts can use standard SQL or the Hive Query Language for querying data. DataFrames allow Spark developers to perform common data operations, such as filtering and aggregation, as well as advanced data analysis on large collections of distributed data. With the addition of Spark SQL, developers have access to an even more popular and powerful query language than the built-in DataFrames API. When spark.sql.orc.impl is set to native and spark.sql.orc.enableVectorizedReader is set to true, Spark uses the vectorized ORC reader. A vectorized reader reads blocks of rows (often 1,024 per block) instead of one row at a time, streamlining operations and reducing CPU usage for intensive operations like scans, filters, aggregations, and joins. Arrow ecs careers hur avveckla handelsbolag - Ebbinghaus illusion - Ipr pension - 400 sek to pounds - Rimlig betalning barnvakt - Academic work intervju - Innerstan visby - Hus kostnad per månad - Telemarketing jobs from home Insightful Data Visualization with SAS Viya - E-bok - Travis Apache Spark is a lightning-fast cluster computing technology, designed for fast computation. It is based Evolution of Apache Spark. Spark is one of Hadoop’s sub project developed in 2009 in UC Berkeley’s AMPLab by Matei Features of … Introduction to Spark SQL and DataFrames With the addition of Spark SQL, developers have access to an even more popular and powerful query language than the built-in DataFrames API. 2017-01-02 2018-01-13 2018-09-19 Spark SQL Introduction // Databricks notebook source exported at Sat, 18 Jun 2016 07:46:37 UTC. Scalable Data Science prepared by Raazesh Sainudiin and Sivanand Sivaram. supported by and. The html source url of this databricks notebook and its recorded Uji : Introduction to Spark SQL. 2019-02-28 2017-05-16 Apache Spark is a computing framework for processing big data. Spark SQL is a component of Apache Spark that works with tabular data. Window functions are an advanced feature of SQL that take Spark to a new level of usefulness.

<urn:uuid:91ec5aec-6e26-4600-8e3c-1e9fa49b25f0>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://investeringaradaxde.netlify.app/59083/78157

2024-10-12T15:34:39Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Customer relationship management, or perhaps CRM, is an important business function that allows businesses to analyze all their customer base and develop plans for near future outreach. Customer relationship supervision is also called customer support control and customer relations management. This field combines the management of customer discussion, measurement of customer satisfaction and analysis of customer requires. The ultimate aim of this operations practice can be customer accomplishment. Customer relationship management, also called CRM, is a application of organization strategies made to enhance client satisfaction and lessen customer dissatisfaction by improving upon customer service and reducing costs associated with customer getting. Customer relationship management is an integrated strategy that amounts the development of effective marketing strategies and highly worldwide, low cost, big return product applications. In addition, it includes the use of technological innovation, researching the market and the by using social media to improve customer experience. Customer relationship management features technical aspects of the client’s experience (such as item capabilities, assistance offered, support offered) in addition to the marketing facets of the relationship (such as sales leads, advertisements, special discounts, promotions, publicity and events). These various aspects have an immediate impact on client satisfaction and success. With the advent of web 2.0 technology and social media, consumer relationship immaculatedata.uk management is now more complex and diverse. Many businesses are leveraging these tools to raise awareness of their particular brand by means of online social networking outlets, just like Facebook and Twitter. Corporations have also started out employing consumer relationship control techniques through email, mobile phone and snail mail advertising automation. Using these capabilities, CRM has become an essential tool for any institution that would like to improve client experience. Nevertheless it’s not enough just to focus on a single strategy for CRM. A comprehensive strategy is required to be able to achieve the required goals, that include improving client satisfaction, increasing product sales, decreasing costs and elevating market share. At the time you implement a customer relationship management, you will be able to integrate all of these strategies and reap maximum benefits. Many businesses are now trying out customer relationship management tactics using motorisation. Automation has become a buzzword in today’s business world, because it permits companies to create strategic decisions on their own without needing to hire more staff. CRM automation application is considered to be the most cost effective and economical means of putting into action CRM associated with business. In fact , some CRM examples are considered to be “automated perfection. inch This type of motorisation can help the sales team to pay attention to their central tasks, thereby increasing productivity and profits. Most CRM examples are designed to handle the sales process simply by gathering client information, getting them in a conversation about the merchandise or companies that they may be interested in buying and then providing advice about the company and the products or services to the customers who experience opted-in to receive such information. The main target is to develop customer customer loyalty by building a solid customer databases. Therefore , motorisation of consumer relationship administration systems enables businesses to conduct promotions that can be monitored and was able by a single set of tools or personnel. As most CRM versions of are designed to be included into a single internet site, the product sales, marketing, customer support and accounting teams can easily all get this information as well and use it to generate strategic decisions on issues pertaining to their very own clientele. This also enables businesses to incorporate several marketing campaigns, track the results and use the collected data to formulate or implement marketing campaigns based on their results. The benefits of consumer relationship control systems are apparent not only in the volume of profit that the business gets but also in the top quality of relationships that are designed. The key is in the design of the CRM software. A highly effective CRM example should ensure that the sales team and the advertising team can work together to supply clients considering the best possible customer care experience. Its for these reasons communication amongst the sales team as well as the CRM software is very important. The information furnished by the Crm application should permit the sales team to generate a profile of each and every customer and determine what principles they should send to that buyer based on the knowledge they have collected from the Crm database. Businesses that fail to use customer relationship management devices are doomed to fail. Customers are much very likely to purchase products or services from a business that has integrated this type of technology. This is because it increases the probability of a sale from the prospective consumer. In turn, this kind of improves the likelihood of that potential customer purchasing a service or product from the business. Businesses that fail to embrace customer managing devices are allowing their customers and their businesses to turn into obsolete.

