Opinion & News Analysis
AIUNT (Latin: What do they say?) listens to popular opinion about everyday topics by scientifically examining online comments from selected news outlets.
It sounds simple, but it can be a powerful tool for understanding: The words that people and publications use reveal larger trends and the formation of public opinion that have profound and far-reaching effects on behavior, politics, and policy.
Aiunt empowers users to analyze public attitudes by harnessing the power of machine learning. It continuously harvests articles and comments from selected online sources, preparing balanced and relevant samples, detecting potential biases, extracting hidden correlations, and displaying immediate results in visual form with the full range of statistical significance.
The users set its search parameters, and Aiunt does the hard work in the background. It provides intuitive interfaces, so users can make rich analytics with no coding required, including sentiment scores, intuitive graphs, and frequency data. In addition to analyzing online news content, Aiunt can aggregate social media discussions on particular issues to establish empirical evidence and enable easy generation of recommendations and predictions.
Jefferson Institute created Aiunt in 2016, with financial support from the Knight Foundation. In its initial case study monitoring election-related content, Aiunt followed and analyzed the online discussions at a wide range of media outlets: Politico, Breitbart, Daily Kos, The Washington Post, Hot Air, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Info Wars, KOLO-TV, New Hampshire Public Radio, Red State, The Blaze, The Huffington Post Blog, and The Iowa Republican. By analyzing one or more sources at the same time, Aiunt was the best address to start research on what people were saying about a hot topic during the election period.


Is anything more dreaded than the essay? It's bad enough having to write one for class, when it's worth 100 points or a percentage of your grade. Now you have to write one that can be the deciding factor on where, or if, you go to college.
Don't panic. First of all, the essay is only one part of the decision process for college admission. Secondly, you're going to do fine – because you know how to write an effective essay. Just follow these steps.
- Generate ideas.
- Research the topic. If you are to write about yourself, think about the decisions and actions that led you to this point.
- Brainstorm around the topic. Spend some time jotting down every thought you have. Don't worry about sounding great right now.
- Remember to think about how the topic applies to you. The point is to stand out with a unique and personal essay.
- Draft an outline.
- Put your thoughts down on paper first.
- Arrange your ideas in a logical order.
- Try out attention-grabbing introductions and logical conclusions.
- Write a rough draft.
- Develop a theme, or major idea, to make your point.
- Share how you overcame obstacles or met challenges, but be positive – no sob stories!
- Show; don't tell. Examples and little stories make an essay come to life and add your individual character to the words.
- Use transitions to make your ideas flow.
- Review and edit your draft.
- Wait a couple of days before this step. You may have new ideas or see ways to freshen your writing.
- Choose the best introduction and conclusion, or revise what you have.
- Have two or three adults review and edit your essay.
- Make corrections suggested by your reviewers.
- Proofread and have someone else proofread your essay.
- Make final changes.


The Scottish Mental Illness Stigma Study
The Scottish Mental Illness Stigma Study explores where and how people with more complex mental illnesses face stigma and discrimination and the impact this has.
The study has highlighted that people are holding back from attending events and doing activities which contribute to basic happiness – withdrawing from friendships, not pursuing employment opportunities and even stopping themselves from getting medical assistance when feeling unwell. Some of the key stats from the study include:
- 92% of participants say that they have experienced stigma in relationships with family and friends in the last year.
- 53% said they respected themselves less because they will not recover or get better.
- Of those who had faced stigma in relationships, 82% expected others would not want to be their friend due to their mental illness.
- 77% said they had been treated unfairly at work.
- Of those who had faced stigma in mental healthcare services, 58% had avoided calling an ambulance or attending A&E in relation for emergency mental healthcare.
Student experiences highlighted
“I am a skills network and open university student. I have struggled to hand in assignments cos I’ve had a bad week or time. Meaning I’ve had to give up the course, then being banned for I think its 6-12 months from applying for another course”
“I have been encouraged by the head of postgraduate student support, in the name of my mental health, to give up my PhD.”
“The course I was on was fairly open about mental health discussion between students and lecturers during the academic section of the degree (it was a PGDE for Secondary Teaching). But as soon as placements began, any talk about mental illness was strongly recommended to stop (both in person and over social media). This was due to the potential impact of employers or parents of pupils finding out about this regarding their prospective teacher and the resulting fallout. This situation and having schizophrenia made me feel extremely anxious as I felt that I was going to be discovered any minute of the day. This was a major factor into why I left the course and why I do not want to go back to university.”


Optical Chemical Sensing
Optical Chemical Sensing is used across a wide range of applications, from testing the safety of drinking water to monitoring blood glucose levels. It can even be used to check the quality of your whisky!
The University uses conjugated polymers; thin, flexible, electrically conductive, plastic like materials, as optical chemical sensors that can be made into thin films. Thin film sensors have advantages over other analytical devices since they can be comparatively inexpensive, easily-processed, fast responding and are highly-sensitive. Data from film sensors can be analysed and monitored with ‘off-the-shelf’ photonic devices like light emitting diodes ‘LEDs’ and photodiodes.
Similar materials are found in some commercial T.V.s and mobile phones. They form a major component of the Group’s work on organic solar cells, LEDs, lasers and studies into the effects and properties of light (photophysical studies).
Optical Chemical Sensing is being studied at the University for it’s potential in detecting explosives. This may allow for increased effectiveness when detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and has humanitarian applications.
Conjugated polymers allow electrons to move freely along their long chains causing them to emit light. If an electron-deficient compound, like the explosive TNT, touches the polymer, the energy is transferred from the polymer to the explosive and the light emission is lost. By monitoring this loss of light, it is possible to assess the presence of explosives across an area like a minefield.
By understanding the characteristics of conjugated polymers, the Group have been active in developing portable devices to detect explosives in the field, new types of coatings for sensor specificity, preconcentration methods for trace explosive sampling, pesticide sensing and even the use of honeybees in landmine detection.
Examples of Current Publications
Preconcentration techniques for trace explosive sensing. R. Gillanders, J. M E. Glackin, JME, J. Filipi, N. Kezic, I. D. W. Samuel and G. A. Turnbull Science of the Total Environment; 658, 650-658 (2019)


Appalachia on Our Mind
The Southern Mountains and Mountaineers in the American Consciousness, 1870-1920
Henry D. Shapiro
Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
Imprint: The University of North Carolina Press
Subject: History | University of North Carolina
Print ISBN: 9.78E+12
eBook ISBN: 9781469617244
Between 1870 and 1900, it became clear that the existence of the "strange land and peculiar people" of the southern mountains challenged dominant notions about the basic homogeneity of the American people and the progress of the United States toward achiving a uniform national civilization. Some people attempted to explain Appalachian otherness as normal and natural -- no exception to the rule of progress. Others attempted the practical integration of Appalachia into America through philanthropic work. In the twentieth century, however, still other people began questioning their assumptions about the characteristics of American civilization itself, ultimately defining Appalachia as a region in a nation of regions and the mountaineers as a people in a nation of peoples.
In his skillful examination of the "invention" of the idea of Appalachia and its impact on American thought and action during the early twentieth century, Mr. Shapiro analyzes the following: the "discovery" of Appalachia as a field for fiction by the local-color writers and as a field for benevolent work by the home missionaries of the northern Protestant churches; the emergence of the "problem" of Appalachia and attempts to solve it through explanation and social action; the articulation of a regionalist definition of Appalachia and the establishment of instituions that reinforced that definition; the impact of that regionalistic definition of Appalachia on the conduct of systematic benevolence, expecially in the context of the debate over child-labor restriction and the transformation of philanthropy into community work; and the attempt to discover the bases for an indigenous mountain culture in handicrafts, folksong, and folkdance.


XIII Olympic Winter Games Held in Lake Placid, New York, United States
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in February 13 through February 24, 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America.
This was the second time the upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932. The only other candidate city to bid for the Games was Vancouver-Garibaldi, British Columbia, Canada; they withdrew before the final vote.
The mascots of the Games were "Roni" and "Ronny", the raccoon. The natural mask on a raccoon recalls the goggles and hats worn by many athletes in winter sports.
Critics decried poorly planned transportation which left spectators waiting for hours in freezing weather, and some athletes complained about lousy accommodations at the Olympic village, where the dorms would later be turned into a prison. The supply and demand for event tickets never merged, as would-be buyers were unable to buy unsold tickets because only those who already had a ticket could enter ticket-sales areas at venues. Unsold tickets are still being sold as souvenirs at several local tourist shops, including the Olympic Regional Development Association's gift shop at the Olympic Arena.
36 NOCs participated. United States President Jimmy Carter had already called for the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, leading to a great deal of tension at the Games. Nevertheless, the USSR and its allies participated.
Three NOCs made their Olympic debut at the 1980 Winter Olympics: the People's Republic of China, Costa Rica, and Cyprus. The Republic of China boycotted the Games over the IOC's recognition of the PRC as "China", and its request for the Republic of China to compete as "Chinese Taipei".
The official theme song for the 1980 Winter Olympics was "Give It All You Got" by the American flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione, who performed the song live at the Closing Ceremonies.


