Studying A-level Chemistry at UTC South Durham gives you the in-depth knowledge needed should you wish to continue your studies further, and helps you to develop the vital practical and problem solving skills which will be essential in whatever career path you should choose to take.
Throughout the course, you will study:
- Physical chemistry (atomic structure, bonding, kinetics, equilibrium, energetics, thermodynamics, acids and bases)
- Inorganic chemistry (trends in the periodic table, transition metal chemistry, reactions of ions in aqueous solution and properties of period 3 elements)
- Organic chemistry (alkanes, haloalkanes, alkenes and alcohols. In addition to analytical techniques, optical isomerism and reactions for a range of organic substances, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and chromatography)
At UTC South Durham, our state of the art equipment will allow you to use practical work to support theoretical content. Where it is not feasible for us to have our own equipment or resources, we are able to utilise the facilities and expertise of our Business Partners and University links.
The A-Level Chemistry specification can be found here.
- GCSE grade 6+ in maths and chemistry or
- GCSE grade 6+ in maths, science and additional science
- Strong performance in exams over coursework is an advantage
- We recommend that you study Chemistry alongside a Level 3 Maths course (A-Level or Core Maths)
Completing A-Level Chemistry will help you if you wish to pursue a career in Chemical or Biochemical Engineering, in medical disciplines, or in the field of Forensic Science. At UTC, the subject content is delivered in a way which makes it relevant to real world experiences.
More information on careers in Chemistry can be found here.


Is wireless charging really bad for the battery?
Meanwhile, it has become a must, which is offered on smartphones a wireless charging function. Cables are simply no longer accepted today. First, the headphones were designed wireless and then the charger of the smartphone.
THE WIRELESS LOADING IS PERFORMED WITH THE HELP OF CHARGING PADS. THIS FUNCTION IS FOR SMARTPHONES, HEADPHONES AND SMARTWATCHES.
Recent studies to follow a drawback to wireless charging has been shown. This kind of charging is designed to overload the smartphone battery and thus endanger the life of the battery. And as is known, the battery can not be replaced anymore, they would have to switch to a new smartphone if it should happen that their battery is damaged.
The reason for this:
Decisive because of the overheating of the battery culpably. According to the results of the investigation, the reason for the overheating is that the heat from both devices is transmitted to each other. The rising heat on the charger generates more energy and the increased energy mass affects the power of the battery.
Tests carried out have revealed that the wireless charging of smartphones is more than 3 degrees warmer than when charging by cable. The overheating not only leads to a shorter battery life, but also responsible for lowering the power of the smartphone is the wireless charging.
But the right application when charging with wireless systems is very important. The researchers reported that if the positioning is misaligned when charging the smartphone on the Wireless Charger, excessive amounts of energy are consumed.
How should the right charging the smartphone done?
With these tips below you will keep your battery life at its best:
- Charging may only be carried out using the device included in the delivery.
- Deep discharge of the batteries should be avoided as far as possible.
- If their battery level is between 65 – 75 percent, they should not resort to charging. Because this is ideal for the battery.
- Under no circumstances should the smartphone be left plugged in overnight on the charging cable.
- Apart from that, you can disable the multitasking feature of your device.
- Most important point: avoid the heat.
New technologies in relation to wireless charging stations
Most of the companies and developers are aware that the current technology is actually insufficient for such use. Therefore, many entrepreneurs are working to develop the best charging stations.


Hermosillo, Sonora, November 17, 2018. Gerardo Álvarez Hernández warned that with the influenza's aggressive attack every two years, a larger force and mortality rate will be expected this winter 2018-2019.
The director of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, the health authority, explained that the virus gets stronger every two years because it has a biennial cycle and there are more cases than the previous season.
Likewise, he argued that people with risk factors are at increased risk of serious forms of risk and death and should receive influenza vaccination from January and February this month. When there is a big rise in the case.
"The most dangerous people are children between the ages of 6 and 5, adults over 60, pregnant women, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, chronic lung disease, heart disease, HIV and cancer."
Biologics for influenza can be used safely and in health units, this season to protect against life-threatening dangers by protecting against circulatory viruses, preventing disease, or minimizing effects.
Alvarez Hernandez pointed out the importance of going to the Ministry of Health because nearly everyone who died of influenza last season was not vaccinated, according to the Ministry of Health epidemic.
He points out that influenza is a highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads easily in schools, shelters, workplaces, and cities and affects severity from three to seven days, depending on the condition of the person.
"If you have fever, cough, headache, sore throat, nausea and fatigue, do not take your medicine," he concluded, "to get to the health department immediately to resolve the disease.


