Despite its prevalence, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is not well understood. We know that a man’s prostate increases in size as he ages, but we are still learning about other risks factors in developing or worsening BPH. Dozens of studies have been performed to examine risk factors, but a complete list has yet to be realized. The list below represents general risk factors and protective factors that may play a role in BPH. This list is not comprehensive, nor does it guarantee a patient will or will not have BPH. Patients should be evaluated by a qualified physician or urologist to learn more.
Age. By far the greatest risk factor of developing BPH is age. Beginning when a man turns 25 to the end of his life, his prostate will grow. Prostate growth can play a large role in the severity of BPH.
Diabetes: Men with diabetes are significantly more likely to develop BPH or experience worsening symptoms.
Obesity and Excess Weight. The higher a man’s BMI (body mass index) the greater the circumference of his waistline, the greater the risk for him developing BPH. This may occur because obesity is a leading cause of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Diet. A diet high in saturated fats, red meat and refined sugars can worsen the symptoms of BPH.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle may be one way to help reduce the risk of developing or worsening BPH. Increased physical activity and eating a healthy diet by avoiding highly processed foods and turning to lean proteins, vegetables, fruits and whole grains may help mitigate BPH symptoms.
1https://www.clinicalkey.com/topics/urology/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia.html Website accessed July 2014


The library of John Dalton
Ronald Oliver and Michael Carrier
Salford, UK: University of Salford | 2006 | 36 pp | ?10 (SB) | ISBN 1905732104
Reviewed by Bill Griffith
John Dalton (1766-1844) was born in Eaglesfield, Cumbria, and a Royal Society of Chemistry National Chemical Landmark Plaque was unveiled on his house there on 8 June. His greatest achievement was his atomic theory of 1803. He was also the first person to do research on colour-blindness (’Daltonism’) from which he suffered. He made daily weather observations - when meteorologists say ’since records began’ they refer to Dalton’s 57-year practice of taking these.
This booklet is a partial catalogue of Dalton’s library. Although a friend of his said that ’he was not a great reader; indeed, I have heard him declare.....that he could carry his library on his back and yet not read half of the books which constituted it’ this is clearly untrue. During the preparation in 2003 of an exhibition marking the presentation of his first table of atomic weights in 1803 to the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, an 1844 auctioneer’s catalogue of ’The late Dr Dalton’s effects’ was found in the archives of the Manchester Central Reference Library. It listed some 700 items from his library; many of them are now dispersed, though his first edition of a volume of Newton’s Principia Mathematica survives in Durham.
This booklet gives fuller details of 89 of the volumes, tracts and pamphlets on an eclectic range of subjects, and has a number of illustrations of the catalogue and of Dalton’s papers and notebooks. It will undoubtedly be of interest to Dalton scholars.
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“We are returning to a time when anyone can be an inventor and innovator.”
On the edges of all of this forward moving innovation there is more than a scent of backwards leaning learning and doing in the world.
The Maker Movement has regenerated a sense of invention and tinkering that has roots in the long ago past.
With connected technologies we can learn as apprentices at the feet of the most knowledgeable and experienced masters in the world (provided they’re playing online.)
We can now build off each other’s ideas, “stand on the shoulders of giants” in ways that reach far beyond what was even possible even a decade a go. What will it be a decade from now?
Are our students inventors? Are they innovators? Importantly, do they see us as such?
This isn’t about getting funded on Shark Tank as much as it’s about changing the world for the better. In classrooms. With kids. Today.
Just to be clear…”anyone” means anyone.
David Marcovitz says
This reminds me of Tony Wagner’s book, Creating Innovators. If you haven’t read it, I think it will resonate with you.


The climate of Khutse Game Reserve (Botswana)
Khutse Game Reserve is located in central Botswana and is one of the
main attractions in Botswana. Among the animals that live here are:
springboks, chamois, giraffes, wildebeest, kudus, jackals, ibexes,
leopards, cheetahs and the brown hyena. The Bakgalagadi tribe and the
San tribe live in small villages in the reserve. Khutse Game Reserve
has a warm steppe climate with pleasant temperatures all year round.
Night time temperatures may be cold with temperatures just above
freezing point. Average precipitation figures are low, most of the
rain falls from October till April.
The figures below are based on long term weather and climate records.
They are an average for Khutse Game Reserve
More climate information
Climate figures are very useful but donít present a general impression
of the climate and the eventual weather circumstances within a certain
period. The figures donít always reflect the chance of wintry weather,
extreme heat or hurricanes. That is why we offer useful extra climate
information for each month of the year:
The information at this site was carefully composed from climate data collected by meteorological services, meteorological offices, climate experts and other sources. ďMore climate infoĒ is based on statistics, climate data and personal experience. No rights can be derived from this site. Weather has no memory and gives no guaranties. Nothing is as changeable and unpredictable as the weather. The authors of this site feel in no way responsible for any damages caused by misinterpretation or other circumstances that may influence your holiday or trip to a certain destination. We provide information, itís up to the reader to use it to itís benefit.


What is Decentralised Finance?
DeFi is a form of finance built on blockchain which means that it doesn’t rely on centralised financial outlets such as banks. This means that where banks and brokerages control the exchange of currency and other financial instruments, DeFi does not. Instead, it utilises computer programs categorised as smart contracts to make the transactions which alleviates the needs for intermediaries to confirm the security of the transaction. Blockchain after all is an electronic ledger of all transactions in relation to the specific trade.
DeFi in essence enables individuals to move, borrow and lend cryptocurrencies via their wallet which acts like a trading account.
When was DeFi first used?
MakerDAO can be argued as one of the first Crypto companies to use DeFi with their cryptocurrency Dai, a stablecoin which aims to keep its value to same as the rate of the US $.
Maker is in fact a permission less lending platform…built on Etherium. For those unfamiliar with Maker, the platform allows any user to autonomously take out a loan (denominated in Dai) by staking digital assets such as ether (ETH) as collateral.
Why is DeFi important for the future?
By removing the need for control from centralised institutions such as banks, the way these organisations operate will change in the future due to DeFi, meaning the financial system as a whole may work on a macroeconomic level instead of its current model.
What this ultimately means is that individuals who have never had the chance to obtain a bank account due to personal or economic instability, will have the change at building their own finance-based portfolio, particularly in countries where the rich-poor divide is exponential, where worth is not shown by the number at the end of an account.
Images courtesy of Unsplash


What is Phishing?
Phishing is a common and potentially devastating cyber attack that can have severe consequences for school of all sizes.
In a phishing attack, hackers use fake emails, websites, or other communication channels to trick people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware on their devices. This can allow hackers to access your school’s networks, steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, or hold the school’s ransom.
How to protect your school?
To protect your school from phishing attacks, you can take several key steps. These include:
- Educate your staff: One of the most effective ways to protect your school from phishing attacks is to educate your staff on how to recognise and avoid them. This can include regular training on the warning signs of phishing, such as suspicious email addresses or links, and teaching them how to report incidents. The Ark HQ™ can help you with our Phishing Training – Online Cyber Security Course.
- Implement strong passwords: Another critical step in protecting your school from phishing attacks is to implement strong passwords for all your accounts and devices. This can help to prevent hackers from gaining access to your networks and systems through brute force attacks or password guessing.
- Use multi-factor authentication: In addition to strong passwords, implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) can provide an extra layer of protection against phishing attacks. MFA requires users to provide additional proof of their identity, such as a one-time code sent to their phone, before accessing their accounts. This can help to prevent hackers from gaining access to your accounts, even if they manage to steal a password.
- Regularly update your software and devices: Another important step in protecting your school from phishing attacks is regularly updating your software and devices. This can help to ensure that you have the latest security patches and updates, which can help to prevent hackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities in your systems.
- Consider cyber insurance: Another way to protect your school from phishing attacks is to invest in cyber insurance. This can provide financial protection in the event of a successful attack, helping to cover the costs of recovering from the attack and restoring your systems.
Protecting your school from phishing attacks is essential to ensure the security and integrity of your networks and systems.
Check out our Phishing Training – Online Cyber Security Course for more details.


A Helpful Paper Writing Guide For Undergraduates
Writing a paper as an undergrad has its challenges. The good news is there are a few aspects to help you tackle the task easier with less stress. Often, you are expected to produce high quality papers on your subject matter. But, some students may not be sure on how to do this efficiently. There are three basic steps you can follow that are easy to remember that can help you look at the big picture but from smaller perspectives.
Find a Problem, Issue, or Argument to Address
Before you start writing you need to find something to write about. This means you need to seek something worth researching to present useful details about. This may be a question or argument you can solve through collective research. You may need to brainstorm on some ideas but this will be your purpose or reason for writing your paper. You can consider choosing something of interest or something you wish to learn more about. You should be able to choose something you can find a good amount of details about and present your findings clearly with informative knowledge.
Seek Reputable Sources that Will Help You Answer or Address the Problem
There are various sources available to help you pull your overall concept together for your paper. It is a matter of getting to know reputable options that will provide interesting content and credibility. You should consider making a list based on your field of study prior to starting your assignment. This may include a variety of sources such as government websites, reference books, and journals. Choose your sources wisely and if necessary get an opinion from your instructor. Think about points you will need to address in your paper to help lead you in the right direction.
Gather Notes and Write Paper to Showcase Findings
Once you have taken time to research and gather notes on your topic or problem, you can put your findings together. Consider using an outline to help you organize your findings and break up the assignment into smaller parts. You may use this during the writing process to help you focus on finding content you need. Write a rough draft to get an idea of what you have so far. Then, go back over your content and make necessary revisions. Some may write more than one draft before finalizing content. Edit and proofread before submission.
Professional paper writing service 👌 - get your essays written by expert paper writer.
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What is Hawaii’s State Fish? Humuhumunukunukuapua’a
The name of Hawaii’s state fish sure is a mouthful to pronounce as it is 21 letters long. This fish is the humuhumunukunukuapuaa. Here are some interesting tidbits about the humuhumunukunukuapuaa:
- This Hawaiian fish with a long name is pronounced“who moo who moo new coo new coo ah poo ah ah”
- The name means “trigger fish with a snout like a pig.“
- It was chosen as Hawaii’s state fish in 1984 by a public survey. School children were instrumental in campaigning for the humuhumunukunukuapuaa. When the humuhumunukunukuapuaa was first selected as the state fish, lawmakers only made this designation official for five years. So, for a period of over a decade, the humuhumunukunukuapuaa lost its reign as the state fish, but in 2006 the fish was signed back into its “oFISHal” state title.
- It is not unique to Hawaii, but it is endemic to the waters around the central and south Pacific islands.
- It is not a fish people commonly eat.
Oh, and one more exceptionally interesting fact about the humuhumunukunukuapuaa – apparently they can talk. 😉 Don’t believe me? Well, here’s my proof with this great educational video on Hawaii reef etiquette that is “narrated” by a humuhumunukunukuapuaa:
Credits and sources:
- Photo use by Creative Commons and credit to smohundro.
- Fox News story on reinstating Hawaii’s state fish
i am doing a report on this and got great facts thanks!!!!
I am doing a science report on the triggerfish and these where the best facts yet!!!!!! Thanks a lot!!!!!
Correction on what Humuhumunukunukuapua’a means: it means, stitched together snout like a pig. That is what the locals said when I went to Hawaii.