Caching allows workflow developers to reuse the results of previously run tasks to prevent wasted time and computation.
This is helpful when running large batches of workflows with redundant inputs or when debugging errors in the middle of a workflow where upstream state can be reused.
import time from latch import small_task @small_task(cache=True) def do_sleep(foo: str) -> str: time.sleep(60) return foo
You can also pass the optional
cache_version keyword argument to version your
cache giving you greater control. Tasks caches with explicit versions will get
invalidated if and only if the version changes. This is ideal if you wish to
preserve the cache despite the function body changing or to manually invalidate
the cache despite the function body remaining the same.
import time from latch import small_task @small_task(cache=True, cache_version="0.0.0") def do_sleep_with_version(foo: str) -> str: time.sleep(60) return foo
Caching behavior with tasks#
Each task maintains its own cache that is independent from whatever workflow it happens to be associated with. This allows tasks to preserve their cache across workflow re-registers if other tasks are modified.
Examples of when a task’s cache will get invalidated:
code in the task function body (that is not a comment) is changed
the task function signature (name or typing of input or output parameters) is changed
an (optional) cache version is changed
Examples of when a task’s cache will remain unchanged:
the task function body does not change (comments do not count as changes that invalidate the cache).
a new workflow was created with a task of the same name, signature and body (remember that task caches are independent from workflows that contain them)
When does my cache get invalidated?#
A task’s cache will be invalidated and the task will be run from scratch if any of the following change between executions:
the account to which the task is registered, including:
individual user accounts
workspaces owned by the same user
the name of the task (name of the function)
the function signature of the task (name and typing of all input / output parameters)
the (optional) cache version


What Is Gambling?
Generally, gambling involves wagering something of value on a chance event. It can include betting money, playing poker, slot machines, or horse races. However, some forms of gambling require skill or knowledge, such as stock market betting.
Gambling has been around for thousands of years. Early forms of gambling included a game of chance in ancient China. In that game, players had to guess the outcome of a chance event, and tiles were used from around 2,300 B.C. The winner of the game was the one who predicted the outcome correctly.
Gambling is usually highly regulated in places that permit it. The laws that govern gambling are usually based on state and federal legislation. If someone is found to have gambled, they may face fines and/or jail time.
Despite the popularity of gambling, it is a highly addictive activity. It is also a manipulative activity. It can be harmful to a person’s emotional health. It can have a negative impact on a family’s finances and relationships. It is important to know when to quit.
In the United States, gambling has become a huge industry, with US gambling revenues reaching $13.6 billion in the second quarter of 2021. It is estimated that more than 10 percent of the country’s states have legalized some form of gambling. Despite this, the government is not very active in enforcing the laws.
Many arguments against gambling focus on negative consequences and problems associated with gambling. These include increased crime, destruction of families, and pathological gambling. However, arguments against gambling often fail to address the fact that gambling is based on a misconception about odds. Gambling providers can manipulate people’s misunderstandings about gambling and use them to their advantage.


The Healthy and the HolyD. C. Schindler
The contemporary mind has difficulty conceiving the question of “health” as being anything other than a scientific or medical question: an organism, we believe, is made up of smaller parts— “organs”—which function together to produce the various activities we associate with life. This functioning, in turn, is itself the result of the coordination of the even smaller parts that make up the organ, each of which operates in accordance with its mechanical or chemical properties in obedience to the laws of nature. If there is some defect in those properties, or some foreign intrusion into the operation, which causes the functioning to break down or go astray, we say that the organism is unhealthy. We thus call on the doctor as the appropriate one to address the problem precisely because he is a technician of sorts: the doctor has studied in depth the complex composition of the organs and the even more complex cooperation of their functioning in the working of the various living systems, and he has been trained in the methods of chemically or mechanically manipulating the parts to restore them to their proper functions. The doctor, in turn, depends on the research scientist and the specialist, whose work consists not directly in the aim of healing particular organisms, but more proximately in the careful analysis of the elements in order to better figure out “how things work.” The governing assumption, here, is that we come to a more complete understanding of the whole the more precisely we grasp the parts that make it up and their various interactive systems. If we can shed some light in turn on the parts of even those parts, we have gone one step further in our understanding of the organism. And so on.
To read this article in its entirety, please download the free PDF available above or buy this issue.


What is Net Neutrality and How Does it Affect Us?
It's a set of rules that went into effect in 2015 to prevent speed traps on the information super highway
NATIONAL (CNN) — The FCC voted to approve a plan that puts an end to net neutrality rules.
But what exactly does this mean and how does it affect you at home?
What is net neutrality?
It has nothing to do with a volleyball or a tennis court.
The “net” refers to the internet, something that has become necessary as water and power for most of us.
The neutrality part is about keeping the net the way it is today.
It’s a set of rules that went into effect in 2015 to prevent speed traps on the information super highway.
In other words, speeding up access to some sites and slowing down access to others, or blocking some sites entirely.
So, are these rules a “bad” thing?
It depends on who you ask.
The companies that deliver your internet, like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T have spent millions in lobbying money to get rid of net neutrality, arguing that having the government micromanage their business is not good for them, or their consumers.
On the other side, are internet giants like Facebook and Google, streaming services like Netflix, and former President Obama.
They all argue that the internet is a public good and should be regulated like one.
They also say that companies that own the pipelines could play favorites.
For example, a content provider like Netflix is in direct competition with Comcast, which owns NBC Universal and controls access to the internet for more than 20 million customers.
You can imagine a scenario where NBC would want to speed up streams of its shows and slow down streams of its rival, Netflix.
Now, Netflix can afford to pay for the fast lane because it’s worth more than $70 billion, but the next Netflix, some awesome startup, can’t.
Today’s vote is not the last word.
Pro-net neutrality groups say they are going to challenge the FCC’s decision.


An image from the video taken by multiple cameras as NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021.
NASA on Monday released first-of-its-kind video of a spacecraft landing on another planet, as multiple cameras captured its Perseverance rover touching down on the surface of Mars.
The U.S. space agency landed Perseverance on the red planet last week after a more than six-month voyage from Earth.
The Perseverance rover was built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and is the most technologically advanced robot ever sent to Mars. The agency plans to spend nearly two years using the plutonium-powered Perseverance to explore the surface. NASA spent about $2.4 billion to build and launch the Perseverance mission, with another $300 million in costs for landing and operating the rover on the Mars surface.
Perseverance is also carrying a small helicopter named Ingenuity, which NASA plans to use to attempt the first flight on another planet.
Engineers observe the first driving test for NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover in a clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, on Dec. 17, 2019.
The rover, about the size of a small car, weighs about one ton and is 10 feet long by 9 feet wide by 7 feet tall. It has a robotic arm that reaches about seven feet, the end of which has a robotic “hand” that has a camera, a chemical analyzer and a rock drill. Perseverance is nuclear powered, with a plutonium generator provided by the U.S. Department of Energy to generate electricity for its pair of lithium-ion batteries.
Perseverance traveled 293 million miles to reach Mars after it launched from Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on July 30.
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Despite general assumptions that drinking tea from a tea bag would be more prominent in the UK, it was in America, that tea bags were first developed. It was around 1908 when Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea merchant, started to send samples of tea to his customers in small silken bags. Some assumed that these were supposed to be used in the same way as the metal infusers, by putting the entire bag into the pot, rather than emptying out the contents. And lo and behold the tea bag was born.
Soon the silken fabric was adjusted to a more gauzy fabric and people were getting ready made tea gags. During the 1920s these were developed for commercial production, and the bags grew in popularity in the USA. Made first of all from gauze and later from paper, they came in two sizes, a larger bag for the pot, a smaller one for the cup. The features that we still recognize today were already in place – a string that hung over the side so the bag could be removed easily, with a decorated tag on the end. And there you have it, the way tea bags were born.
To think, that a mistake is why tons of people drink tea today. People learned from the ease and were able to branch out in tea drinking. It is just really interesting to know. So whether you use a tea bag every once in a while or just drink your tea loose – we can at least thank Thomas Sullivan, even if his original tea bag design was a little flawed.