Chafer Grub Damage and Solutions
The European Chafer Beetle is an invasive insect species first discovered in New Westminster in 2001. Since its initial discovery, it has spread throughout Metro Vancouver cities causing significant damage to lawns, fields, parks and other areas.
While it has only a one-year life cycle, it reproduces rapidly and causes widespread damage by feeding on the roots of grass and turf. Further damage is caused by birds and animals digging for the chubs, which can tear up grass and turf. The infestation can result in brown patches and a chewed up lawn.
How do you know if you have a chafer beetle grub infestation?
The best way to determine whether your area has been affected by chafer beetle grubs is to cut a 30 cm x 30 cm square patch of the area. Turn it over and look for white, stout c-shaped bodies with light brown heads. If you find them, consider taking action.
How to resolve a chafer beetle grub infestation?
Infestations are far less likely to occur in healthy grass. By doing proper maintenance including regular fertilization and liming, aeration and overseeding, it will keep grass healthier.
Microclover and Tall Fescue are hardier, beetle resistant grass species that are well-suited for areas where there is an incidence of the chafer grub.
Premier Pacific Seeds produces two beetle-resistant grass seed options:
- Chafer Resistant Lawn Seed Mix
- Tall Fescue Mix


Millions of children logged on to the first day of school this year to avoid crowded classrooms in the age of a pandemic. But are there other dangers to be aware of at home?
“Being all online means that there’s more spaces that trolls can break into,” said Alicia Vance, director of youth & education privacy at the Future of Policy Forum in Washington D.C. “There’s more opportunities.”
She says since the switch to virtual learning, there have been a lot of cases of ‘zoom bombers,’ people who hack into meetings and present hateful language or other inappropriate content. People have also had trouble connecting in the first place. Vance says it’s because many online tools weren’t designed for learning.
“You saw widespread adoption of tools that weren’t built for education,” Vance said. “That were really built for businesses, casual get togethers, so their emphasis was on ease of access, the ability to click a link when you’re there. But that’s a problem when you now have online classes.”
Since the spring, many online resources have added some safeguards like password protection, or the ability for the host to kick a troll out.
“We want to ensure that kids are being monitored before they use the computer as well,” said Duane Dunston, professor of information and technology at Champlain College.
Dunston suggests that students not share meeting information with anyone.
A group called BARK monitors online interactions. More than 2,000 school districts across the nation use their technology. Their data shows online predators have increased 23% from last year.
“Predators can be anybody and because of that they know where children are, when they’re there and in how to talk to them in a way that engenders trust,” said Titania Jordan, chief parenting officer at BARK.
The app can also be used by parents at home and credits itself in preventing 16 school shootings and detecting more than 60,000 self-harm situations.


Infographic: What the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ climate package means for supply chain emissions
On 14 July 2021, the European Commission unveiled its plan to meet 55% emission reduction by 2030, as the first step towards carbon neutrality by 2050. This entails the revision of its climate, energy, and transport-related legislation under the so-called “Fit for 55” package. A dozen updated EU laws will change the way we move, warm our houses, and manufacture products.
Meanwhile, three major themes underpin the discussion: ensuring a just and socially fair transition, strengthening innovation and competitiveness of EU industry, and positioning the EU as the leader in the global fight against climate change.
This infographic in a snapshot of the many ways EU climate legislation could impact European and global supply chains. It provides an overview of all decarbonization levers across categories of emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3).
The European Commission’s proposals are currently being reshaped by the European Parliament and Council (representing national governments). Once both co-legislators adopt their respective positions, political negotiations between the two can start. While the timeline is expected to vary per file, major emission-cutting legislation could be adopted as early as 2023.