Geometric dependency of Tibetan lakes on glacial runoff
Abstract. The Tibetan Plateau is an essential source of water for Southeast Asia. The runoff from its ~34 000 glaciers, which occupy an area of ~50 000 km2, feeds Tibetan lakes and major Asian rivers like the Indus and Brahmaputra. Reported glacial shrinkage likely has an impact on the runoff. Unfortunately, accurate quantification of glacial changes is difficult over the high-relief Tibetan Plateau. However, it has recently been shown that it is possible to directly assess water level changes of a significant number of the ~900 Tibetan lakes with an area over 1 km2. This paper exploits different remote sensing products to create drainage links between Tibetan glaciers, lakes and rivers. The results allow us to differentiate between lakes with and without outlet. In addition, we introduce the notion of geometric dependency of a lake on glacial runoff, defined as the ratio between the total area of glaciers draining into a lake and the total area of the lake catchment. We determined these dependencies for all ~900 sufficiently large Tibetan lakes. To do so, we combined three remote sensing products: the CAREERI glacier mask product, a lake mask product based on the MODIS MOD44W water product and the HydroSHEDS river network product derived from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) elevation data. Using a drainage network analysis, we determined all drainage links between glaciers and lakes. The results show that 25.3% of the total glacier area directly drains into one of 244 Tibetan lakes. The results also give the geometric dependency of each lake on glacial runoff. For example, there are ten lakes with direct glacial runoff from at least 240 km2 of glacier. Three case studies, including one of the well-studied Nam Tso Lake, demonstrate how the geometric dependency of a lake on glacial runoff can be directly linked to hydrological processes.


The Nature Trust protects over 19,000 acres of old growth forest, iconic coastline, islands, lakes, rivers, wetlands and important habitat for wildlife. But saving land is just the beginning. We commit to protecting our conservation lands forever by maintaining an active land stewardship program.
Land stewardship is about caring for and managing our conservation lands, while allowing nature to thrive. This work includes conservation and management planning, field research, property monitoring, enforcement of conservation restrictions, and habitat stewardship and restoration. We can’t do this alone. We rely on the expertise and volunteer energy of many conservation friends including scientists, conservation partners, neighbouring landowners and volunteers, in particular our incredible volunteer Property Guardians.
The Property Guardian program is well established, with more than 100 fantastic volunteers around the province. But with over 19,000 acres under Nature Trust protection, there is always a need for more, especially for urban wildlands.
Anyone who already enjoys the land can help support the long term sustainability of a favourite site or area by becoming a Property Guardian. Guardians develop a detailed knowledge of the site they oversee, or of the group of lands they care for as part of a community volunteer hub. They will likely be first to spot signs of changing human and animal usage, and they help collect data for their property to establish the ecological record.
There are many opportunities for involvement for individuals or groups, such as beach cleanups, boundary marking, trail building, public education and special events.
To find out more about Land Stewardship and becoming a Property Guardian please contact email@example.com. To learn more about our volunteer hubs across the province, check out our Connecting Communities to Nature initiative!


A hole in the ear drum is a fairly common condition encountered by ent doctors in Singapore like Dr Dennis Chua.
It can be acute (< 1 month) or chronic (>1 month). Ear drums with hole lasting more than a month usually do not heal by themselves. Find out more about ruptured ear drum here https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ruptured-eardrum/symptoms-causes/syc-20351879.
Acute hole in the ear drum has > 90% of healing spontaneously. These can occur after a traumatic injury (eg a slap to the ear or instruments entering the ear). It is important to keep the ear dry and refrain from using cotton buds to clean the ears.Chronic hole in the ear drums (>1 month) usually does not heal by itself. The middle ear with ossicles (bones for hearing) is exposed to external elements and it is prone to recurrent middle ear infections. These can worsen the hearing level of the patient. It is important for the patient to keep the ears dry and patient should not swim unless with ear plugs. These hole in the ear drum should be repaired with a simple procedure known as myringoplasty. These can be done in a minimally invasive manner with endoscopes these days and is a painless procedure done in a day surgery setting. It is important to repair it earlier rather than later as the longer the hole in the ear drum is in place, the worse the hearing level can get. If you have a hole in your ear drum, consider visiting Dr. Dennis chua. Dr Dennis Chua is one of the few ENT doctors in Singapore that performs endoscopic myringoplasty in a minimally invasive manner. For more information please refer: https://www.drdennischua.com/hearing-ear-doctor-singapore
Picture of a large ear drum hole on the left ear exposing the middle ear to external environment.


ATHENS, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists brought to light new findings linked to the Sanctuary of Artemis Amarysia in Evia, about 110 kilometers southeast of Athens, Greek national news agency AMNA reported on Tuesday.
A partially preserved inscription which read "... of Artemis in Amarynthos" was found in Paleochoria, where the sanctuary was unearthed two years ago, near the village of Amarynthos.
According to a Greek Culture Ministry announcement, the engraving links Artemis, the goddess of hunting in ancient Greek mythology, with her sanctuary, a major site of worship 2,500 years ago.
During the summer of 2017, archaeologists uncovered a series of buildings dating from the 6th to 2nd centuries BC, as well as inscriptions bearing the name "Artemis" referring to dedications to her.
But this is the first time that archaeologists matched the place name of Amarynthos.
The inscription which was reused in a Roman-era fountain was found fragmented.
Excavation work by the team of Greek-Swiss archaeologists, led by Karl Reber, professor of classical archaeology at the University of Lausanne and Amalia Karapashalidou, the honorary ephor of antiquities of Evia, started in 2006.
According to the Culture Ministry, the find was particularly significant.
"The remains of the prehistoric settlement excavated in the '70s and '80s in the same area by the Greek Archaeological Service can be linked to the Mycenaean place of "a-ma-ru-to" first mentioned in Linear B tablets which were found in the Mycenaean palace of Thebes," the statement read.
Archaeologists claimed that it is one of the most important sanctuaries of Evia as described in ancient Greek texts.


Over the past few weeks, we’ve spent a lot of time discussing how important learning the language, religion, and history of your host culture is.
This conscious, and often scholastic, learning process requires time, energy, and discipline in ways that may make you feel like you’re back at school.
It can oftentimes be a tough process, requiring many studious hours logged. After all, you’re investing in educating yourself about an entire culture.
But don’t worry, not all cultural learning will require you to dust off the books. Some of it – and some might say the most important part of it – is experiential.
Learning Through Sharing
You are not going to learn the power and emotion of Spanish flamenco watching it on YouTube.
You are not going to learn the colloquial idioms of Portuguese by memorizing by rote.
You are not going to learn how to make Italian pasta by hand without getting your hands dirty (or flour-y).
Learning culture is an experiential process and, without learning by sharing, you’ll be missing out on all the warmth of learning culture.
Cultures are not two-dimensional. They are living and breathing; they must be experienced in-the-round.
Immersion for Integration
“Instead of having 100 rubles, it’s better to have 100 friends.”
That’s what a Russian proverb says.
And foreign friends will be so much more valuable to you than rubles, as they will be able to show you their cultural behaviors, tell you their history, and teach you their traditions better than any book can.
Making friends is an investment in your cultural integration, as it allows immersion learning.
This type of learning involves sharing time and food and language with local friends.
Whether you’re an expatriate living in your host country or an international manager traveling abroad often, local friends will make learning fun rather than book work.
Not only will local friends make you culturally savvy, but they’re likely to expose you to local entertainment and opportunities that you wouldn’t have been privy to on your own.
And, even better, you’ll build life-long relationships in the process.


Waves – Ripples in the sea caused by the transfer of energy from the wind blowing over the sea
The largest waves are formed when winds are very strong, blow for lengthy periods and cross large expanses of water.
Waves are caused by the transfer of energy from the wind to the sea (not to be confused with the tides which are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun, although this also does cause waves). As the wind blows over the surface of the sea it creates friction, forming waves.
The characteristics of waves are determined by the strength of the wind, its duration and fetch (distance it travels).
The stronger the wind, the greater the friction on the surface of the sea, and therefore the bigger the wave.
The size of a wave depends on its fetch. The fetch is the distance a wave travels, the greater the fetch the larger the wave.
In deep water, water molecules within a wave move in a circular movement. It is only in shallow water that the shore creates friction and turns the wave to break.
NOTE: Apart from wind (the main cause), waves are also caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. This gravitational pull causes tides (literally the raising of large areas of the sea by gravitational pull), which result in tidal waves. Not so commonly, waves are also caused by underwater disturbances such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions. These very big waves, called tsunamis, travel over the shore and can reach far inland.