UK: new FSA evaluation finds minimal safety risk from edible insects
According to an evaluation conducted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), edible insects sold in the United Kingdom pose low risk to the public.
FSA experts looked at allergens, microbial, and heavy metal contamination in seven edible insects ((i.e. black soldier fly, yellow mealworm, house cricket, banded cricket, migratory locust, desert locust, and smaller mealworm) currently available on the UK market.
Due to a lack of consumption data on edible insects in the UK, a thorough exposure evaluation was not conducted.
Regarding the risk of allergic reactions, the likelyhood of them to occur is estimated to be quite minimal, as far as products are properly labeled. The severity of illness reported by consumers is generally low short durations and low severity. However, for some people with severe allergic reactions to shellfish (especially crustaceans) and mites, the severity of the illness may be significant and cause anaphylactic shock. These consumers are expected to minimize their contact with such food if it is labeled.
According to FSA experts, the frequency of exposure to harmful microorganisms and/or heavy is considered to be very low as well. However, the illnesses from exposure to Salmonella and other pathogens can range in severity from asymptomatic to fatal.
Due to the fact that insect products have just recently been available in the UK, there is no data on their microbial contamination. Evidence from the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) and FSA’s risk profiles revealed that the content of heavy metals in edible insects depends on species accumulation potential, feed used, and breeding substrate. After harvesting, these compounds can alsoform and be picked up during processing.
Physical hazards, such as particularly hard or large parts of the insect’s body, can be managed by removing of these parts.
Moreover, although not covered in the repor, the FSA stated that, it was important into to take into account consumer acceptance, animal welfare, and trade in wider work on regulating edible insects and the impact on food safety.


consumer protection laws
n. almost all states and the federal government have enacted laws and set up agencies to protect the consumer (the retail purchasers of goods and services) from inferior, adulterated, hazardous or deceptively advertised products, and deceptive or fraudulent sales practices. Federal statutes and regulations govern mail fraud, wholesome poultry and meat, misbranding and adulteration of food and cosmetics, truth in lending, false advertising, the soundness of banks, securities sales, standards of housing materials, flammable fabrics, and various business practices. The Magnuson-Moss Act (1973) sets minimum standards for product warranties, makes a company that financed the sale responsible for product defects, and creates liability (financial responsibility) for "implied" warranties (when the circumstances show that a warranty of lack of defects was intended) as well as express (specific) warranties. Mail fraud may include fake contests, "low-ball" price traps (bait and switch), supposed credit for referrals of your friends, phoney home improvement loans with huge final payments, and swamp land sales. Some states' laws regulate and give some protection against high-pressure door-to-door sales, false labeling, unsolicited merchandise, abusive collection practices, misleading advertising and referral and promotional sales. Almost all states have agencies set up to actively protect the consumer.


PhotoCredit:istockPreschoolers who are regularly in bed by 8 p.m., are far less likely to become obese teenagers than young children who go to sleep later in the night, a new research has found.
According to the research published in the Journal of Pediatrics, bedtimes after 9 p.m. appeared to double the likelihood of obesity later in life. "For parents, this reinforces the importance of establishing a bedtime routine," said Sarah Anderson, associate professor at the Ohio State University College of Public Health.
Obesity can set kids up for a lifelong struggle with weight and health complications that can accompany it, including diabetes and heart disease, the study revealed. "It's something concrete that families can do to lower their child's risk and it's also likely to have positive benefits on behavior and on social, emotional and cognitive development," added Anderson.
For the study, the researchers used data from 977 children who were part of the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. The researchers divided preschool bedtimes into three categories -- 8 p.m. or earlier, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. and after 9 p.m. The children were about four and a half years old when their mothers reported their typical weekday bedtime. The researchers found a striking difference. Only one in 10 of the children with the earliest bedtimes were obese teens, compared to 16 per cent of children with mid-range bedtimes and 23 per cent of those who went to bed latest. Half the kids in the study fell into the middle category. A quarter had early bedtimes and another quarter went to bed late. Because the emotional climate at home can influence routines such as bedtime, the researchers also examined interactions between mothers and their children.
Regardless of the quality of the maternal-child relationship, there was a strong link between bedtimes and obesity, the researchers found. But the children who went to bed latest and whose moms had the lowest sensitivity scores faced the highest obesity risk.
The researchers also found that later bedtimes were more common in children who were not white, whose mothers had less education and who lived in lower-income households.(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


Wheeler, Joseph, 1836–1906, Confederate general in the American Civil War, b. Augusta, Ga. He resigned from the U.S. army in Apr., 1861, to fight for the Confederacy. He commanded a regiment at Shiloh (Apr., 1862) and became chief of cavalry in the Army of Tennessee (Oct.). Wheeler took part in Braxton Bragg's Kentucky campaign and in the Chattanooga campaign, in which he destroyed William Rosecrans's supplies in a brilliant raid through middle Tennessee (Oct.). Wheeler operated against William T. Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, the march to the sea, and the advance through the Carolinas. He surrendered with Joseph E. Johnston's army in Apr., 1865. After the war Wheeler, a lawyer and planter in Alabama, served in the House of Representatives (1881–82, 1883, 1885–1900). A major general of volunteers in the Spanish-American War, he commanded cavalry in the invasion of Cuba. He also led a brigade in the Philippine insurrection (1899–1900). He was made a brigadier general in the regular army shortly before he retired in Sept., 1900. Wheeler wrote The Santiago Campaign (1899).
See biography by J. P. Dyer (rev. ed. 1961).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies


For eight centuries, an ominous serpent has stood guard over a vast treasure. to prevent adventurers from trying to approach it This majestic and formidable creature should not be underestimated. Because it succeeds in protecting the treasure from even the bravest souls.
There are many legends about the origins of this mysterious snake and the treasures it protects. Some believe that this treasure was hoarded by a powerful king who wanted the serpent to keep it safe by entrusting it to him. Others claim that snakes are treasures that have magical powers that can grant immortality or wealth beyond imagination.
Despite the variety of beliefs and myths associated with snakes, But one fact remains unchanged. That’s a power to be reckoned with. Its scaly, scaly body could easily crush rocks. And its venomous bite is deadly to all but the strongest of animals. Many people tried to get close to the treasure. But met with fierce resistance of the snake.
Snakes are said to be able to communicate with those brave enough to attempt to approach the treasure, warning them of the dangers that lie ahead. Some people claim that snakes can negotiate prices. by offering protection in exchange for certain treasures or artifacts
Despite the allure of the treasure But few dare to challenge the power of the serpent. Legends of ferocious snakes and the countless riches they guard have become a wake-up call for adventurers and treasure seekers alike.
All in all, the tale of ferocious snakes and guarded treasures is fascinating and full of myth. Although the origin and true nature of the treasure remains shrouded in mystery. But the power and authority of the snake is undeniable. It serves as a powerful reminder that certain treasures should never be discovered. And even the bravest souls must be careful in their pursuit.


Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caught Europe unawares, without an understanding of the full implications of the war and its effect on members of NATO and the European Union. On Day 15 of this unprovoked war of aggression from Russia, the number of migrants fleeing the conflict is in the hundreds of thousands. Europe hasn’t seen a crisis of such magnitude since World War II.
Every day, the number of Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Europe is increasing. The UN refugee agency says more than 2 million citizens have already left Ukraine to escape the ongoing Russian aggression. The main migration flow runs to Poland (more than 1.2 million), Hungary (more than 191,000), Slovakia (over 140,000), also Russia (more than 99,000) and Moldova (over 82,000).
Western countries, and the UN humanitarian organisations involved, presented with problems of such a scale cannot escape from the obligation to condemn and counteract Putin’s criminal regime.
The main fear forcing people to flee from Ukraine to Europe are the air strikes, missile strikes and artillery shelling of residential buildings by the Russian army in large cities across Ukraine. These actions have deliberately caused massive civilian casualties, struck fear into the hearts of ordinary people trying to escape from the military conflict, and provoked a spike in the number of refugees seeking a safe haven.
The events in Ukraine are causing the largest migration crisis in 80 years. To help mitigate the crisis Ukraine needs modern air defence systems, combat aircraft and most importantly, closure of the sky over Ukraine to all flights.
Only these actions will force Putin to sit down at the negotiating table and end the war in Ukraine, thus saving millions of civilian lives in Ukraine and stemming the flood of refugees into Europe.