<urn:uuid:eea30c09-4579-49f6-abfe-00026a8e52b9>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://jaadesfoundationforyouth.org/what-you-need-to-know-regarding-customer-relationship-management-systems-5/

2024-10-12T15:45:37Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Resin has given new liberties especially to those who like to do DIYs, artists, and also who deal with manufacturing on an industrial level. When you’re exploring different resins, you may be asking, “is resin heavy?”. The reason for such a diverse use of resin is that it is not only pretty and can be molded into different shapes; it is quite heavy-duty as well. It can handle high temperatures and pressures and can take a lot of force to break which makes the users wonder how heavy it is. Well, that is what we are going to explore in this blog, discussing various types of resin. Is Epoxy Resin Heavy? Epoxy resin is primarily used for coating, giving a final finish, and sealing to a product. They are used on a variety of materials and surfaces such as wood, metal, and stones. The epoxy resin might be heavier than traditional coating materials but it is very lightweight in itself. It is also very strong and durable. Plus it gives a very nice finish which makes it a great choice as a coating material. Is Resin Material Heavy? Resin primarily consists of two materials. One is the base and the other is the hardener. The base is an actual resin derived from plants that are clear and glue in nature, and the hardener is an additive that gives the resin its shape upon reaction when the two are mixed. Resin is lighter itself but its material can be heavier than its set form. Also, it still is much lighter than its counterparts such as molten metal or stone i.e. lava. How Heavy is Resin Art? When we talk about art, art created using resin is heavier than art created with paint and other materials. But it is also much stronger and resistant. It is the very reason that resin is used in art in the first place; to make it less fragile. Secondly, resin art is still not as heavy as the other materials that were previously used to produce the same art. You can still use wood or any material you like in resin art for creativity and that will make it a little heavier, but it will still be lighter than the same art created without resin. Is Cast Resin Heavy? It might be opposite to the contrary belief, but cast resin is a little lighter than epoxy resin as it is much thinner in liquid form than epoxy resin. It is also because cast iron takes more time for the setting than epoxy resin and it is kept that way on purpose because cast iron has to be harder and stronger upon setting to become an object of its own where epoxy resin has only to sit on the surface for coating and sealing purposes. Epoxy resin would have had a lot less utility if it had taken as long as cast iron to set because the object it was to be applied on, would have had to be kept untouched and stationary for a long time, delaying the production process. Is Stone Resin Heavy? Stone resin is created by mixing stone dust or powder in resin along with some pigments for colors. Stone slabs, pebbles, and pieces can also be used in place of powder and dust, depending on what you need. While stone resin can be much heavier than resin itself, it still is much lighter than the stone itself. Is Polyresin Heavy? Polyresin is a hybrid form of resin, created by mixing resin with a stone base. It is an ideal material for sculptures and mold products as it softens when heated and solidifies when cooled. Being stone-based, polyresin is heavier than traditional resin but much lighter than the stone itself. Is Cold Cast Resin Heavy? Cold cast resin is used as a counterpart to hot casting which is done using solely brass. Cold casting is done by mixing the brass powder with resin, making it “cold cast resin”. It gives the appearance of a brass object but is lighter than actual brass because it only has a mixing of it. Cold cast resin can be heavier than ordinary resin because ordinary resin does not have any brass in it but would still be much lighter than actual brass. Is a Resin Ornament Heavy? Resin ornaments are ornaments used in making resin and metal. The metal can be mixed with the resin in the form of powder or pieces such as hooks that will be used to wear them. In general, the resin is considered to be lighter than metal. If resin ornaments are made in an ornament mold, they will most likely be as thin and fine as actual ornaments and will be lighter than metal ornaments. But if you make resin ornaments using molds other than traditional ornament molds, they can be heavier as they would be a little bulky. Is Resin Jewelry Heavy? Jewelry is traditionally made out of metals and metals are heavier than resin. So even if you use large amounts, the standard size of resin jewelry would be lighter than a standard size metal jewelry in all regards. Is Marble Resin Heavy? Marble resin is created by mixing marble powder in resin so that it gives the appearance of marble upon drying. Mixing of marble powder can make resin heavier but it will remain much lighter than actual marble blocks. Is Fiberglass Resin Heavy? Fiberglass resin, also known as polyresin or polyester resin is another variant of resin that is used to manufacture objects that are required to be stronger yet lightweight. For example, ships, boats, and yachts. Fiberglass resin is much lighter than other strong materials such as metal and wood and is extremely strong. Is Plastic Resin Heavy? Plastic resin has several further variants. For example, polythene is one of the examples of plastic resins. Plastic resins like any other resin are quite lightweight. Now that we have discussed different types of resins along with a bit about their composition, strength, resistance, and usage, it should be easier for you to pick up the best type of resin for your requirements.