Children at risk of malnutrition as Somalia drought worsens
More children are facing severe malnutrition as drought worsens across Somalia. Hamdi Yarrow Mustaf, 7 months old, was brought to a World Vision nutrition clinic in Baidoa in the country's south and upon screening was found to be severely malnourished. He weighed only four kilograms at the time. Due to the prolonged drought, children are not getting enough nutrition because of a severe lack of food, as parents have lost their livelihoods and food prices have gone high.
Additionally, due to limited access to water and poor sanitary conditions in settlements for internally displaced people, waterborne diseases are on the rise, which is further contributing to an increase in malnutrition cases across World Vision clinics. At least 200 children have died of malnutrition centres since January this year. The UN has warned that 1.5 million children under five years old, across Somalia face the risk of severe malnutrition, of these nearly 386,000 are likely to be severely malnourished by the end of 2022.
Plumpy Nut is a Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food, which is a highly nutritious paste is being administered to keep children aged six months and older alive. However, parents and frontline health workers say the lack of food in households causing children like Hamdi to relapse, even after being treated for malnutrition and being discharged.


Totally counter-intuitively, solar cells that emit light as well as absorbing it could actually mr much more efficient.
“What we demonstrated is that the better a solar cell is at emitting photons, the higher its voltage and the greater the efficiency it can produce,” says Eli Yablonovitch, UC Berkeley professor of electrical engineering.
It’s long been known that there’s a limit to the amount of electrical energy that can be harvested from sunlight hitting a typical solar cell – theoretically, about 33.5 percent.
But current technologies struggle to get anywhere close – and, now, the scientists think they know why.
“Fundamentally, it’s because there’s a thermodynamic link between absorption and emission,” says graduate student Owen Miller.
Designing solar cells to emit light, so that photons don’t get ‘lost’ within a cell, automatically increases the voltage produced by the cell.
A solar cell that is a good emitter of light also produces a higher voltage, in turn increasing the amount of electrical energy that can be harvested from the cell for each unit of sunlight.
The theory that luminescent emission and voltage go hand in hand is not new. But the idea had never been considered for the design of solar cells before now, Miller continues.
A start-up co-founded by Yablonovitch, Alta Devices, has used the new concept to create a prototype solar cell made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) which has set a new record of 28.3 percent efficiency. He says he hopes to push this closer to 30 percent in the coming years.


Bee colony losses in New Zealand continue to be significantly lower than many other countries, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) third annual survey on bee colony losses.
Annual hive losses were reported at 9.84% overall.
MPI's biosecurity surveillance and incursion investigation (aquatic and environment health) manager, Dr Michael Taylor, says this is low when compared to international results, which consistently see rates well over 10%.
"Many of the pests and diseases that negatively impact beehives overseas are not present in New Zealand, and we have a robust biosecurity system to prevent them from coming into the country and deal with them if they do."
MPI contracted Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research to conduct the New Zealand Colony Loss Survey. More than 2,060 beekeepers completed the 2017 survey, representing 30% of production colonies in New Zealand. The survey looks at the state of New Zealand's honey bee colonies and the challenges beekeepers face.
In New Zealand, the reported rate of losses has stayed relatively stable from 2016 which saw 9.78% of beehive losses but down from 2015 where the loss rate was 10.73%.
The leading reported causes of hive loss in 2017 included:
- Queen problems (such as death, disappearance, or not laying eggs).
- Suspected varroa mite.
- Suspected starvation of bees (weather and other causes).
- Wasps (killing bees, eat pupae and steal honey).
Losses to American foulbrood disease, natural disasters, Argentine ants, and theft were also contributing factors, but less commonly reported.
Dr Taylor says the Bee Colony Loss Survey provides baseline information for monitoring managed honey bee colony loss and survival over time.
"The information from the survey is a valued resource for the other ongoing work MPI undertakes with the beekeeping industry to promote good colony health and bee-keeping practice, as well as the Bee Pathogen Programme which looks at the prevalence of honey bee diseases and parasites already in New Zealand."
Find out more
- 2017 Bee Colony Loss Survey report [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- 2017 Bee Colony Loss Survey infographic [PDF, 390 KB]


For example, after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 according to this paper,
The introduction of large amounts of sulphuric acid aerosol into the stratosphere increases the planetary albedo (essentially the Earth's reflectivity of solar radiation) because these aerosol particles are efficient scatterers but only weak absorbers at solar wavelengths.
The changes in the Earth's albedo observed by ERBE resulted in a net cooling of approximately 8 W m-2 between 5°S and 5o N, with a net cooling of 4.3 W m-2 between 40° S and 40° N.
What I'm interested in is how exactly this cooling happens. Which is correct:
the atmosphere is experiencing a deficit of input energy, or
the surface is experiencing a deficit of input energy, which is then communicated to the atmosphere by a decreases longwave surface emission
I suspect (2) is mostly correct, since about 75% of input shortwave solar radiation to the earth is absorbed by the surface, while only 25% by the atmosphere itself, according to ref  (and perhaps even less so by volcanic aerosols).
If this is correct, then once the surface does communicate that energy deficit to the atmosphere, will it happen locally? That is, will a slab of the atmosphere nearest the surface be the first to experience a cooling rate?
 Petty, G.W., 2006. A first course in atmospheric radiation, 2nd ed. ed. Madison, Wis: Sundog Pub.


Professional Paper 1775
During 2008, record precipitation amounts, coupled with already saturated soils, resulted in flooding along many rivers in the United States Midwest. Separate flooding events occurred in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, and September of 2008. The June floods were by far the most severe and widespread with substantial (and in places record) flooding and damage occurring in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Indiana had the most recurrent flooding during 2008, with peak-of-record streamflows occurring during January, February, March, June, and September. During 2008, peak-of-record streamflows were recorded at more than 147 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages. The annual exceedance probability of the peak streamflows at 25 streamgages was less than 0.2 percent and between 0.2 and 1 percent at 68 streamgages. Trends in flood magnitudes were computed for USGS Midwest streamgages that had no regulation. No Midwest-wide systematic trends upward or downward were evident, although clusters of consistent trends (both upward and downward) were detected in parts of the Midwest.
First posted May 13, 2010
For additional information contact:
Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.
Holmes, R.R., Jr., Koenig, T.A., and Karstensen, K.A., 2010, Flooding in the United States Midwest, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1775, 64 p.
The Role of the U.S. Geological Survey in Flood Response
2008 Flooding: Causes, Chronology, and Magnitude
2008 Flooding: Comparison with Historic Floods
2008 Flooding: Anual Exceedance Probability
Effects of the 2008 Flooding on Annual Exceedance Probability Estimates
Trends in Flood Maxima


The new hip, millennial term “analog” refers to standard cigarettes as more and more people are using e-cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes were introduced for people to avoid inhaling burned tobacco, but people still get an unhealthy amount of nicotine and other chemicals. Studies have been finding that more people are using e-cigarettes as opposed to traditional cigarettes, but this hasn’t dropped any value in the number of people smoking. Basically, e-cigs do not help people quit smoking. Providing e-cigarettes “did not improve the number of people who quit compared to essentially doing nothing,” said Dr. Scott Halpern of the University of Pennsylvania. “The very best way to help them quit is to offer them money.” In another study, they have reported that lung cancer rates are now higher than ever for white and Hispanic women under the age of 50 than for men of the same age and race. Although e-cigarettes are much healthier than burning cigarettes, it does not help anyone to quit. Most people in the research community agree that there needs to be more substantial data and research done in proving the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in helping people quit smoking. Have any of you stopped smoking? We would love to know what worked and what didn’t work for you. Healthy Families Foundations strives to finding new alternatives to keeping you and your family healthy. Whether a short-term smoker or long, let us help you in this journey of a healthier lifestyle.


Today's Education in the Media focuses on the uptake in STEM subjects by girls.
Today, 8 August, a leaked memo from a Google employee, in which women were described as less suited to coding than men, has attracted widespread comment and criticism in the press.
This department strongly believes that no one should held back from any career because of their gender. That is why the government continues to encourage girls to consider a wider range of careers, including in higher paying sectors traditionally dominated by men, through funding programmes in schools to increase take-up of STEM (Science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects and programmes such as STEM ambassadors.
This has been shown through the number of girls taking maths A-level increasing by 11% from 2010 to 2016, and the number of girls taking physics A-level increasing by 14% over the same six years.
Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, speaking on this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, said:
Throughout history, women have made significant contributions to science – without the likes of Marie Curie, Jane Goodall or Rosalind Franklin, the scientific world would be very different. But days like today remind us that we need more girls to follow in their path and become the scientists of tomorrow.
That’s why we are working to get more girls studying science, technology, maths and engineering subjects and are investing £12.1 million over the next three years to improve science teaching. Getting more young women choosing STEM subjects we will not only ensure our future workforce has the skills we need to drive the future productivity and economy of this country, it will also help us to tackle the gender pay gap by getting more women into these high paid, skilled careers.
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Cyber Risks & Liabilities: Beware of These COVID-19 related Cyber Scams
There are always opportunists who will act quickly to exploit a major event for their own gain while threatening the safety of others. The COVID-19 pandemic is no different, with cyber criminals aiming to take advantage of the confusion, distraction and large-scale shift to remote work resulting from the pandemic.
The most common COVID-19-related cyber scams include the following:
- Phishing using COVID-19 as a lure
- Malware distribution using COVID-19 as a lure
- Registration of new domain names containing wording related to COVID-19
- Increased attacks against new remote access and teleworking infrastructures
Typically, scammers will attempt to impersonate a reliable entity. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been reported cases of cyber attacks posing as the following:
- Government entities offering assistance
- Internal IT or technical support teams providing support or cyber security tips
- Health agencies providing safety resources
- Organizational leadership issuing an alert
- Non-profits seeking donations
In many cases, phishing tactics are used in conjunction with imitation websites to further the ruse of legitimacy.
Fortunately, these attacks generally rely on the same basic social engineering methods as traditional cyber attacks—enticing users to carry out a specific action such as clicking a link or opening a file via manipulation and misinformation. As such, these attacks can be avoided through the following methods:
- Notify and educate users of the risks.
- Be wary of emails from unknown addresses.
- Do not divulge personal information to unknown entities.
- Use strong, unique passwords and usernames for each account.
- Reference multiple sources to avoid misinformation.
Contact us today for more information.