September 4, 2020 | By Bill Hathaway | News.Yale.edu |
“As the flu season approaches, a strained public health system may have a surprising ally — the common cold virus.
Rhinovirus, the most frequent cause of common colds, can prevent the flu virus from infecting airways by jumpstarting the body’s antiviral defenses, Yale researchers report Sept. 4 in the journal The Lancet Microbe.
The findings help answer a mystery surrounding the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic: An expected surge in swine flu cases never materialized in Europe during the fall, a period when the common cold becomes widespread.
A Yale team led by Dr. Ellen Foxman studied three years of clinical data from more than 13,000 patients seen at Yale New Haven Hospital with symptoms of respiratory infection. The researchers found that even during months when both viruses were active, if the common cold virus was present, the flu virus was not.
“When we looked at the data, it became clear that very few people had both viruses at the same time,” said Foxman, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and immunobiology and senior author of the study.”
Interference between rhinovirus and influenza A virus: a clinical data analysis and experimental infection study Link
Link To Full_Document_PIIS2666524720301142


Deep beneath the surface of Greenland's ice sheet lies a chasm half a mile deep and longer than the Grand Canyon. According to a paper published in Science, radar data from NASA's IceBridge project — which measures changes in polar ice from aircraft — has revealed the existence of the hitherto-unknown canyon. Part of IceBridge's mission is to measure ice thickness, using frequencies that can bounce through ice to the bedrock beneath. When data from IceBridge and previous studies was put together, it revealed a canyon 460 miles long and 2,600 feet deep; by comparison, the Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, its deepest point 6,000 feet below the rim.
The newly discovered canyon is thought to have formed before ice covered Greenland, and it looks like a river channel, like the Grand Canyon. As much as four million years ago, the canyon could have held a major river system that flowed from the center of Greenland to the coast. Now, of course, it's not visible to the naked eye, buried under an ice sheet that can be miles thick. But the canyon could still be shifting water around the island. Lead author Jonathan Bamber and his team believe that the canyon funnels meltwater under the glacier out to the ocean, stopping it from lingering beneath the ice sheet and making it "slippery." And that, in turn, could actually make it harder for the ice sheet to slip into the sea, delaying in some small part the rising sea levels that come with climate change.


Patrick Rael on the 13th Amendment:
“First, the “loophole” argument imputes to its framers and judicial interpreters a conspiracy against intentions of full equality that the amendment never included in the first place. All the Thirteenth Amendment did was abolish slavery; it stood virtually moot on the meaning of freedom. This was by design. Antislavery legislators wanted a more comprehensive measure, but only by compromising on its vision would more conservative legislators let it pass. It took later amendments and laws to define freedom: the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (civil rights), the Fourteenth Amendment of 1868 (citizenship), the Fifteenth Amendment of 1870 (voting rights), and others.
“Second, on its face, the language of the Thirteenth Amendment’s “exception clause” offers no mechanism to actively promote incarceration. Instead, its obvious purpose is to ensure that none mistake the prohibition on racial slavery for a prohibition on criminal incarceration. Given the novelty of emancipation at the phrase’s origin, that was not pointless: surely the abolition of slavery should not mean that no one (black or white) could ever be incarcerated for crimes they committed, right?
“The exception clause alone did nothing to promote racial oppression. Search in vain for legal cases in which the clause was used to argue for the legality of any form of punishment. Instead, we see the opposite, as in in U.S. v. Ah Sou, C.C.A.9 (1905), wherein the court used the clause to argue against deporting a Chinese woman because it would have returned her to a state slavery in China. To justify their oppression, white supremacists used much more powerful and overt legal devices than slippery language in the Thirteenth Amendment. Jim Crow and mass incarceration would’ve happened with or without the exception clause…”
Read it all: Demystifying the 13th Amendment and Its Impact on Mass Incarceration
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In today’s lifestyle of Bhagambhag, man is getting short of time. Because of this, he is unable to take time for himself, he is unable to take care of his health. Due to the disorderly eating and drinking routine, he is unable to pay attention to the increasing weight. It is important for a person to be healthy but it is more important to keep the weight under control. Breakfast is very important in the morning. According to experts, do breakfast in the morning. Having a healthy breakfast provides you with the necessary nutrients that can help control hunger. If you do not have breakfast then you will not get these nutrients and you will feel hungry throughout the day. Doctors say that if you eat regularly during the day, calories are burnt faster and appetite is also less. The reason for this is that when you are hungry for a long time, the appetite increases and you tend to overeat.
This increases the chances of gaining weight. Instead of overeating at once, eat at regular intervals. Include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Fruits and vegetables are low in calories, fat and carbs, so they should be consumed adequately. The National Health Service says that to lose weight, one should consume plenty of fruits and vegetables. Apart from eating, your activity is also important. That is, to lose weight, you need to remain active. If you sweat after going to the gym for hours, then you lose weight, but as soon as you leave the gym, your weight starts increasing again. That’s why you keep yourself active. For this, walk a lot, use the stairs instead of the lift. Do physical work.