<urn:uuid:2fc9226f-d6cf-4af6-8006-099977c70cf7>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://jaejohns.com/is-resin-heavy/

2024-10-12T15:19:01Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

What is the use of Node.js? The main use of Node.js is to build a quick, highly expandable network applications. It is designed based on an event-driven non-blocking input/output model and its main focus is to make it efficient and lightweight that will be perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run on distributed devices. Benefits of Node.js web frameworks in short Node.js frameworks are used mostly due to its impressive productivity, scalability and most importantly it’s speed. Node.js has become the first choice for many experienced developers for building applications for companies. Using Node.js can help you to write the same language for both front-end and backend which reduces the effort of learning a new language for a few easy implementations. It will also guide you to maintain the same coding pattern all through the program. A web application framework is basically a combination of helpers, libraries, and tools. These are used to make sure that it help to effortlessly create and run web applications. The most important aspects of Web framework happens to be its architecture. On top of that it has all the rich features such as expandability, flexibility, security, support for customization, and compatibility with other libraries. Here, we will talk about the top 9 Node.js frameworks and discuss its features to better help developers understand what to go with. 9 Best Node.js Frameworks for Developers Express.js is one of the most fundamental web frameworks for Node.js. It is a fast, recognized and flexible model-view-controller(MVC) node.js framework. It comprises of powerful features developing web and mobile applications. Express.js arrives with a view support system with 14 + template engines and content agreement. It is a network of routing libraries that offers a thin layer of elemental web application features. It has always prioritized a tremendous performance and along with that it also supports robust routing and HTTP helpers. Express.js has inbuilt useful HTTP utility methods, functions, and middleware that can allow developers to quickly write powerful APIs. Meteor.js with its great potential is responsible for rendering robust projects like eCommerce open source projects. This framework supports Windows OS, Linux, and OS X. Having heavy potential, it has reached 40,490 stars in Github and that is massive. Socket.js is a very fast and reliable full-stack framework for building real-time bi-directional applications. It comes with impressive auto-reconnection support, multiplexing and also helps in identifying disconnection. Its key feature includes asynchronous input/output processing, instant messaging options, and binary streaming. Socket.js comes with a convenient API and can be integrated into more or less every browser, device, and platform. It is also focussing on speed factor and enables real-time concurrency for collaboration of documents. It is now said as the next-generation web framework for Node.js. The team of developers that built Express.js also built Koa.js. Its intention was to build a smaller, but robust and suggestive establishment for developing web applications and APIs. It was first introduced to us in 2013 with its futuristic framework. The most solid feature that it packs is allowing you to work without callbacks and on top of that, it gives you an effective method for error handling. Koa.js has a GitHub rating of more than 23,500 currently which makes it one of the most used node.js. It is used ot create custom-enterprise grade Node.js applications based on node.js framework. Sails.js is one of the most popular MVC node.js that extends supports for every modern apps requirement. The Sails.js has gained speed with having developed chat applications, multi-player games, and dashboards. It is well-known for its data-driven application program-interface(API) with support to easy WebSocket integration. It is made compatible with most of the front-end such as Android, Windows, iOS e.t.c. Sails.js does not additional routing interestingly. It has acquired more than 19,800 stars in GitHub. This node.js framework generally helps to serve data by negotiating between both the client and server-side. Many say it can work as a substitute for the express.js with its configuration-driven pattern that is conventionally built to control web server applications. Few brilliant key features : - Intensely controls the request handling - Comes with many useful functions for creating web servers - Decent support for document generation - It offers the availability of caching and Authentication. - Built with plug-in based architecture for better expansion. According to Github, it has a rating of 10.371 which is decent. It is an out of the box application architecture with a lot of rich and crucial features for building highly scalable and easily maintainable applications. Many developers now prefer using Nest.js with having Github star rating of more than 10,000. Another Node.js based framework with a dynamic API explorer. It is an easy-to-use CLI that helps to create models based on dynamic models in the absence of schema. Its highly-scalable framework are used to build end-to-end REST APIs. Most interesting part it you can do it with more or less no coding. The way it is designed will support authentication and authorization setup. It helps in adding components for file management and 3rd party log-in. LoopBack.js. It has earned around 12,000 GitHub stars. It is definitely based on node.js MVC framework which is compatible with the leading and major operating system. Adonis.js is also a popular MVC web framework that continuously works behind making a stable ecosystem. It is a modern device with multiple service provider support. A Persistent API enables building full-stack web applications and has support for an ORM backed by SQL databases in mind. Coming to a conclusion: We have discussed what could be the best node.js frameworks for developers and we here have a list of the top 9 node.js based framework to help you with your job. Choosing the best one totally depends on your programming skills and experiences over the years. I hope you all have liked the way it is being organized and have gone through all the points.