|Football Hoop Tag
State Standard: 1, & 3
|Equipment: 5 hoops, 5 nerf footballs (may need more depending on number of students) 3 noodles (for tagging), music
||Grade: 4-8 (1-3 with koosh balls)
|Purpose of Event: Throwing and Catching skills, Locomotor movement|
|Time: 15-20 minutes|
Scatter 5 hoops around on the floor, and have a student start in each with a football. (You may need to add hoops/balls) Give out 3 noodles for tagging. At the start of the music, the taggers start to tag as many people as possible (people in the hoops cannot be tagged). If you get tagged you are frozen. Once frozen you must get the attention of someone in a hoop and have them throw you a football. If the football is caught, you are un-frozen, and take the spot of the person in the hoop, that threw you the ball. If you do NOT catch the ball you remain frozen until you catch a ball. People that are not frozen, need to pick up the balls that are not caught, and give them back to the students in the hoops, because the students in the hoops may not leave the hoops until they are replaced. You cannot be frozen if you have a football in your hands.
Stop every couple of minutes to switch taggers, also change the locomotor movements.
I would play this with lower grades, but use a koosh ball instead and have more hoops and balls since the throwing and catching isn’t as controlled.
|Concerns: Be cautious of the hoops, don’t step on them, they slide. Throw carefully, lots of movement going on.
|This idea is from: “Great Activities”|


An elegant combination of electronics and elastic materials has been used to construct a small visual sensor that closely resembles an insect's eye. The device paves the way for autonomous navigation of tiny aerial vehicles. See Letter p.95
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Song, Y. M. et al. Nature 497, 95–99 (2013).
Land, M. F. & Fernald, R. D. Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 15, 1–29 (1992).
Koenderinck, J. J. & van Doorn, A. J. Biol. Cybern. 56, 247–254 (1987).
Floreano, D., Zufferey, J.-C., Srinivasan, M. V. & Ellington, C. (eds) Flying Insects and Robots (Springer, 2010).
Plett, J., Bahl, A., Buss, M., Kühnlenz, K. & Borst, A. Biol. Cybern. 106, 51–63 (2012).
Srinivasan, M. V. & Zhang, S. Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 27, 679–696 (2004).
Kirschfeld, K. Exp. Brain Res. 3, 248–270 (1967).
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Borst, A., Plett, J. Seeing the world through an insect's eyes. Nature 497, 47–48 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/497047a
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2013 Editors' choice


How the Culture of Economics Stops Economists from Studying Group Behavior and the Development of Social Cultures
Economic thought evolved over the past two centuries to focus on individual behavior as the basis for all economic activity. Some heterodox economists have pointed to the importance of group behavior and the influence of organizations on economic activity, but the neoclassical paradigm, with the rational isolated individual as its main actor, prevails in mainstream economics. This paper presents a “sociology of economics” to explain why the culture of the field of economics effectively blinds its practitioners to the phenomenon of group behavior. Drawing on the work of Pierre Bourdieu, the paper details the field’s methodology (habitus), which includes the assumptions of the rational and separable individual, and the belief system (doxa), consisting of the metaphors of the invisible hand and rational free choice, that supports the habitus. The culture of economics is firmly held in place by symbolic violence directed at those who question the prevailing culture. The paper further highlights the role of business and financial interests in supporting the prevailing culture of economics. In conclusion, a strong group culture, supported by powerful business and financial organizations, discourages economists from recognizing this group culture or the powerful organizations that support it.


In August 2017, almost a million Rohingya fled to Bangladesh from violence and persecution in Myanmar. Among them, 55% were children, many of whom were torn from their families, and have seen more violence than most adults would in a lifetime. Research shows that play has the power to heal trauma. So, BRAC has developed a play-based solution called the Humanitarian Play Lab (HPL) model to help refugee children learn and recover from trauma.
On Tuesday (February 5, 2019), the BRAC Institute of Educational Development officially launched the HPL at the Play Summit 2019 held at BRAC CDM in Savar near Dhaka. With the slogan “Play to Heal, Play to Learn,” participants discussed the role of play in the early years of a child’s life, and how this model could be replicated in low resource and humanitarian settings. Mohiuddin Ahamed Talukder, deputy director of the Directorate of Primary Education, and Lesley Patricia Holst, initiatives lead of LEGO Foundation, were present among others.
“The Humanitarian Play Lab model is a repurposing of the Science of Play for settings troubled by humanitarian crisis. Learning through play portrays children as being empowered and upholds their dignity. It provides them with comfort, happiness and pride as they play with toys, engage in physical play, recite and chant,” said Dr. Erum Mariam, Executive Director of BRAC IED.
HPL caters to children aged 0-6. The spaces have been designed around the memories of home of the Rohingya children. The BRAC IED team, women, adolescents and children have worked together to design the spaces with motifs and paintings significant to Rohingya culture. More than 40,000 Rohingya children have played and learned at the 250 BRAC play labs since 2017.
BRAC has been promoting play as a learning tool since 2015 by developing and implementing the renowned Play Model in active collaboration with the LEGO Foundation. The model incorporates play-based learning in its curriculum and is implemented over 300 play spaces across Dhaka. BRAC’s HPL model is an adaptation of the Play Model developed by LEGO Foundation.


Outline: Give only the main points of a theory, situation, or topic in a concise manner.
State / Identify: Identify and clearly express the main features of a theory.
Suggest: To mention / propose a possibility.
Describe: Provide details of the main features or characteristics of an object, theory, or event.
Explain: Detailed and clear coverage of the subject matter, giving convincing reasons to support your answers.
Illustrate: Clarify or explain something by use of examples/diagrams.
Compare: Point out the differences or similarities between two or more things.
Contrast/Distinguish/Differentiate: Point out the differences between two or more things.
Analyse: Suggests a detailed answer, involving breaking down a concept or topic into its component parts or essential features in order to examine or determine their relationship.
Discuss/Examine: Detailed and careful investigation of the subject matter, looking at the arguments for and against.
Justify: To explain or defend your decision or judgement through arguments, supporting evidence, consideration of objections, and/or explanation of the decision-making process.
Assess/Evaluate: Judge the worth of something or some statement. Do not be concerned with seeking a correct answer. Very often there is not one, and the examiner is more concerned with the strength of your arguments for and against, and the rationale underlying your answer.
Comment on: Say something that gives you opinion about it or an explanation for it.


Itching is a peculiar irritation that affects the skin surface of a person. It generates a desire to scratch the affected area. A very common symptom, of many ailments, it can be very annoying and frustrating. Medically known as pruritus, itching can affect any area of the body and cause a rash or a spot. If prolonged, itching can even bruise the skin, making it sore and painful.
Causes Of Itching
Stress and anxiety, Dry skin, Prolonged exposure to UV radiation from the sun, Metabolic and endocrine disorders, such as liver and kidney disease, Various type of cancers, such as lymphoma, Reactions to drugs, Diseases of the blood, Allergic reactions, Insect stings and bites, such as from mosquito or flea, Infections and infestations of the skin, Fungal infection of the crotch (tinea cruris), Body lice, Hormonal changes in women, Strong chemicals like detergents, solvents, Parasitic infestations, Cold weather, Overexposure to water and hot baths.
Bumps, Dry cracked skin, Leathery or scaly texture of the skin, Tendency to scratch continually, to relieve itching sensation, Redness of skin, Scraped skin, as a result of vigorous scratching, Thick and scarred skin, Red spots, Scaly patches, Blisters.


Originally from China, Formosan termites are the most voracious, aggressive and devious of over 2,000 termite species known to science. Formosan termites are a subterranean species of termite. Swarmer formosan termite are about 1/2 inch in overall length, including their wings.
Formosan termites are the most aggressive subterranean termite species. Formosans are organized into huge underground colonies, and build intricate mud nests inside the walls of a structure.
Formosans are organized into huge underground colonies, and build intricate mud nests inside the walls of a structure.
Control / Prevention
Avoid water accumulation near your home’s foundation. Divert water away with properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks. Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation. Never bury wood scraps or waste lumber in the yard. Most importantly, eliminate wood contact with the soil. Maintain a one-inch gap between the soil and wood portions of the building.
Because of their aggressive nature, formosan termites are difficult to control once they infest a structure. Prevention is key.
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A salty ocean is lurking beneath the surface of Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede, scientists using…
Pluto’s Largest Moon Charon is a Gravity Bully
The orbits of Pluto’s four smaller moons are thrown out of kilter by the gravitational tug-of-war between Pluto and its largest moon Charon, a new study shows.
The study, published in the journal Nature, provides new insights into how this chaotic system at the solar system’s outer rim formed.
Unlike most planetary systems which consist of a planet orbited by moons, Pluto and its largest moon Charon orbit each other around a common centre of gravity in a binary system.
This in turn is orbited by four smaller moons — Nix, Hydra, Kerebos and Styx.
“We’ve learnt that it’s not easy orbiting a binary planetary system, it’s weird, because these small moons aren’t orbiting a single object, they’re orbiting two objects Pluto and Charon,” says the study’s lead author Dr Mark Showalter of the SETI Institute.
“These objects were just tumbling wildly and that was our first clue that there was something very weird about the Pluto system.”