Two sets of teaching and learning materials have been created, based around the three short films made for the VRP project. These materials make stimulating, thought-provoking contexts that can be used to generate purposeful student discussion from which to explore aspects of difference and ethical issues.
The first of these is titled ‘Empathy’, and is suitable for citizenship and PHSE lessons. It explores interesting questions around personal preferences.
The resources consider how different people who are missing their lower arm feel about their own situation. The activity can go on to form the basis for further exploring how students themselves like to be treated by others and would make the basis for a good start-of-year activity. They have been tested at Key stage 3, 4 and 5.
The three videos, Charlotte’s Story, Liz’s Story and Jon-Allan’s Story are available on the Living with Limb Loss page.
The accompanying activities are available to download below:
Teacher Notes Empathy and Understanding Limb Loss
The materials have been developed with the support of the UTC2 Sheffield with thanks to the principal, Sarah Clarke; her teacher colleagues from across different curriculum areas, and most importantly input from over 100 students at UTC2 who have informed, tested and helped us to hone these activities.
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Prof Elke Zuern
2014 visiting professor in the Department of Political Studies
"Colonial era monuments offer visible reminders of the injustices of the past, carried into the present. For this reason, there are very clear arguments for their removal but also a pressing question as to how the brutal histories of violence, racism and injustice might best be remembered.
"Protests over the Rhodes statue reminded me of a similar debate in Namibia. For almost a century, a colonia–era monument stood overlooking Namibia's capital city. The Reiterdenkmal is a monument to the German colonial troops, the Schutztruppen, who fought indigenous resistance. Its plaque stated that it honoured the brave German warriors who gave their lives to rescue and preserve the land for king and empire.
"At the unveiling of the monument in 1912, the German Governor Theodor Seitz stated:
'The brazen Rider of the Schutztruppe, who from this site overlooks the country, announces to the rest of the world that here we are the masters and will remain so.'
"Only three years later, South African troops occupied Namibia, ending German rule. Still, the monument remained until it was moved in 2009 and then removed in 2013.
"On the grounds where the Reiter stood, a new independence museum and a genocide memorial were erected. While this is a welcome move, unfortunately, there was no public conversation over how best to remember and represent the injustices of the past. The Namibian government employed a North Korean firm to build the new structures, without opportunities for public input. But, creative actors were at work behind the scenes. Last time I was in Windhoek in late May 2014, I found the Reiter had seemingly retreated inside the German colonial fort. He was positioned to gaze at the new Independence Memorial Museum. This seems to be an appropriate final resting place.
"My hope is that local and international visitors are encouraged to step inside the fort to see the Reiter and that the museum provides visitors an overview of its significance in colonial and post–colonial history and debates, including demands for reparations."
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Alexander, L. (1964). The book of three. Henry Hold and Company. New York, NY. pp. 186. (Grade Level: 4th-6th).
Taran dreams of being a hero, but all he knows is helping around the farm and being the Assistant Pig-Keeper, a title given to him half in jest. When the pig, who can foretell the future and is therefore important, runs away, Taran begins a journey to find and rescue the pig. His task soon becomes greater than he had anticipated and the safety of the entire country of Prydain lies with him and some interesting friends.
This novel provides the perfect opportunity to discuss heroism, and what it truly means. It is a great context for discussing responsibility, and for discussing the battle between good and evil. While the book seemed slightly juvenile to me, I was surprised to see it had been published about fifty years ago; while reading the novel I could not tell it was so seperated from me in time.
The Book of Three qualifies as high fantasy by fulfilling five of the fantasy attributes. There are several characters who can perform magic, as well as a prophesying pig. The story is set in another world called Prydain. There is a strong fight of good versus evil, and the line between the two is clearly drawn. Heroism is a central topic, and qualities of a hero are discussed indirectly. And there are fantastic objects, including a harp whose strings break when its owner stretches the truth, a cursed sword, and an enchanted history of the world called The Book of Three.
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An IT audit is the examination and evaluation of an organization’s information technology infrastructure, policies and operations.
Information technology audits determine whether IT controls protect corporate assets, ensure data integrity and are aligned with the business’s overall goals. IT auditors examine not only physical security controls, but also overall business and financial controls that involve information technology systems.
Because operations at modern companies are increasingly computerized, IT audits are used to ensure information-related controls and processes are working properly. The primary objectives of an IT audit include:
- Evaluate the systems and processes in place that secure company data.
- Determine risks to a company’s information assets, and help identify methods to minimize those risks.
- Ensure information management processes are in compliance with IT-specific laws, policies and standards.
- Determine inefficiencies in IT systems and associated management.
Most companies do not conduct IT audit risk assessments, but audits often reveal efficiency improvements that could mean cost savings.
CTI Technology defines an IT audit as the process of collecting and evaluating evidence of the management of controls over an organization’s information systems, practices and operations. The IT audit process determines if the information systems are safeguarding assets, maintaining data integrity and operating effectively to achieve the organization’s goals and objectives. This may include traditional audits of technology processes and components, as well as integrated audits for financial audit activities, technology-dependent regulatory processes or data analytics support.
Please take advantage of our IT Audit Checklist document created by CTI Technology to help prepare your business for a technology evaluation.
If you have any questions, or simply wish to have CTI Technology conduct your audit, please don’t hesitate to contact our subject matter experts.


Improving water use efficiency using sensors and communication system for irrigation of greenhouse Tomato in Tulkarm, Palestine
In Palestine, water is one of the major challenges for farmers as water costs are prohibitive and the availability is limited. Innovative technologies and strategies are required improve crop yields, efficient irrigation to produce more nutritious food with less water. The objective of this study is to apply and test a new innovative approach in irrigation to improve water use efficiency by implementing a low-cost wireless communication system and sensors in Tomato plant drip irrigation in greenhouse. The system uses sensors in the soil measuring the soil matrix potential. When a set threshold is reached, the farmer gets an SMS that it is time to irrigate. Four irrigation treatments were applied, one is farmer custom-based irrigation (control), the other three are sensor-based irrigation depending on a preset threshold (−20 kPa, −40 kPa, and −60 kPa) in four different beds. Water consumption, plant growth parameters, and yield in each treatment were measured weekly. The amount of irrigation water applied according to farmer-based irrigation (custom irrigation) was 3.6 to 9.4 times the amount of water used in irrigation by using sensors and the communication system. Moreover, the yield and water use efficiency increased from about 146 kg/Bed and 13 kg/m3 (custom irrigation), respectively, to 196 kg/Bed and 63 kg/m3 and 250 kg/Bed and 167 kg/m3, respectively (planned irrigation). It is recommended to further asses schedule irrigation frequency using low cost communication system that uses sensors sensitive to soil matrix potential to save water without compromising yield in water scarce regions.
Kanan, A., Allahham, A., Bouleau, C. et al. Improving Water Use Efficiency Using Sensors and Communication System for Irrigation of Greenhouse Tomato in Tulkarm, Palestine. Agric Res 11, 728–736 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-021-00604-5


West Virginia is one of the states of the United States of America. The state is situated in the upland south part of the country and has been an establishment since the 10th of June 1863. The state expands on a total area of 24,230 sq miles or 62,755 km² and ranks on number 41 compared to all the states of the United States of America in terms of occupied land. The total population of the region is approximately 1,808,344 and the ranking within the U.S.A is number 37. The state was formerly included in the state of Virginia and the American Civil War resulted in the separation of the two and formation of a state by the name of West Virginia.
The birth of the state is celebrated each year as the West Virginia Day and along with Nevada this is the only state that resulted post American Civil War. From the moments of its creation the state of West Virginia went down in remarkable words in the history of the United States of America. The state is till date known as the Civil War Border State as the boundaries of the state are a matter of dispute in terms of geography. Major part of the state of West Virginia is said to be incorporated in the south part of the United States of America beyond the Mason-Dixon line, however some part of West Virginia encroaches upon the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The various geographical locations of the state are thus Appalachia, Northwestern, Upland South, Midwestern United States, and Southeastern United States.
The natives of the state are called West Virginians and their loyalty and recognition varies by the location they reside in. The state is solely served the Appalachia Region Commission. The largest as well as capital city of the state of West Virginia is called Charleston and it also includes the biggest metropolitan area of the state.


Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system by making it a potentially disabling disease. Approximately 2.3 million individuals have this condition worldwide.
In Mexico, MS affects around 11-20 out of 100,000 habitants, this means there are approximately 20,000 people whose life’s quality can be affected by this disease. Neurology experts say the most affected population with MS in Mexico is women of around 20-40 years old.
Little is known of the exact mechanism that drives MS; nowadays it is not entirely understood. However, many researchers suggest that the condition is an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheath in the brain and spinal cord. Over time, the disease can deteriorate or permanently damage the nerves. Symptoms tend to vary depending on the affected nerves and the damage caused.
At present, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are the best strategy to slow the course of MS. The number of available DMTs has increased rapidly in recent years, and there are now 15 of them approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for relapsing forms of MS.
As yet, there is no cure for MS. However, we are at a pivotal moment wherein researchers are making significant progress and breakthrough solutions. A recent strategy consists in testing approaches that protect the nervous system from MS-related damage. These strategies include using therapies that are already approved by the FDA for use in other disorders; an example of this is the Ofatumumab, which is a human monoclonal antibody generally indicated to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (LCC), and now it is being tested in clinical trials as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.
At Althian, we are about to start a clinical trial to test if Ofatumumab is safe and beneficial to people with relapsing MS. This will offer patients a new option of treatment and hopefully it will also make a big contribution to science through the discovery of novel drugs for this difficult disease. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information of our recent studies.