- News Releases
A modified version of CPR is making it easier to remember what to do if someone suddenly collapses in front of you.
Experts say continuous-compression CPR, also called hands-only CPR, is easier to learn and perform, and it doesn’t require breathing for the victim. According to the American Heart Association, hands-only CPR can be performed on teens or adults using a compression rhythm that matches the beat of the Bee Gees song, “Stayin’ Alive.”
In this Mayo Clinic Minute, nurse educator and CPR trainer Jill Henderson shows you how easy it is to use hands-only CPR to save a life. Jeff Olsen reports.
Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:05) is in the downloads. Read the script.
Women experience menopause at different ages — and different ways — which can, among other things, affect their heart health. The average age of natural menopause ...
Menopause marks the end of reproductive years. Fluctuating hormonal levels can lead to a variety of unwanted symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats and sleep ...
National Women's Health Week will be observed May 14–20, which makes this a good time to learn about two of the top threats to women's ...


Crater Lake in southwest Oregon Today’s Image of the Day comes thanks to the NASA Earth Observatory and features a look at Crater Lake in southwest Oregon.
Crater Lake sits nestled in the Cascade Mountains, where even in late June, snow still covers the surrounding peaks. Located in the lake is a cinder cone volcano named Wizard Island.
The lake is actually the surface expression of a caldera of a volcano that exploded in a dramatic eruption 6,000 to 8,000 years ago.
This image was captured by an astronaut on board the International Space Station.Oregon has been home to many indigenous nations for thousands of years. The first European traders, explorers, and settlers began exploring what is now Oregon’s Pacific coast in the early-mid 1500s. As early as 1565, the Spanish began sending vessels northeast from the Philippines, riding the Kuroshio Current in a sweeping circular route across the northern part of the Pacific. In 1592, Juan de Fuca undertook detailed mapping and studies of ocean currents in the Pacific Northwest, including the Oregon coast as well as the strait now bearing his name. Spanish ships – 250 in as many years – would typically not land before reaching Cape Mendocino in California, but some landed or wrecked in what is now Oregon. Nehalem tales recount strangers and the discovery of items like chunks of beeswax and a lidded silver vase, likely connected to the 1707 wreck of the San Francisco Xavier
By Rory Arnold, Earth.com Staff Writer
Source: NASA Earth Observatory