Junior Computer Academy
Designed to prepare children for the future
Computer courses for children who are passionate about the technology of the future
In IT courses, children will learn website design, working with graphics editors, creating games, programming, modeling 3D objects. All the knowledge can be put into practice right away. In the course of creating their own projects, students will gain teamwork skills, develop their soft skills, and learn to plan and achieve their goals.
Programming in Python
“Programming is one of the main areas that will be relevant and in demand in the future. We help our students to learn programming from the ground up.
Create websites and mobile apps
Learn to create websites using one of the most popular CMS WordPress. Will design the logic of a smartphone application, use sensors in the application: accelerometer, gyroscope, QR-code scanner.
Design your own game
Our students will learn how to create games using Unity, Kodu and Construct 3 and develop designs and animations for their own 2D and 3D projects.
3D modelling and 3D printing
Students learn how to model 3D objects and learn how to create characters and locations. They learn the principles of 3D printing and how to prepare an object for printing on a 3D printer.
Program artificial intelligence and create robots
In the classes, children learn how to program, assemble and test robots, build artificial intelligence models and use them.
Developing augmented reality applications
Children will work with MIT App Inventor and use cameras, graphics, animation and sound. They will be able to create VR and AR applications.
ages 4.5 to 6
Your children will learn how to build WeDo LEGO robots, solve coding challenges with visual-based programming apps, create stop-motion videos and animations.
ages 7 to 9
Your children will learn about computer technologies, programming, internet, and network security. They will create their own games and 2D/3D characters, learn how to create and control LEGO robots and Arduino gadgets.
ages 10 to 13
Our students create technical projects from scratch and develop professional game applications, websites and their own start-ups. All this knowledge and skills will be useful in their future, whichever profession they choose.
CHF 100.00 – CHF 150.00


Unified Modeling Language
The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a general-purpose, developmental, modeling language in the field of software engineering. UML is used to provide a standard way to show what the design of a system looks like.
UML was originally developed to standardize the different notational systems and approaches to software design. It was developed by Grady Booch, Ivar Jacobson and James Rumbaugh at Rational Software in 1994–95, with further development led by them through 1996.
In 1997, UML was adopted as a standard by the Object Management Group (OMG), and has been managed by this organization ever since. In 2005 the Unified Modeling Language was also published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as an approved ISO standard.
There are different types of diagrams, which serve different purposes:
- That way, business analysts can agree on the design of a system, for example by showing use-case diagrams
- Software developers can show activvityy diagrams, to expalin what the software does at a given moment, or how a certain operatio is structured.
- System engineers can rol out the software, and describe their work in a deployment diagram.
UML is mostly about diagrams, and finding a common language to describe these diagrams.


On Darwin's 200th Birthday, Americans Still Divided About Evolution
February 12 will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, the British naturalist who developed the theory of evolution through natural selection. Darwin published his treatise on evolution, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, nearly 150 years ago. Darwin's theory was controversial from the outset, and remains so among the public in his home country as well as in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Opinion polls over the past two decades have found the American public deeply divided in its beliefs about the origins and development of life on earth. Surveys are fairly consistent in their estimates of how many Americans believe in evolution or creationism. Approximately 40%-50% of the public accepts a biblical creationist account of the origins of life, while comparable or slightly larger numbers accept the idea that humans evolved over time. The wording of survey questions generally makes little systematic difference in this division of opinion, and there has been little change in the percentage of the public who reject the idea of evolution.
Opinions on the theory of "intelligent design," however, are far more complex, making it difficult to determine how many Americans subscribe to this view of life's origins. In part, this reflects the public's lack of familiarity with the concept of intelligent design, which holds that Darwin's theory of natural selection is inadequate in explaining the development of complex life forms. A Gallup survey in August of 2005 found that fewer than half of Americans were familiar with the term. Moreover, because the concept involves sensitive matters of faith and science, questions that attempt to indirectly measure support for intelligent design produce divergent results.
Read the full report On Darwin's 200th Birthday, Americans Still Divided About Evolution on the Pew Research Center's Web site.


- Telephone: 01282 771146
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.org
There are TWO parts to your ENGLISH homework. They should both be completed by THURSDAY 1st April.
Learn your 10 spellings at home for a test next THURSDAY.
You have a GREEN English Homework Book to use if you wish to copy out your spellings to help you learn them. You could ask a family member to test you and use this book to write down the words. Keep this GREEN book at home. Do not bring it back to school. It is to help you learn at home.
This week we are looking at the punctuation mark called the hyphen. It looks like this -
Notice on the examples below, that there is no space on either side of the hyphen. There are 4 reasons why we use a hyphen:
To clarify a word meaning, for example, re-sent.
To create a compound adjective, for example, bear-like claws.
To avoid awkward letter combinations, for example, co-operate,
To write numbers from 21 to 99, for example, twenty-one.
Write the sentences below in your exercise book or type them on the blog INCLUDING a hyphen in the correct place.
1. Tim wore his lime green shirt for the photoshoot.
2. Despite being quite moth eaten, the vintage wedding dress was very beautiful.
3. Our lodger seemed a fly by night character and mum worried she would not pay her rent.
4. The chocolate ice cream is absolutely delicious.
5. The nasty looking villain spotted his next victim in the heaving crowd.
6. There are two hundred and fifty three pupils at our school.
7. Eric had to retreat his dog with flea powder.
8. Mr Dobbs and Mr Trotter are coowners of 'Dobbs and Trotter Cars Ltd'.
9. Children's clothes are usually tax free.
10. Toby had to deice his car this morning after the big frost last night.


Legend of the Apple’s Star
by Shanon Grey
Many eons ago, as the Great Sun rose into the heavens at the break of dawn, its brilliant light would scatter the sky’s Star Babies, still too small and weak to hold their positions, across the heavens. All day the Star Mothers worried, unable to see their infants in the bright light of day. As soon as the Great Sun descended below the night’s horizon, the Star Mothers would search far and wide for their Star Babies. The Moon, seeing the Star Mothers’ lights dim in sadness, turned to Mother Earth, friend of both the Moon and the Great Sun, and imparted the plight of the Star Mothers.
Mother Earth sought guidance from her plants and animals, having seen how they protected their young. A small tree with tiny, bitter, fruit humbly approached Mother Earth. “We are but small trees, our fruit is not sweet, our branches are not many, but we will hold and protect the small stars until they are ready. Please let us try.”
Mother Earth was pleased and told the Moon, who told the Star Mothers. With hope, the Star Mothers raced across the night sky, leaving trails of light, seeking the tiny trees on the earth. The trees held up their branches and received the Star Babies, tucking them inside their meager fruits for warmth and protection. As the days passed, the tiny Star Babies shared some of their increasing energy with the trees and the trees began to grow, spreading new leaves under the Great Sun. Sunlight nourished the trees and the fruits grew larger. As the fruits ripened, they grew heavy and fell upon the ground, bursting open and releasing the Star Babies, now ready to climb back into the heavens, their lights bright and healthy. Each night the young stars twinkle down upon the big, beautiful apple trees, sending love and thanks.
Today, if you cut an apple just right, you will see the imprint left from its Star Baby, a reminder of its journey. As a gift, the stars sprinkled the fruit with star-dust, leaving the apple filled with a taste of heaven.


It can be hard to determine what teeth are baby teeth and which ones are permanent. Your baby's first tooth makes its grand debut around 6 months of age, and by two to three years old, all 20 baby teeth should have erupted in their mouth. Six years old is when you can expect your children to lose their first baby teeth and have permanent teeth peek through. Keep the tooth fairy on standby; this process of permanent teeth replacing baby teeth will continue until your child is 12 or 13.
As your child gets older, it can be hard to tell the difference between baby teeth and permanent teeth. Having teeth of both types is called a mixed dentition. The Indian Dental Association's tooth eruption chart is a good guide that helps parents know approximately when their child's baby teeth will appear, when they will shed them and when their adult teeth will come in. The chart helps you distinguish which teeth belong to the first or second set.
Importance of Baby Teeth
Baby teeth, also called primary teeth, play an important role in guaranteeing your child has a beautiful smile as an adult. Baby teeth hold space in your child's jaw so that the permanent teeth will come in properly. If you notice small spaces between your child's baby teeth, do not worry, this is quite natural, with the spaces there to allow extra room for the permanent teeth.
When baby teeth are extensively decayed or injured, the permanent tooth underneath can become infected or damaged. If baby teeth have to be removed because of decay or injury, other teeth can drift and block the permanent tooth from coming in. The permanent tooth may even struggle to align correctly.