The Snares crested penguin has the most restricted breeding distribution of all the crested penguin species, being endemic to the 300 ha Snares Islands group. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the Fiordland crested penguin, however, the two species have never been found interbreeding. On the Snares Islands, penguins land at sites on the east coasts of the two main islands, to access >100 separate colonies up to almost a kilometre inland. Most colonies are under forest or among shrubland, but a few are on exposed rocky sites. The birds on the Western Chain nest at lower density among boulders and mollymawk nests. About 30,000 pairs breed on North East and Broughton Islands, and a few hundred pairs on Toru and Rima Islets in the Western Chain. Colonies on the two main islands range in size from 3-1300 pairs.
For more information on Snares penguin natural history visit the Global Penguin Society at https://www.globalpenguinsociety.org/portfolio-species-11.html
For more information on Snares penguin conservation status visit the IUCN Red List page at https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697782/132602343


Our elementary school welcomes new and potential families on a regular basis. Providing tours to parents and their elementary-aged children is an inspiring part of this process. Despite our best efforts, kids can be understandably anxious, shy, or overwhelmed when visiting a new school. Some kids appear to cope fairly well, while others appear to be dying on the inside. (As the father of an introvert who struggles in social situations my heart goes out to these kids.)
Click HERE to view a PDF that triggers the video above.
It contains the directions for Grizz-e-mon GO.
This week we launched a tour option for new families that is based on Pokemon GO. (This is the same game that has my introverted daughter excited to wake up, go on family walks, and socialize with other Pokemon GO players in our neighborhood!) Our goal at school is to provide new students something safe to focus on that's fun, relevant to them, and a catalyst to deeper conversation with the adults they'll encounter on their tours. We're calling this experience the "Grizz-e-mon GO tour."
Here's how it works:
Kids are encouraged to free "Grizz-e-mon" characters from eggs that are found throughout our school. There are more than 10 eggs that have been conveniently placed at important spots that our tour guides typically stop at. As an example, there is a Grizz-e-mon egg placed in between a couple of our Mobile Makerspace carts in the Media Center.
There are also a few bonus eggs sprinkled in other places that will keep kids excited throughout their tours. The design of each egg provides kids a hint as to what animal will emerge when scanned using an augmented reality app called Aurasma. When a child discovers a Grizz-e-mon egg they can free the animal inside using Aurasma. (See sample photographs below.)
Kids who tour our school can play Grizz-e-mon GO for fun, or a tour guide can assist in posting pictures of Grizz-e-mon animals that have been rescued to our school's hashtag on Twitter (#GWgreats).
By applying a scant amount of innovation to the traditional tour format we're hoping kids are more comfortable. We also hope that families feel that our school is a place that prioritizes relationships and relevance because we’re seeking new solutions to break down barriers. We want all kids to feel a sense of belonging and wonderment in our school.


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Question: Evaluate the extent to which United States participation in the First World War (1917-1918) marked a turning point in the nation’s role in world affairs.
The United States' participation in the First World War marked a significant turning point in the nation's role in world affairs. Prior to the war, the U.S. had pursued a policy of isolationism and avoided involvement in European conflicts. However, the U.S.'s entry into the war in 1917 signaled a shift away from isolationism and towards active engagement in global affairs. The U.S. played a significant role in bringing an end to the war, both through military contributions and diplomatic efforts. The country's military and economic resources helped to tip the balance in favor of the Allies, leading to their ultimate victory in 1918. Additionally, the U.S. played a central role in the postwar negotiations that led to the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended the war. The U.S.'s participation in the war also marked a shift towards a more assertive foreign policy. In the aftermath of the war, the U.S. emerged as a major world power and assumed a leading role in global affairs. The country took an active role in creating and supporting the League of Nations, and President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points set the stage for postwar diplomacy. Overall, the U.S.'s participation in the First World War marked a significant turning point in the nation's role in world affairs. It signaled a shift away from isolationism and towards a more active and assertive foreign policy, setting the stage for the U.S. to emerge as a major global power in the 20th century.
March 24, 2023, 11:53 a.m.
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How has the United States Changed From 1776 to 1870? America changed so much from 1776 to 1870 with key events such as the signing of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Civil War.
These combined events significantly changed the course of the United States and set the foundation for a better America and many more events that would greatly impact our country. After the events of the revolutionary war, America had finally become independent from England. As time went by, the colonies wanted to replace the Articles of Confederation because it gave little power to the federal government. The founding fathers also did not want a tyrannical leadership, so they created a document in America called the Constitution.
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The Constitution is the supreme law in America that created checks and balances and gave the government more power and people basic rights, but eventually it was ratified with the Bill of Rights being added to protect peoples’ rights. The strong federal government formed by the Constitution would eventually cause a struggle between states and the centralized United States’ government some 72 years later. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, he said he would do all things needed to keep the United States joined as one nation. He declined to see southern states as a free country and soon after one of Americas most important events would occur called the Civil War. It was fought by the northern and southern states in a country divided over such issues as slavery. Tensions had already been on the rise because the north wanted slavery gone and the south did not because they relied on it for economic health and continued cotton trade. The war lasted 4 years and ended with the south surrendering to the north.
The war was so devastating that 620,000 people died during it and many towns in the south were left in ruin. The war made the south bankrupt and America had to reconstruct. In the same year the war ended slavery was abolished.
Over 800,000 Africans were enslaved. In conclusion, all of these events changed America for the better. For example, without the constitution being created by the founding fathers, America would not be a democracy.
Additionally, if we never fought the Civil War America would still be split and slavery might still be in practice. America would not be the country it is today.


Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a diagnosis that describes pain in the pelvis lasting at least 3-6 months.
Who has chronic pelvic pain?
- About 1 in 7 women and 1 in 50 men men experience chronic pelvic pain
- People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue, and interstitial cystitis are more likely to experience CPP
- A history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depressive disorder can increase risk of developing CPP
What causes this condition?
- There is no single cause of chronic pelvic pain. Although diagnostic tests can help identify contributors, about half of people will not be able to find one.
- Biological, psychological, and social factors all contribute to a person’s pain experience. No two people are the same, so each person experiences CPP differently.
- When someone has pain for a long period of time, the brain and spinal cord begin to change. This phenomenon is called central sensitization.
- In short, central sensitization lowers the threshold for the person to sense pain in the pelvis. This means that someone can have pain from a stimulus that would not normally be painful.
What can pelvic physical therapy offer to people with chronic pelvic pain?
- Pelvic physical therapists are an important part of a multidisciplinary team. They can assist in diagnosis of CPP, and help rule in or rule out musculoskeletal contributors to pain.
- A pelvic PT visit could include exercise, hands-on therapy, in-depth conversation about coping skills – and everything in between! Someone with chronic pelvic pain might be squatting a barbell or practicing mindfulness techniques. Each person’s needs are unique, and may change between visits!
How is chronic pelvic pain treated?
- Even without finding an exact cause of someone’s pain, we know there are many ways to influence it.
- Prescription medications can be helpful depending on the contributors to pain
- Pain medication, including for nerve-related pain
- Hormonal medications and therapies
- Psychiatric medications like antidepressants can reduce pain as well as be used to address mental health concerns
- Specialists in bowel, bladder, and sexual health can help address specific medical contributions to pain.
- Massage therapists, fitness professionals, mental health counselors/therapists and others are also important parts of the team! They can help you build coping skills, improve function, and manage pain.


“China is the world’s biggest tea producer, selling many varieties of tea leaves such as green tea, black tea, oolong tea, white tea and yellow tea. Different regions are famous for growing different types of tea. Hangzhou is famous for producing a type of green tea called Longjing or the Dragon Well tea. Tea tastes also vary regionally. Drinkers in Beijing tend to prefer jasmine tea while in Shanghai prefer green tea. Processing raw tea leaves for consumption is a time and labor-intensive activity and still done by hand in many areas in China. The Chinese tea industry employs around 80 million people as farmers, pickers and sales people. Tea pickers tend to be seasonal workers who migrate from all parts of the country during harvest time. In 2016, China produced 2.43 million tons of tea.”
Tea, the world’s most popular beverage, doesn’t just magically appear on kitchen tables–it’s production and consumption is shaped by geographic forces, cultural preferences, and regional variations. These 21 images show the cultural, region, and environmental, economic, and agricultural context of tea.
Tags: images, food, China, East Asia, economic, labor, food production, agriculture.
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CHILDREN AND HOME FIRES
Children under the age of five are twice as likely to die in a home fire than the rest of the population, and child-playing fires are the leading cause of fire deaths among preschoolers.***About 300 people per year are killed and $280 million in property is destroyed in fires attributed to children playing with fire.***Just over half of child-playing fires in the home start in a bedroom and bedding material is most often the first item ignited.**About two out of every three child-playing fires – and three out of every four associated deaths and injuries – involve matches or lighters.**Children also start fires by playing with candles, fireworks, stoves, and cigarettes.**Only twenty-six percent of families have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.*
Keep matches, lighters and other ignitable substances in a secured location out of the reach of children, and only use lighters with child-resistant features.Practice your home fire escape plan with your children several times a year. Also practice stop, drop and roll and low crawling.Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm and what to do when they hear it.Teach your children not to be scared of firefighters. Take them to your local fire department to meet them and learn about fire safety.Teach your children to tell you or a responsible adult when they find matches or lighters at home or school.Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.
Having a working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly half.
Visit www.redcross.org/homefires for more information on children and fire safety.
Sources: American Red Cross,* U.S. Fire Administration,*** and the National Fire Protection Association.*


2023 Author: Charles Youmans | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-20 18:41
The Michelin tire company and the largest concern General Motors have officially demonstrated their joint project, in which the first prototype of airless tires was created. The prototype was made using a unique technology. According to the creators, the first production samples will be installed in the wheel arches of cars by 2024. At the moment, the exact list of vehicles on which it is planned to install airless tires has not been announced, but it is expected that it will definitely include the American electric car Chevrolet Bolt.
The production of this unique product will be carried out by specialists from the site in Michigan (USA). The most interesting thing is that during the presentation, representatives of Michelin and GM focused not on their technical characteristics, but on how safe these tires are for the environment. In total, there are 4 main advantages:
- airless tires cannot be punctured. They will not deteriorate from the curvature of the cord. This means that they will last several times longer than standard tires. The owner will be able to use them until the tread is completely worn out;
- this type of tire requires less energy and less raw materials. Thus, during production, the amount of harmful emissions is significantly reduced;
- "Open" tires are not sensitive to excessive and insufficient pressure, which also has a positive effect on their service life;
- the risk of getting into an accident due to a rupture or puncture of the rubber is reduced to zero.
At first it may seem that this invention is completely perfect and in the future it will become a real breakthrough. However, experts admitted that such tires have a number of disadvantages:
- this type of rubber cannot be adapted to certain operating conditions. They cannot adapt to the weight of a certain vehicle, the temperature of the environment and the roadway, or simply to the preferences of the car owner;
- the presented product has a very large mass. Airless tires weigh much more than standard ones, which negatively affects the technical condition of the vehicle's undercarriage;
- in addition, the tires keep their shape due to the special transverse elements installed in the center, which, with constant use, quickly become unusable. However, the manufacturer promised to eliminate this shortcoming.
In conclusion, it should be noted that such tires were previously presented by other companies, however, for various reasons, they could not take root on the market.