<urn:uuid:33c35e31-9f30-490e-bf04-ec4e119f382b>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://jdocs.com/node-js-web-frameworks/

2024-10-12T15:32:44Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en

Valentine’s Day is one of the best holidays for candy science activities. I typically do the candy hearts in various types of liquids, but a lot of times, by 5th grade, students have done that before, and we do similar science activities for dissolving candy pumpkins and dissolving candy canes in various types of liquid. One of my new go-to Valentine’s Day science activities is determining how the temperature of water affects candy hearts (and using scientific text to back up student predictions). Whenever I do science experiments with my students, I have learned that they get more out of the activity if they have prior knowledge or background information. For this activity, most of my students can predict that the warmer the water, the faster the candy hearts will dissolve. However, I also like to include some scientific reading to require the students to use text evidence to support their predictions and/or to explain their conclusions. We do this by reading a quick reading passage about solutions (available in the free download at the end of this post). After reading the passage and building background, the students answer three quick questions that connect the reading passage with the science activity. The students also make predictions based on their background knowledge and what they read in the text. For me, the aspect of using the text is key in helping students make strong predictions. This helps the students learn to make educated predictions that they can back up with details or evidence. Once we have the text read and our predictions made, we are ready to move into the science experiment. Valentine’s Day Science Dissolving Candy Hearts 4 clear bowls Water of varying temperatures (Examples: boiling – 212 degrees, warm – 100 degrees, room temperature – 65 degrees, just above freezing – 40 degrees) Candy Conversation Hearts Printable table cards - Pour your water of varying temperatures into each of the four bowls. - Label each bowl of water with its printable card. - Make your predictions. What will happen when you add candy hearts into each bowl? Will they dissolve? Will the writing wear off? Will the temperature of the water have any effect? - Add a few candy hearts into each bowl. - Set your timer for 10 minutes and check on the candy. Record your observations. - Set your timer for another 10 minutes and check on the candy. Record your observations. - Write your conclusion. Were your predictions correct? What can you conclude from your observations? Valentine’s Day Science Extension Activities After the students have completed their conclusion on the recording sheet, there are also a few extension activities you can have the students do. - Have the students write cause and effect statements or paragraphs based on the results of the experiment. - Have the students plan another science experiment that could be done in class with candy hearts. - Use more candy hearts to complete a math printable, which you can find for free on this blog post —> Valentine’s Day Activities for Upper Elementary Download the Valentine’s Day Science Printables Want More Valentine’s Day Resources Activities? Valentine’s Day Activities and Ideas for Upper Elementary –> Round-up of my best ideas and resources, including more freebies I hope you and your students enjoy this Valentine’s Day science activity! Make sure you download the printables above to integrate reading to get even more bang for your buck with this activity. Happy teaching! This post was created in collaboration with A Stults.

<urn:uuid:ae4fd285-f04c-4df6-a2fc-f43f1b0ec6a0>

CC-MAIN-2024-42

https://jenniferfindley.com/valentines-day-science-activity-dissolving-candy-hearts/

2024-10-12T16:18:29Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-42/segments/1727944254157.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241012143722-20241012173722-00725.warc.gz

en