When the Fort Worth Zoo was owned and operated by the city, money was scarce, facilities were outdated, and attendance was dropping. In 1991, the middling public facility was almost forced to close due to lack of funds. Then Ramona Bass, a local animal lover from a wealthy family, suggested moving control of the zoo to a nonprofit association. More substantively, Bass suggested a new mission for the zoo. Frustrated by increasingly negative zoo narratives of people versus planet—a zero-sum game where one side prospers only at the expense of the other—she envisioned a facility that recognized shared interests between humans and animals, and “strengthened the bond between humans and the environment by promoting responsible stewardship of wildlife.”
Bass recruited impressive support from individuals and local businesses, built an unusually diverse board that included people like wildlife experts at corporations and professors of agriculture, and was able to create innovative programming that visitors could find nowhere else. The new zoo was simultaneously pro-animal and pro-human, with striking new displays that highlight harmonious co-existence, rather than walling off wildlife. (Their black bears, for instance, were placed in a facsimile of an abandoned lumbering camp, emphasizing recovery and intelligent adaptation.) Even the logo for the section of the zoo on Texas wildlife—a human hand print overlapping a coyote track—emphasizes mutual prosperity.
Since its transfer from public management, the association-run zoo has raised more than $20 million in private funding and opened 16 new permanent exhibits and facilities. Attendance has doubled, and the Fort Worth Zoo is now rated near the top in the U.S.
- Fort Worth Zoo, fortworthzoo.org/about-us/history
- Karl Zinsmeister, “Why Dallas Matters,” D Magazine, October 2000, dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2000/october/perspective-why-dallas-matters


Top > About Kyoto
Know what, where's Kyoto, Japan?
Kyoto was created beautifully and based on modern city planning, isadjusted with grid pattern. Many things haven't changed even passed throuht the long history. Even a name of a street involves huge background.
Kyoto was the capital of Japan more than 10 hundred yrs, called "Heian-kyo", is transferred the capital from Nara in 794 AD.
Even now, it remnant of the capital can be seen everywhere in its streets.
The most famous Events!
Please, look at before your travel and planning
- Fude Hajime [2nd-4th]Kitano-tenmangu
- Kemari Hajime [3rd] Shimogamo shrine
- Toshi-ya [15th] Sanju-sangen-do
- Setsubun [2nd-25th] Mibu temple
- Baika Festival [25th] Kitano-tenmangu
- Nagashi Bina [3rd] Shimogamo Shrine
- Miyayo Odori [1st] Gion-kobu-kaburenjo
- Mibu Kyogen [21st-29th] Mibu temple
- Aoi Festival [1st] Kamigamo shrine, Shimogamo shrine
- Kibune Festival [1st] Kibune shrine
- Gion Festival [7th] on the corner of Shijo st. and Karasuma st.
- Daimonji Gozan Okuribi [16th]
- Seimei shrine Reisai [Autumnal Equinox Day] Seimei shrine
- Mibu Kyogen [include the 2nd Mon., for 3days] Mibu temple
- Era Festival [22nd] Heian Jingu
- hitakisa [8th] Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Joya-no Kane [31st] Kurama temple, etc.


DESCRIPTION: Crystallins, the major proteins of the lens, undergo rapid partial cleavage during lens maturation and aging. Cleavage of crystallins takes place in both animal an human lenses. Since cataracts in animals have been associated with an acceleration of this process, the principal investigator hypothesizes that human cataracts may also result from the inappropriate cleavage of crystallins. To test this hypothesis the PI proposes: 1) Isolating and characterizing the unidentified proteolytic enzyme responsible for the majority of protein fragmentation in human lens. 2) Producing detailed maps on two-dimensional electrophoresis gels of the identities of both intact and modified lens proteins found in animal and human lenses. 3) Creating a standardized two-dimensional electrophoresis database for lens proteins for access on the World Wide Web. This work will be performed using matrix assisted laser desorption mass spectrometric analysis of protease substrates and two-dimensional electrophoretically separated lens proteins. These studies are important because 1) the enzyme causing the fragmentation of human lens crystallins is unknown; 2) little information comparing the identities and modifications of proteins in animal and human lenses now exists; and 3) no mechanism for easily sharing lens protein data between researchers is available. The long term goals of this project are to: improve methods used to study protein modifications in the lens, develop appropriate animal models to study human cataract, test if protein fragmentation may be a cause of human cataract, and develop protease inhibitors as possible anticataract drugs.
|Effective start/end date||2/1/98 → 1/31/03|
- National Institutes of Health: $123,308.00
- National Institutes of Health: $127,006.00
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint.


New data from NASA’s Voyager 1 that was launched in space in 1977, indicates the probe has left the Solar System boundary, the influence of the Sun’s bubble of charged particles and entered true interstellar space, after a 36-year odyssey through the Solar System, across more than 11,253,000,000 miles. Image © NASA/JPL. Watch the videos…
Voyager 1 has become the first man-made spacecraft to venture into interstellar space, according to Nasa scientists. They say new data shows the probe has already been traveling through a transitional region outside a solar bubble for around a year.
NASA’s Voyager 1 captures sounds of interstellar space
Scientists managed to work that out after an eruption from the Sun reached Voyager 1 and caused the plasma around it to react in a way that could be sensed.
Plasma outside the so-called heliosphere, which is caused by the Sun’s effects, is more dense and so the vibrations produce deeper sounds.
That led NASA to the conclusion that the probe had entered interstellar space.
Each Voyager (1 and 2) space probe carries a gold-plated audio-visual disc in the event that either spacecraft is ever found by intelligent life forms from other planetary systems.The discs carry photos of the Earth and its lifeforms, a range of scientific information, spoken greetings from people such as the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the United States and a medley, “Sounds of Earth,” that includes the sounds of whales, a baby crying, waves breaking on a shore, and a collection of music, including works by Mozart, Blind Willie Johnson, Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode”, Valya Balkanska and other Eastern and Western classics and ethnic performers.
via theguardian, wikipedia, youtube1, youtube2
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Unfortunately, we are in the dead of winter when the days are shorter, the nights are longer, Daylight Saving Time has ended, snow and ice represent an ever-present threat, and driving becomes even more dangerous than usual. The National Safety Council warns that all of these factors taken together make nighttime winter driving hazardous at best.
Specifically, the NSC lists the following as the worst times for you to drive:
- Evening rush hour (4 p.m. to 7 p,m., especially on Fridays)
- Very early morning hours (midnight to 2 a.m., especially on weekends)
- Nighttime hours (4 a.m. to 6 a.m.)
Most vehicle crashes occur at these times because the lack of daylight makes drivers drowsy and more likely to drive erratically or even fall asleep at the wheel. Keep in mind that when driving with your low beams on, as required with most city driving, you can see only about 250 feet in front of you. Even your high beams give you only about 500 feet of visibility.
In addition, the older you get, the more difficult it becomes for you to see at night. For instance, at age 50 you probably need twice as much light to see as well as you did at age 30. After age 60, you may develop cataracts or other degenerative eye conditions that compromise your night vision even more. You could even become subject to night blindness.
As you might expect, if you must drive between midnight and 2 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday, you will share the road with numerous impaired or semi-impaired drivers. Why? Because most of the restaurants and bars tend to close about this time and some of their patrons will make the unwise decision to get behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol. While they believe they can make it home safely, in actuality they pose a danger to themselves and others, including you.


The amount of Aluminum Alloy Casting Flux added to aluminum alloy casting should be determined according to the weight of liquid aluminum, because too much or too little will affect the performance of aluminum alloy, so it must be calculated before adding.
When operating the refining agent, the operator should control the refining flow freely through the barometer and powder feeder to control the rolling degree of molten aluminum, so as to reduce the secondary pollution. Nitrogen and argon are usually used as carriers to form a large number of dispersed bubbles in aluminum alloy solution. During the floating process of bubbles, the molten aluminum will completely contact and quickly remove the gas and inclusions in the liquid aluminum.
At the same time, some substances contained in the refining agent can strongly adsorb the oxides and suspended solids in the molten melt, and adhere to the bubbles. As the bubbles rise, they are brought to the surface of liquid aluminum, so as to achieve the purpose of refining.
Aluminum slag is an inevitable part of the melting aluminum and casting process. Although relevant measures have been taken, a certain proportion of aluminum has been removed. Therefore, smelters need to deal with aluminum slag effectively. The simplest and most economical method is to grind the aluminum slag repeatedly with a grinder, and then screen to recover part of aluminum effectively.
Special attention should be paid to the use of aluminum alloy casting flux. Let air in before adding powder. Finally, stop the powder before stopping the gas. This is to prevent the nozzle from being blocked by aluminum concentrate. If water or nodules are found in the liquid aluminum refining flux. If it is square, you can open the package, dry it in the sun and continue to use it. Sufficient liquid aluminum preparation must be added to the surface of the liquid aluminum to make the surface of the liquid aluminum evenly covered and protect the liquid aluminum from being oxidized by air. The amount of liquid aluminum preparation should be added in proportion.


On March 8, two months to the day, the EPO (European Patent Office) revoked a patent it had granted to the US Department of Agriculture for a Neem-based crop fungicide.
Kudos to India Inc., who, for ten long years protested on grounds of “biopiracy”, to protect their traditional knowledge base about Neem, its properties and it’s numerous applications in the fields of medicine, personal hygiene, agriculture, even in cuisine!
Neem is a plant species, renowned for it’s fungicidal and medicinal properties. It has been used for over centuries – over two millenia – both, by Indian farmers as well as by the Indian scientific community. Every part of the Neem tree has a medicinal property. Neem is also popularly known as Margosa and another species is termed the Persian Lilac. The Sanskrit name for the Indian Lilac or Margosa, is “Arishtha” or “sickness reliever”.
Starting from the Neem seed, to its flower, fruit, leaf, twig, bark, gum and it’s oil, this plant has been therapeutically used to control and/or cure ailments such as anorexia, leprosy, respiratorial, dermatological, intestinal, osteopathic, ophthalmic and some sexual diseases! Neem Oil is believed to be used even for preventing pregnancies, lowering cholesterol and to treat some types of cancers. If a child is down with chicken-pox, you may want to fan the baby with some neem leaves on stalks – it’s certain to soothen the pain. In farms and fields, to keep termites at bay you may want to use neem-based fungicides and insecticides.
If you walk into a South Asian grocery store you may find neem-based soaps, toothpastes, and ayurvedic medicines on the shelves. And if you’re looking for herbs, Neem will be sitting not far from cilantro and fenugreek. That’s what you may commonly refer to as Curry Patta or Curry Leaves.
Now, not surprising, is it, why the world would like to patent the Neem and it’s derivatives, while India takes for granted the enormous wealth of resources it owns. Wake up, India… don’t wait for the world to shake you out of your reverie!