The device of the samovar
Water heating: the distribution of temperatures along the height of the fire tube during the operation of the samovar on a charcoal is as follows: the highest temperature in the region of the burning center, that is, below; The upper part of the flame tube is heated less.
For heating and boiling water, this temperature distribution is optimal in height. The hotter and therefore lighter water rises, in full accordance with Archimedes' law, and its place is taken by the cold and heavier, from the upper layers of the reservoir.
Thus, due to natural convection, the liquid circulates intensively, mixes and evenly heats up throughout the volume. The efficiency of the St. Petersburg samovar on coal is not less than 70%.
When the samovar is fired with wood, the distribution of temperatures along the height of the flame tube is obtained by another. The most strongly the flame tube heats up in the zone of narrowing, that is, in the upper part of the heat exchanger; In the lower part of the furnace it is not hot at all, so that the heating of the water takes place mainly at the lid of the samovar. Heated and lighter water is so above and remains, and convection does not arise.
E.E. Greylich. By its means
When the St. Petersburg samovar, translated into firewood, begins to hiss and splatter from under the lid with hot drops, this does not mean that the water boiled. The liquid in the bottom area and filling the cup through the tap can be a little warm. The thermal conductivity of the water is low, and without convection it heats up slightly.
Low temperatures in the flame tube lead to the fact that tar and condensate actively pollute the furnace of the samovar are actively extracted from the wood. The efficiency of the samovar on wood is close to 15%.
Technique of safe operation of samovar
The samovar tank is always filled with water in full, otherwise with local overheating, thin-walled joints made with tin-lead solder can disintegrate.
Before the kindling of the samovar, the grid is closed with several large pieces of coal. Unlike coal, the need for temperature is relatively low for ignition of wood. Prepare a beam of ray, better birch, light and lower the flared torch into the flame tube.


Flipped Classroom Methodology (DS12019)
“Engage your students with lectures or other materials outside of class to prepare for an active learning experience in the classroom”
Objective of the course: The general objective of the course is to equip teachers and students with the basic tools necessary for implementing investment learning in their classroom. The course also seeks to underline the importance of creating a student-centred classroom by moving instruction home. Therefore, the course will focus on training personnel and teachers from educational centres in the use of digital tools to create engaging instructional videos and develop interactive, collaborative, hands-on classroom activities that foster self-directed learning skills.
35 hours (5 days).
- To understand the components of a Flipped Classroom and how to successfully implement it in class.
- To create ‘lectures’ via various media methods.
- To use the methodology of Flipped Classroom and digital recourse to improve the classes.
- To learn how to guide students on an individual and group basis in class.
- To create a Flipped Classroom lesson plan.
- To understand how to assess a flipped classroom project.
- To promote ICT teaching to boost the learning in the educational system.
- Participants will be enabled for the implementation of innovative teaching methods.
- Participants will know the different tools for flipping sections for additional ideas for in-class and out-of-class activities.
- Participants will encourage the use of information technologies.
- Participants will create a Flipped Classroom lesson plan.
- Participants will use different tools to assess the teaching-learning process.
- Participants will determine what type of out-of-class content to develop that would best support student learning.
- Participants will be able to integrate digital tools into daily work.


Zoe Weil is a blogger for Psychology Today, and we share her blog posts here.
Most people in industrialized countries have experienced thirteen years of formal schooling, so it is not surprising that many consider themselves to be legitimate critics of education. Our feelings about schooling run the gamut.
Some believe that if the curriculum and pedagogy were good enough for them, they should be good enough for children today. Others remember school as primarily anxiety-provoking and often boring. They know that the opportunities to learn today are abundant and exciting, making traditional approaches to education outdated.
While our perspectives are shaped in part by our memories of school, as well as our children’s experiences, they are also shaped by our zip codes. Because public schools in the U.S. are funded in large part through property tax revenues, people in higher-income areas have better-funded schools than people in lower-income areas. Therefore, ideas about school reform may differ substantially depending upon where one lives.
In communities across the U.S., schools have become more rather than less segregated over the past half-century. The promise of equal educational opportunities for all has shown itself to be illusory.
Racist practices and attitudes that have led to segregated neighborhoods, as well as income disparities, perpetuate educational inequities. Moreover, while the majority of students in public schools are non-white, according to a 2016 government report only 18 percent of teachers are people of color. There are several reasons for this and many efforts to change it because studies reveal that having teachers who represent a similar background, race, and ethnicity to the majority of their students makes a positive difference for both children and their communities.
To be clear, fully representative schools aren’t just good for children of color; they are good for society as a whole.


In 2001, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in its resolution, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
The day provides an opportunity to deepen the understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to advance the four goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted on 20 October 2005.
Diversity Day, officially known as "The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development", is an opportunity to help communities understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony.
This day was created as a result of the destruction of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001.
According to the UN, bridging this gap is essential for peace, development, and stability. When we deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity we can achieve these four goals:
Support sustainable systems for the governance of culture.
Achieve a balanced flow of cultural goods and services.
Integrate culture into the frameworks of sustainable development.
Promote human rights and fundamental freedoms.
(with sources inputs)
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Secondary Exposure to Asbestos
What is secondary exposure? Examples include the “deadly hug” and washing clothes:
Asbestos and the “Deadly Hug”
A husband comes home from work after working around asbestos. He is wearing his work clothes that have thousands or millions of invisible asbestos fibers on them. His children greet him at the door. They hug their dad. Some of the fibers are now transferred to the children’s clothes and skin. They may inhale or ingest some of these fibers. Now the kids have secondary exposure to asbestos through the “deadly hug.” There have been many cases of children like these who are diagnosed with mesothelioma years later because of their parent’s work.
Washing Clothes and Asbestos Fibers
This same husband now changes out of his dirty work clothes and throws them into the hamper. The next day these clothes are washed by his wife. She shakes the clothes before putting them in the washing machine. Countless asbestos fibers are released in the air. The wife, unknowingly, breathes in these fibers. Now she has secondary exposure. There have been many cases of women who were diagnosed with mesothelioma simply because they washed the clothes in their family.
Loved Ones Not to Blame
In cases of secondary exposure like these, the person who brought home the asbestos fibers (the husband and father in our example) feels very much to blame. But, it is important to remember that they are not to blame. During the period of time when asbestos fibers were being brought home, workers were not warned about asbestos. No father or mother would risk their family’s health if they knew there was a danger. The simple fact was that the asbestos industry did not take the steps and the precautions needed to protect the loved ones of the people who worked directly with asbestos containing products. If there is any blame, it rests squarely with the asbestos industry who kept this vital importation under wraps.


This technique works much better than the previous one. We know that sunlight can destroy different types of bacteria found in water. The exposure to the UV light kills the DNA structure of the harmful organisms. The types of organisms this method kills include giardia, cryptosporidium, yeast, algae, mold, viruses and bacteria.
Generally, UV light doesn’t affect heavy metals, chlorine and other chemical-based contaminants. Therefore, the UV light can be applied along with other types of filtration. For proper disinfection, make sure that the water is free of color and turbidity or some bacteria may be left untouched.
Chlorine can also help disinfect water. Although chlorine is dangerous, it can work like a powerful oxidant, which is what makes it quite effective. hepa 空氣淨化機 Typically, the use of chlorine as a powerful disinfectant is quite common these days. This chemical is commonly used in many water disinfection methods.
Although chlorine kills harmful bacteria, it doesn’t kill some types of cysts and chemicals. Therefore, you can use multiple methods to achieve the desired results. For instance, you can try chlorine dioxide.
Another common water disinfection method is the application of ozone. O3 is an unstable molecule, which is what makes it toxic for water organisms. Actually, ozone has a great ability to disinfect water. You can product ozone using the UV light and oxygen. The good thing about ozone is that it is a lot safer than chlorine. The use of O3 is quite common as an effective water treatment method.


Do you ever wonder why your immigrant ancestors to the U.S. settled in a particular location, especially if it wasn’t the port city they landed in? The New York Times website has a tool that may shed light on your question.
This very cool interactive map displays the settlement patterns of U.S immigrants by nationality since 1880. As you can see from the screen shot below, you can click on ten-year increments to see how things stood at one point in time, or click across several to see how settlement patterns changed.
You can also click on several individual countries for more specific data, as you see here:
Of course, you may still be scratching your head about WHY your folks went a particular place. But if you see they were part of a larger settlement of Poles in the Pittsburgh region in the early 1900s, for example, you’ll know to look for regional and ethnic histories that can give you more “backstory.” You may also discover that they were a definite minority in their new hometown, which hints at a different kind of immigrant experience. In the quest to understanding our immigrant ancestors’ experiences, every clue helps!
You can learn more about another terrific immigration resource by listening to the free Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 120. Noted author Steve Luxenberg (Annie’s Ghosts) shares a free online tool that he used to help solve his own family history mystery!


According to a report from Survival International, the Northern Kenya Grassland Carbon Project, a prominent carbon credits initiative in Kenya, faces significant problems. The report, titled “Blood Carbon: how a carbon offset scheme makes millions from Indigenous land in Northern Kenya,” suggests that the project could put indigenous communities in danger.
Despite potential risks to local communities, the Northern Kenya Grassland Carbon Project is anticipated to generate substantial profits, with estimates ranging from $300 to $500 million, and even more. The initiative has already secured the support of major corporate clients like Netflix and Meta.
It is run on land that is inhabited by over 100,000 indigenous people and is run by the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT).
According to the new Survival International report, the Northern Kenya Grassland Carbon Project will see a sudden shift from local traditional grazing systems to a centrally controlled system that is similar to commercial farming.
This switch alone will mean putting a stop to the traditional migration during droughts, which has the potential of jeopardizing people’s food security.
Relevant: Aspiration Partners With TREES For Reforestation Projects In Kenya
Other findings of the report include the NRT’s very likely failure to provide local communities with the correct information regarding the project and has certainly therefore completely bypassed receiving their free, informed consent.
Thus, most local residents have very little understanding of the carbon credits project and there is strong doubt of whether or not the project can even be considered legal.
Another major flaw that was unveiled by the report has to do with the quality of the carbon credits generated by the Northern Kenya Grassland Carbon Project, as it appears to not have a credible case for carbon additionality.
With this report, Survival International launches its campaign also titled ‘Blood Carbon’, which draws attention to the potential for human rights abuse resulting from carbon credits projects that not only take advantage of Indigenous peoples but are also entirely ineffective in the fight against climate change.


The Åstdalen catchment (373 km2) represents largely a natural ecosystem, typical for the higher central and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is underlain by fractured sedimentary rocks with a thin cover of unconsolidated Quaternary deposits.
The runoff process in Åstdalen is mainly determined by: Large accumulation of precipitation as snow, large areas covered by peatlands, and a high waterstorage capacity in the bedrocks. Groundwater discharge occurs in river beds, in springs and as flow towards the soil surface, especially toward peatland areas.
The discharges of the main river Åsta and of investigated springs rise rapidly following snowmelt and rainstorms during the two water-years of study, 1 October 1980 to 30 September 1982. This shows that the catchment has a high infiltration capacity, and that water moves rapidly downslope in the saturated zone, following macropores in soils, peatlands and bedrock fractures. Groundwater, especially shallow groundwater, plays an important role of streamflow peak generation, even during snowmelt. About 60-70 % of the river discharges during the melting periods in 1981 and 1982 were baseflow.
There is a net gain of protons, ammonium, potassium, nitrate and chloride to the catchment from the atmosphere during the year, and a net loss of calcium, magnesium sodium and sulfate. Constituents showing a net loss have an internal geologic and/or organic source in addition to the atmosphere.
The concentration of most substances in river Åsta and in the investigated springs are lowered during peak flows. The concentration of protons is on the other hand typically increased during snowmelt. This indicates that fresh rain and/or snowmelt water dominates such flow periods and not older prestorm water.
About 56 % of the protons needed to supply the weathering-derived ions to river Åsta come from precipitation.


Air pollution is a well-known environmental health hazard that can have serious consequences for people of all ages. However, children are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of air pollution, including increased asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. In this article, we will explore the link between air pollution and asthma in children and discuss what parents can do to protect their kids from these harmful effects.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is one of the leading causes of death and disability globally, with children being disproportionately affected. When kids are exposed to polluted air, it can lead to a range of health problems, including asthma, which is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
Asthma is a common condition among children, with around 300 million kids worldwide suffering from the disease. In the United States alone, around 7 million children have asthma, making it the most common chronic condition in kids. Asthma is often triggered by environmental factors, such as exposure to pollutants in the air.
Air pollution is made up of a mixture of particles and gases, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ground-level ozone. These substances can irritate the respiratory system and cause inflammation, leading to asthma attacks and other respiratory problems in children.
Children are particularly susceptible to the negative impacts of air pollution due to their developing bodies and immune systems. They also tend to spend more time outdoors and have higher breathing rates, which means they inhale more air and are exposed to pollutants for longer periods of time.
There are several ways that parents can help protect their children from the harmful effects of air pollution and reduce their risk of asthma attacks. Here are some tips:
Keep an eye on air quality forecasts and avoid outdoor activities on days when pollution levels are high.
Encourage your child to play indoors on days when the air quality is poor.
Keep windows and doors closed on days when pollution levels are high to reduce the amount of outdoor air coming into the home.
Make sure your child’s asthma action plan is up to date and follow it closely.
Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.
Air pollution is a significant health hazard that can have serious consequences for children, particularly those with asthma. By understanding the link between air pollution and asthma in kids and taking steps to reduce their exposure to pollutants, parents can help protect their children from the harmful effects of air pollution and reduce the risk of asthma attacks.


It isn't what your characters say; it's what they really mean. "Subtext"--what characters are saying between the lines. The subtext is all the underlying drives and meanings that are not apparent to the character, but that are apparent to the audience or reader.
Paraphrased from Subtext: The Delicate Art of Doublespeak
Subtext is a fascinating and intellectually stimulating tool in the prose arsenal. This raises the narrative from mere telling what happened, to asking the reader to think about what is being presented and look deeper into the meaning of the words and actions.
Here is a scene with subtext.
Man puts a log on the fire. His wife says that she wasn't cold, that there is no need to stoke the fire further. He responds that he puts a log on the fire every night, that the house will grow cold otherwise.The focus of the argument is about handling the fire in the fireplace, but the subtext is a deeper tension between the wife and her husband.
"Then put on a blanket," she shoots back, "or a sweater. Why do you need to fiddle with the fireplace."
"It's just a moment, the fire is already burning. Another log doesn't take any preparation."
"You've got to clean the fireplace. Don't you even think before you put on the log!"
"It's just a damn log. Fine I'll take it off, if that will make you happy."
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Students learn far more effectively when they are safe, healthy and happy.
At Fitzroy Primary School we take our responsibility to support and encourage students so they can develop physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually very seriously. Our goal is for the students at Fitzroy Primary School to be happy, healthy, secure, resilient and enthusiastic learners. Developing the wellbeing of our students is central to our role and is reflected in our whole school Vision Statement.
A focus on the three Rights of all within our school supports Fitzroy Primary School creating the optimum learning environment. The Rights of all within our school are;
- Students and the teacher have the right to do as much work as possible
- Students and the teacher have the right to feel safe and comfortable in our school
- In the Fitzroy Primary School Community we help each other and we look after each other
At Fitzroy Primary School we have implemented the following student management and behaviour practices and protocols across the school to support the implementation of our rights:
Behaviour Consequence Chart
step by step process to managing student behaviour including reflective practices.
Behaviour management plans
a positive approach used for students who present with challenging behaviour.
School attendance strategies
monitoring and addressing truancy and punctuality to maximise student attendance and engagement.


Be Kind to Humankind: The Benefits of Kindness
By Katelyn Millinor, LPC
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”Mark Twain
Have you ever had a stranger pay for your coffee or hold the door for you? Experiencing an act of kindness can bring a smile to your face and improve your mood. Being kind can be shown as a supportive smile, a helpful hand, or heartfelt words. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle these gestures can be increasingly meaningful. It benefits both the giver and the receiver.
Being kind to others is known to have lasting effects on our mental and physical health. Kindness lights up the pleasure center of the brain and releases serotonin and oxytocin. The release of the hormone oxytocin is associated with decreasing blood pressure and reducing inflammation. This is why kindness feels good. Further, it is valued across cultures and religions, and is an innate part of our being.
Benefits of kindness include:
- Improve relationships with others.
- Increase overall happiness.
- Improve feelings of self-worth or self-esteem.
- Decrease anxiety and depression.
- Reduce stress.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of kindness is developing connections. The more we connect with others the greater empathy and understanding we display. Go ahead—do that volunteer activity or smile at a stranger. If you are looking for ideas of ways to share random acts of kindness with others, check out these 50 fun ideas.
Some you can try today include:
- Smile at 5 strangers
- Send a gratitude email to a deserving coworker
- Tell a manager how wonderful their employee was at helping you
- Compliment 3 people you meet today
- Send a positive text message to people in your life
Be kind to Humankind.
Talk with someone on NOAH’s behavioral health team to discuss any questions or challenges you or a loved one has with moods, emotions, and so much more.