Hypoestes phyllostachya (Polka Dot) plants are relatively easy to grow in small pots and like to be slightly pot bound. They will remain compact and will stay healthy with frequent feedings of liquid fertilizer during the warm weather months. In climates where winter temperatures drop below 40 F, moving the plant indoors is the best solution. They can handle full sun indoors, but be sure to keep them at least from drafts and cold air from a window. Polka Dots are great for rock gardens, ground covers, and as houseplants for brightening up a shady spot. The bright colors of the leaves and flowers make them a great ornamental plant.
Overall, Hypoestes phyllostachya is an easy-to-care-for, low-maintenance, and beautiful plant that can be grown indoors or outdoors in USDA Zones 9-11. With its spectacular foliage and vibrant splashes of pink, it's no wonder that the Polka Dot plant is such a popular ornamental choice.
Everything to know about growing and caring for this plant is that it requires bright light but not full sun, a humid environment, and consistent watering with a well-draining soil. It also benefits from misting every so often. Be sure to feed it with liquid fertilizer regularly during the warmer months. In cold regions, it's best to pot the Polka Dot plant and move it indoors to help protect it from temperatures below 40 F. Polka dots can tend to get leggy with age, so keep it pinched back. With the proper growing conditions, you'll soon be enjoying the colorful foliage and delicate pink flowers of a Polka Dot plant!


The pineapplefish, Cleidopus gloriamaris, is a species of fish in the family Monocentridae, and the sole member of its genus. It is also known as the knightfish or the coat-of-mail fish, due to the armor-like scales covering its body, and the port-and-starboard light fish, as it has a pair of bioluminescent organs that are reminiscent of navigation lights on ships. Its specific epithet is from the Latin gloria and maris, meaning “glory of the sea.” […]
The pineapplefish grows up to 22 cm (8.7 in) long. It has a plump, rounded body almost completely covered in large, rough scales with sharp, backward-pointing spines. The head is large, with mucous pits bordered by rough ridges, and is armored with heavy bone. The snout is blunt and overhangs the wide mouth. The teeth are tiny and thin, present on the jaws, palatine, and vomer.
Due to its small fins and rigid armor, the pineapplefish is a weak swimmer. A nocturnal species, it may be found inside caves and under rocky ledges during the day. In the Fly Point Halifax Park Aquatic Preserve, New South Wales, a small group of pineapplefish has been documented under the same ledge for at least 7 years, and another group under a different ledge for 3 years. At night, this species ventures out onto sandy flats to feed, using its light organs to illuminate small shrimp.
(From Wikipedia, 03/05/11)


The 63rd Congress seemed a peak for legislative racism. In 1915, the House passed a bill prohibiting interracial relations in Washington D.C. This measure had the support of almost all the House Democrats and 44% of its Republicans, with the voting being strongly correlated with whether the states they were from prohibited interracial relations. Although the Senate never voted on this proposal, on December 31, 1914, the chamber approved an amendment prohibiting “all members of the black or African race” from immigrating to the United States. This amendment was proposed by Senator James A. Reed (D-Mo.), a leading advocate of a “whites only” immigration policy. Twenty-four Democrats and five Republicans supported his amendment while seven Democrats and eighteen Republicans opposed.
Senator James A. Reed, who proposed excluding blacks from immigrating to the United States.
After this vote, the NAACP sprung into action, lobbying Congress intensely to overturn the Reed Amendment. Booker T. Washington, often regarded as overly conservative on civil rights issues, also lobbied against this measure. As a result of this pressure, the House, contrary to Senate action, voted down the black immigration ban on a vote of 74-253 with all Republicans and even some Southern Democrats against. Reed tried again with this amendment, but it got voted down. Interestingly enough, he voted against the restrictive immigration legislation of his time because he opposed the imposition of a literacy test on white immigrants.
Although black immigration would be severely curtailed with the Immigration Act of 1924 through the national origins quota system, there was never a complete ban on their immigration. The same could not be said for Asians. Such a ban had been passed for Chinese in 1882 and existed until 1943, when Congress realized the ridiculousness of excluding immigrants from an allied nation. This ban was expanded to numerous other Asian countries in 1917 and to Japan in 1924, the latter which would have major diplomatic consequences, bringing the two nations closer to war. The McCarran-Walter Immigration Act in 1952 eliminated all race and nationality bans.


Creating Zone Sets
Use zone sets page to group one or more zones and reference them in the global firewall group.
A zone set is a grouping of one or more zones in a network to regulate and secure traffic through the security platform running Junos OS. With the zone-based security, you can define multiple security zones, group similar interfaces, and apply the same policies to the zones to avoid creating multiple policies across every possible interface.
Zone sets are referenced in the global firewall group to provide you with the flexibility to perform actions on traffic without the restrictions of zone specifications.
Before You Begin
Read the Understanding Zone Sets topic.
Define a security zone.
Add logical interfaces to the zone.
Review the zone sets main page for an understanding of your current data set. See Zone Sets Main Page Fields for field descriptions.
To configure a zone set:
- Select Configure > Shared Objects > Zone Sets.
- Click the + icon.
- Complete the configuration according to the guidelines provided in the Table 1.
- Click OK.
A new zone set with the predefined configurations is created. You can use this zone set in firewall policy.
Table 1: Zone Set Settings
Enter a unique name for the zone set that begins with alphanumeric characters. Colons, periods, slashes, dashes, and underscores are allowed. The maximum length is 63 characters.
Enter a description for the zone set; maximum length is 1024 characters.
Select one or more predefined or unique zones from the Available column for inclusion in the zone set. For example: DMZ, junos-host.
The unique zones and predefined zones on your firewall depend on the device managed by Security Director.


Before discussing what, a pandemic is, it is essential to understand the meaning of an outbreak. An outbreak is when there are several cases of a specific disease outbreak in a short period. Pandemic refers to a rash of a virus like that of a common cold or flu. In other words, an outbreak is when a strain of the virus causes and increases in severity than usual.
There are different ways by which an outbreak can start. When disease-causing bacteria are introduced into the community, they can spread through contact. The most common methods of propagating disease are coughing, kissing, sharing utensils, and aerosols. Thus, a plague is caused when an infectious agent is passed from one person to another.
The COVID-19’s diffusion came into view in 2019. It started to disperse in a wet market in Wuhan, China. However, experts cannot still find a clue if what is the virus’s origin.
There are many ways to prevent the plague. One of these is to make sure that everyone is adequately immunized. The second way is to boost up immune systems by using vaccines. Moreover, it is vital to boost up general health and education. By doing so, the likelihood of encountering a pandemic will decrease, and the chances of causing and spreading a pandemic will also reduce.
Nonetheless, it became a challenge for both the authorities and the health specialists to conduct a couple of rules and regulations since not all individuals follow their legislation. Some thought freedom is being taken away from them while others are wary about their daily monetary, considering several companies have a “no work, no pay” policy.
To raise a higher state of readiness to the netizens, the World Health Organization established a couple of tests like PCR test and a fit to fly COVID test for a fit to fly certificate. These health examinations assist the public in distinguishing which of the individuals are infected and regulate the virus quickly. DAY 2 AND DAY 8 TEST


We present a constraint-based methodology which is successfully applied to a variety of engineering problems from a wide range of disciplines. Initially conceived from investigations of the engineering design process, the methodology has helped design engineers to identify and understand the initial limitations placed upon a system. Written as a set of algebraic expressions, the design objectives and design constraints can be formulated and minima found using numerical optimization techniques. These solutions provide initial configurations for the system, corresponding to how "true" all of the constraints are. A bespoke constraint-based modelling environment has been created which embodies the methodology. This is able to resolve large systems, comprising over 100 degrees-of-freedom, using an assortment of optimization routines-direct, gradient and evolutionary algorithms. These algorithms are appropriate for a number of problem types and their inclusion increase the scope of applicability of the methodology which is demonstrated using case studies from a number of engineering domains. Machines and mechanisms; human modelling; force and flow; structural geology and discrete disassembly processes are all studied using constraint-based formulations. The contribution of the paper lies in thus proving that complex (heterogeneous) systems-of-systems can be solved if the connectivity between the systems is expressed using constraint-rules.
|Number of pages||18|
|Journal||Engineering with Computers|
|Publication status||Published - 1 Oct 2011|


By the time they reach the age of two, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease. A build-up of plaque may lead to gingivitis or periodontal disease which can infect teeth and bones, causing harmful bacteria to travel via the bloodstream to other organs such as the heart or kidneys. If you are unsure of the dental health of your your pet, maybe it's time for a check-up!
Common signs of bad teeth include:
Yellow staining on teeth
Inflamed or bleeding gums
Dribbling or trouble eating (especially hard foods)
The simplest and best way to keep teeth and gums healthy is to feed a good diet. Soft foods make the teeth largely redundant, and as they say - "use 'em or lose 'em!". Soft foods also do very little in terms of scraping off old plaque and tartar; and they provide almost no tooth and gum exercise, so it is best to avoid canned foods or dog roll where possible.
For adult cats and dogs, one of the best foods for teeth is the Hills t/d. This Prescripotion Diet is a complete food that contains all the nutrients your pet needs for a healthy balanced diet and is available from most vet clinics. These biscuits are formulated in such a way that they don't crumble when chewed. Instead the kibbles wipe the teeth clean as your pet eats them, effectively brushing the teeth with every bite.
Brushing the teeth is another option. It needs to be done regularly - 2 or 3 times per week at least - and requires a diligent owner and a cooperative pet.
When too much plaque builds up, it becomes hardened tartar, which is too tough to remove by brushing or diet. Under a general anesthetic, a veterinarian can scale and polish your pets teeth to remove the plaque and tartar that built up. Sometimes teeth become damaged and painful and require removal, which is also done under a general anaesthetic.