CHICAGO - Gentle sound stimulation, such as the sound of a waterfall synchronized with the rhythm of brain waves, significantly improved deep sleep in older adults and improved their ability to remember words, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. Caffeine is a stimulant that can make it harder for you to fall asleep and stay asleep. It can also reduce the amount of deep sleep you get. One study found that consuming caffeine seven hours before bedtime reduced the amount of sleep received in one hour.
Instead, consume water, tea, and other decaf beverages. Certain beverages, such as warm milk and chamomile, can help induce sleep. Researchers have developed a portable device that reproduces specific sounds to improve deep sleep. The first clinical study has shown that the device is effective, but it does not have the same level of effectiveness for everyone.
Slow-wave sleep, also called deep sleep, is an important stage in the sleep cycle that allows the brain and memory to function properly. While most adults know that they should aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, the science of sleep is quite complex. The recommendation for most adults is to sleep 7 or more hours, which will usually give the body enough time in the deepest states of sleep. Although all stages of sleep are necessary, deep sleep is especially important for brain health and function.
Deep sleep is important for brain regeneration and memory, and it also has a positive influence on the cardiovascular system. When auditory stimulation began during wakefulness, before sleep, and continued for the first 90 minutes of sleep, it significantly delayed the onset of sleep. They used the device every night for a total of four weeks, with the auditory stimulation administered every night for two weeks and without stimulation for the next two weeks. What makes the solution unique is that the person sleeping is not aware of this sound during deep sleep.


Some organisms can capture the energy of sunlight and use it to produce organic compounds. This process is essential for life because it provides energy to producers and consumers. Photosynthetic organisms, also known as photoautotrophs, are capable of photosynthesis. These organisms include higher plants, some protozoa such as algae and euglena, and bacteria.
Photosynthetic organisms – photoautotrophs capture the energy of sunlight and use it to produce organic compounds in the process of photosynthesis. The organisms known as phytoplankton play an essential role in Earth’s environment.
Like common plants, this broad category includes single-celled plants, bacteria, and algae – which use chlorophyll to convert carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water-based nutrients into oxygen. Found in freshwater and saltwater, these microscopic organisms form the basis of life in the ocean, providing everything from larger plankton species to enormous whales with sustenance.
Like forests, phytoplankton absorbs tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide, and scientists estimate that these tiny organisms collectively create the lion’s share of oxygen on Earth. Phytoplankton span different, larger categories of photosynthesizing creatures, but their environmental contribution is perhaps the largest.


What is IASTM? How is it Utilized in Physical Therapy?
There are quite a few ways to rehab after an injury, some may be more effective than others. One great option is IASTM. What exactly is IASTM and how do I know if it's right for me?
IASTM stands for Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. It is a manual therapy technique performed by a physical therapist designed to reduce tissue tension for quicker recovery. Our bodies are made up of a intertwining matrix of connective tissue called fascia. It is a very thin connective tissue that lines the outside of muscle and other body structures. Fascia provides mechanical support, aides in movement, and creates connections to body structures. After an injury this fascia can become inflamed and if left untreated can lead to a tethering/tightening of the tissue causing pain. The goal of IASTM is to release this tension in the fascia and help the body to relax and reduce pain.
A carefully crafted steel or plastic tool with rounded edges is used to brush along the surface of the skin that reduces the tension in the fascia underneath. These tools can come in many different shapes and sizes but the end result is similar.
There are many benefits of IASTM, including:
Increased blood flow to the tissues
Improved muscle activity
Helps to breaks up muscle adhesion's
Increases recovery from muscle soreness
Decreases chronic musculoskeletal pain
So how do I know if IASTM is right for me?
IASTM can be used for a variety of different injuries. Some of the more common injuries are ankle and knee sprains, IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff strains, low back pain and other sports/overuse injuries.
Muscular trigger points
Inflammatory or infectious skin conditions
Over surgical incisions
On blood thinning medications
Directly over bone fractures
Each of our therapists at Wasatch Physical Therapy has been trained to use these unique tools.


global issues in health promotion 1
This Unit addresses global issues in health promotion. Read the required reading for Unit 10 including the articles and required websites. Because of the diversity of cultures, and an expanding migratory global population, you as a Masters prepared Registered Nurse may be challenged with patients who are at risk or suffering from various conditions, such as tuberculosis or malnutrition. You may also be involved in natural disaster preparation or response, communicable disease outbreak care or bioterrorism management.
For this discussion, you will address a global health issue of your choice and identify related health risks for a particular group or patient. Include statistics for your choice/s. Include strategies you could utilize to help you incorporate the client’s cultural preferences within the education, prevention, or treatment plan. Consider the roles of interprofessional resources in your post. Avoid other topics present in the discussion as you make your choice so that the discussion is varied and robust. Include 3 references and citations. APA format, at least 350 words.
Articles For Reading
Bryant, R.A., Ekasawin, S., Chakrabhand,S., Suwanmitri,S., Duangchun, O., & Chantaluckwong T. (2011). A randomized controlled effectiveness trial of cognitive behavior therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in terrorist-affected people in Thailand. World Psychiatry. 10(3), 205–209.
Fekete, T. (2007). Emerging infections: What you need to know, Part 1. Consultant. 47(12), 1013–1016. (Note: This article is not available through the Kaplan Library. It can be found using Google Scholar.)
Amirkhanian, Y.A. (2010) et al.: Male labor migrants in Russia: HIV risk behavior levels, contextual factors, and prevention needs. Journal of Immigrant Minority Health. 13, 918–928.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Protect yourself from MRSA https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0212.pdf.
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CH 408 : Molecular Energetics and Dynamics
Statistical view of entropy. Laws of thermodynamics from statistical considerations Molecular view of temperature and heat capacity. Boltzmann distribution. Thermodynamic quantities in terms of partition functions. Statistical mechanics of simple gases and solids. Equilibrium constant in terms of partition functions. Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. Overview of rate laws and determining rates and orders of reactions. Complex Reactions. Catalysis. Temperature dependence and Arrhenius law. Potential energy surfaces. Kinetic theory of collisions. Transition state theory. RRK and RRKM theories. Reaction cross-sections, rate coefficients, reaction probabilities. Photochemical reactions. Ultrafast reactions. Diffusion in solids, liquids and solutions. Chemical oscillations and nonlinear dynamics.
- Molecular Driving Forces: Statistical Thermodynamics in Chemistry and Biology/ by K. A. Dill and S. Bromberg, Garland Science, 2003.
- Molecular Thermodynamics by D. A. McQuarrie, and J. D. Simon, Viva Books, 2004.
- Atkins' Physical Chemistry by P. Atkins and J. De Paula, 8th edition, Oxford University Press, 2006.
- Chemical Kinetics by K. J. Laidler, 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, 1987.
- Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics by J. I. Steinfeld, J. S. Francisco and W.L. Hase, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 1999.
- Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Dynamics by P. L. Houston McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2001.


A plague of mice in the Australian state of New South Wales has forced a prison to evacuate at least 420 inmates and 200 staff, according to local authorities.
The mouse infestation at the Wellington Correctional Centre broke down parts of the prison building’s infrastructure, damaging internal wiring and ceiling panels.
Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin said Tuesday inmates would be transferred to other prisons, and staff would be relocated while authorities battle the infestation.
“The health, safety and well-being of staff and inmates is our number one priority so it’s important for us to act now to carry out the vital remediation work,” Severin said.
The remediation process would also investigate how the prison can be protected from future mouse plagues.
Steve Henry, a researcher with CSIRO, the national scientific body, said the mice broke into the prison as a result of its location in a rural area.
“There are lots of fields with crops around the jail,” he said. “The mice invaded the jail looking for food and shelter as the weather gets colder outside.”
Parts of Australia have been plagued by mice since last August. Since then, rodents have ravaged fields and infested homes, causing millions of dollars of damage to crops and machinery.
But this is not a new phenomenon – the country has been seeing these outbreaks for the past decade. Farmland conditions have become more favorable for a mice invasion, and as a result, farmers have been dealing with significant losses, Henry said.
“One of the things that happens is that the numbers of mice usually drop dramatically in the winter,” Henry said. But this year, farmers are concerned the plague may continue into summer because of the unusually high number of mice compared to past years.
Mice are “carpeting the roads” in rural towns like Wellington this year, said Henry, adding he’s never seen anything like it.
New South Wales saw almost as much rain in 2020 as in the previous two years combined, creating fertile ground for a bumper harvest and ideal conditions for mice.
The state’s government has looked into tools to help farmers in ending the mice plague, including free rodenticide poison and mice-killing chemicals.