three specialists (meteorologist, landuse planner, and water quality
analyst) for a meeting and discussion prior to collecting data.
a storm date to investigate based on the dates offered by the teacher.
Ask each specialist to describe the strategies they might use and where
they will find the data they need. Brainstorm as a group to help each
of the specialists. Write down the predictions of the specialists as
to how the major rainfall will affect the lakes turbidity.
strategy for determining how rainstorms have affected turbidity in the
lake in the past. Either write up your strategy as a set of instructions
for another reporter, or actually collect historical data about the affects
of rainstorms on the lakes turbidity.
of the group members has gathered his/her data, call another meeting.
Ask each specialist
to share their information, beginning with the meteorologist, then the
planner, and finally the water quality analyst.
As a whole
group answer the following questions:
did the major rainfall affect the lakes turbidity
- Explain why some watershed characteristics may have significantly affected
the impacts of the rainfall on lake turbidity values.
- Explain why some landuse activities may have significantly affected the impacts
of the rainfall on lake turbidity values.
has the responsibility to share this information with the rest of the


Similar to imprinting, cats can form a deep bond to a single person in the family. Let's explore these signs!
Cats express affection by headbutting, a behaviour that demonstrates trust and helps to form bonds. It represents joy, comfort, and imprinting.
A cat that has imprinted on you will follow you around the home, sit on your lap, and even try to join you in the shower.
Cats just groom their closest pals, using their tongue as a comb. If your cat grooms you, it means they consider you as part of their family.
Cats seek protection from those they trust. If your cat curls up to you, it means they are safe with you and have imprinted as an act of affection.
In the cat world, displaying the tummy is an unguarded pose. If your cat shows you their belly, they trust you. But don't rub it! Allow them some room.
Cats bring home gifts to share their treasure. If your cat offers you gifts, it implies you have a special place in their heart.
Soft biting or nibbling, similar to how kittens nurse on their mother, is a gentle and careful manner for cats to demonstrate their love.
Cats knead as a symbol of love and comfort. It's an instinctual behaviour that begins in kittenhood and indicates that your cat feels safe with you.
If your cat pays special attention to you, reminds you of things on a daily basis, and appears to know your routine, it suggests they adore you.
Cats use smell glands to mark their territory. If a cat imprints you, they will claim you as their own by rubbing against you in devotion.


Technology & Antibiotic Resistance
Humans have removed themselves from the natural selection process to a large degree through technology. One of the most powerful examples of this has been the development of antibiotics which eliminate bacterial infections that would normally kill some of the population. Having created antibiotics many forms of dangerous disease have been mostly eliminated. However, this does not mean that humans have completely overcome the selection process. Antibiotic resistant bacteria are also a great example of natural selection. The ability of bacteria to survive an attack by an antibiotic is an excellent example of natural selection at work. Bacteria that develop a mutation that allows them to survive an antibiotic will live long enough to reproduce and so spread the ‘survival’ gene to subsequent generations. Those bacteria with this gene will survive and become more numerous in the bacterial population. This is happening today with certain strains of AIDS and Tuberculosis (Lensk, 1998). These diseases have managed to evolve into being resistant to certain drugs. In fact the overuse of antibiotics is believed to be causal of this mutation. It could be argued that in some instances, that humans have not overcome the process of natural selection but rather have altered the course of such selection.
Paul S. Agutter & Denys N. Wheatley (2008). Thinking about Life: The History and Philosophy of Biology and Other Sciences. Springer. p. 43.
Richard E. Lensk (1998) Bacterial evolution and the cost of antibiotic resistance Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University, US
Photo by Michael Schiffer on Unsplash
Triola Vincent. Sun, Feb 14, 2021. How have humans freed themselves from natural selection? Retrieved from https://vincenttriola.com/blogs/ten-years-of-academic-writing/how-have-humans-freed-themselves-from-natural-selection


Common Plant Care Questions
Why does a plant get yellow leaves?
It is normal to have some leaves yellow and dry up on your indoor potted plants. This processes could be likened to your skin cells that are continuously regenerating.
The leaves will never turn green again, so pull the yellow leaves off the plant. If there is excessive yellowing of leaves, there may be a watering or pest issue. Consult with your plant technician.
What are soil gnats?
These pesky soil or sometimes called fungus gnats are small flying insects often found in homes and offices. They are considered a nuisance when present in noticeable numbers but are harmless. Fungus gnats live in the top 2-3 inches of growing medium depending on the moisture levels. To minimize gnat problems allow the soil to dry thoroughly between waterings. Consult with your plant tech for more info.
When should a plant be repotted to a larger container?
Generally Indoor plants prefer to be root bound before being transplanted to a larger container.
When roots can be seen wrapping around to the inside of the container at the soil level it is time to transplant.
Ask your plant tech for advice on how and when to transplant. We are happy to help you with your repotting projects.
When to Water my Plant?
Us folks in the plant business are used to hearing this question from our friends, family and clients.
The correct answer is……when the plant is ready.
For 95.6% of the tropical foliage we use as house or office plants in our interior space, that plant is ready for a drink when the soil is dry and NOT cool to the touch as you stick your finger 2-3 inches into the top layer of soil medium. If it feels cool, that means that there is moisture in the soil, so wait to water your plant. Over watering often “drowns” the roots of the plant and eventually prevents the plant from thriving in your indoor world.


by LaNesha DeBardelaben
From a global pandemic to a renewed focus on social justice, many have suggested that historians will one day look back on 2020 as a turning point for our nation. Turning points can spark much-needed progressive change, but only if we cultivate it, educate our communities, and hold decision makers accountable.
The past year made it painfully clear that some of the very institutions designed to keep neighborhoods and communities safe and healthy are failing People of Color.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored health care disparities that put People of Color at greater risk. The COVID-19 death rate among Black people is 1.4 times higher than among white people, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project. In King County, data shows that confirmed cases, hospitalized cases, and deaths due to COVID-19 are all higher within communities of color than for white residents. Data also shows racial disparities in the national distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations, with Black and Hispanic people receiving smaller shares of vaccinations compared to their shares of cases and deaths and compared to their shares of the total population in most states. As Seattle physician Dr. Ben Danielson noted at a recent conversation that we hosted at the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM), “This is about more than science; this is about us.”Continue reading OPINION: The Teachings of Malcolm X Can Guide Our Path to Greater Equity


“Lysias heard that Philip, whom King Antiochus while still living had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus to be king, had returned from Persia and Media. Philip had the forces that had gone with the king so that he was trying to seize control of the government. So Lysias quickly gave orders to withdraw. He said to the king, the commanders of the forces, and to the men.
‘Daily we grow weaker.
Our food supply is scant.
The place against which we are fighting is strong.
The affairs of the kingdom press urgently upon us.
Now then let us come to terms with these people.
Make peace with them.
Make peace with their entire nation.
Let us agree to let them live by their laws as they did before.
For it was on account of their laws that we abolished
That they became angry
That they did all these things.’”
Lysias heard that Philip was coming back from Persia. Philip had been appointed by the late King Antiochus IV to take care of his son King Antiochus V, who happened to be with Lysias here. Lysias knew that Philip had all the eastern forces with him. Thus he wanted to go back to meet Philip to prevent him from seizing control of the Syrian part of the government. He wanted his forces to withdraw. He gave a little speech to the king, the troop commanders, and the men. He told them that they were getting weaker by the day. Besides, the Jews had strong fortifications. On top of that, there were other pressing problems in the kingdom. He wanted to have a peace treaty. He wanted to let the Jews live by their own laws like before. That would make the Jews happy and end the rebellion.


Known to kill bacteria, can antibiotics also interfere with our immune system? Researchers at the Pasteur Institute have discovered that a new molecule, used to treat tuberculosis that is multi-resistant to antibiotics, activates the defence functions of macrophages, important players in innate immunity. These cells then became able to fight against bacterial infections, which were normally resistant to this antibiotic.
The discovery of antibiotics is one of modern medicine's major breakthroughs, providing an effective means of tackling bacterial infections. These agents target specific bacterial cellular processes, preventing their multiplication or even survival. Little is still known regarding their effect on humans. Recent observations suggest that antibiotics can impact the immune system either indirectly by affecting "helpful" bacteria normally present in the body or by directly affecting immune cells. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur's Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics Unit have studied how bedaquiline, an antibiotic recently developed for treating tuberculosis, affects the immune system. They discovered that bedaquiline activates macrophages' bactericidal functions, which are capable of controlling bacteria normally resistant to this antibiotic.
Macrophages absorb foreign particles such as bacteria and break them down using enzymes stored within small internal compartments, or "lysosomes". A combination of imaging and gene expression analysis revealed that exposure to bedaquiline not only increases the number of lysosomes in macrophages, but also their ability to break down foreign particles.
Bedaquiline treatment could therefore improve macrophages' efficacy for tackling bacterial infections, even though the antibiotic itself has no direct effect on bacteria. Further experiments, in which macrophages were treated with bedaquiline, then exposed to different types of bacteria known for their resistance to this antibiotic, confirmed this theory.
This research sheds new light on the way in which antibiotics can interact with immune system cells. It also demonstrates that it is possible to strengthen our defense systems to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As such, it may provide the basis for developing more effective treatments for bacterial infections.
Source: Elife, May 4 2020. doi: 10.7554/eLife.55692.
This study is part of the priority scientific area Antimicrobial Resistance of the Institut Pasteur's strategic plan for 2019-2023.