We know that speaking English in an exam situation can be scary, but if you've done your preparation you'll know what to expect. But once the test begins what more can you do? Maybe our top tips will help…
Firstly, it might sound obvious, but listen to the examiner. Some candidates talk too much. Others don't say enough. If the examiner wants to start a different stage of the test they may use words like: fine, good, right, ok, now - so listen carefully!
If you don’t understand the examiner's questions or instructions, ask them to repeat or clarify. Make sure you revise the language to do this before the speaking test.
Remember to do exactly what is asked. One task in the test might be to compare and contrast two pictures, make sure you do that. Don't simply describe them.
As with all exams, timing is important. Before the test, make sure you know the structure of the exam and how long you have for each part. You need to check your timing throughout the exam and pace yourself so that you don't run out of steam too early!
When speaking, remember to use language that is appropriate for your level – but don't try to oversimplify it. Speak naturally with a variety of intonation.
Finally, during the exam, you must be ready to talk and to take the initiative whenever the opportunity arises. Think about your pronunciation, intonation, the accuracy of your grammar, the range of vocabulary and maintaining the flow of the discussion.
Focus on these things – be confident – and all will go well. Good luck!
scary - frightening
examiner – tester
stage - period
revise - reconsider
contrast - compare
pace oneself – do something at a slow and steady rate
steam - energy
appropriate - suitable
intonation – speech pattern
arise – become apparent
accuracy – correctness
range - reach
maintain - keep
Source: BBC Learning English


Scientists have uncovered the highest concentration of microplastics ever recorded on the ocean floor, according to a recent study published in the journal Science.
The team of scientists who conducted the study discovered around 1.9 million pieces of plastic in one square meter on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that are less than 5 millimeters in length and pollute the environment.
By studying sediment samples and deep ocean currents, scientists were able to determine that currents are distributing microplastics in concentrated locations across the seafloor, creating microplastic hotspots.
"These currents build what are called drift deposits; think of underwater sand dunes," co-lead author of the study Dr. Ian Kane told the BBC. "They are among the largest sediment accumulations on Earth. They're made predominantly of very fine silt, so it's intuitive to expect microplastics will be found within them."
The millions of microplastics on the bottom of the Mediterranean originated from clothing and other textiles that have eroded over time and likely entered the ocean through wastewater treatment plants.
Deep ocean currents also carry nutrients and oxygenated water, putting deep-sea creatures and ecosystems at risk of absorbing or ingesting plastic.
This study is the first direct link between current pattern behavior and high concentrations of microplastics on the ocean floor.
Scientists hope their research will help lead them to other potential hotspots on the ocean floor, so they can clean up the ocean and further study the impact of microplastics on marine life.


What is Short Rotation Forestry?
Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) differs from its near relation, SRC (Short Rotation Coppice) in that it’s much more akin to traditional forestry. SRC is typically harvested every 3 years, whereas SRF is a much longer rotation (8-20 years), placing SRF somewhere between SRC and conventional forestry in timescales.
Essentially, the trees are felled when they have reached a diameter of about 10-20 cm and around 1-2 metres in height. This means there are two key benefits: retaining the fast growth rate of young trees and also increasing the wood to bark ratio, making woodchip from SRF burn very efficiently.
During harvest, the bark is stripped and left on site with other residues to return nutrients to the soil. The wood is removed to prepare for end markets.
A number of species, native, naturalized and exotic, have been proposed for SRF, including various varieties of:
- Nothofagus (southern beech)
The yields of SRC may be extraordinary, but the limited field trials of SRF show comparable and even better yields with some species. However, these results are unlikely to be universal across the UK – soil types and temperature range are critical variables in obtaining maximum yields with SRF.
Environmental Benefits of SRF/SRC
Trees are the ultimate friend of the environment at large. They’re considered the gold standard in bio-diversity, carbon cycle and storage as well as natural flood management. Combining SRF with SRC on your land ensures the very best of both worlds – the SRF providing secure safe habitats for all kinds of wildlife while the SRC provides a ready supply of food for insects and for the predators of them.


NAEP doesn't report grade levels. It reports achievement levels, and these do not correspond to grade levels. Nor does he understand the NAEP achievement levels or just how demanding NAEP's "proficiency" level really is. To score below "proficient" on NAEP does NOT mean "below grade level."
NAEP has four achievement levels.
The top level is called "advanced," which represents the very highest level of student performance. Students who are "advanced" probably are at an A+; if they were taking an SAT, they would likely score somewhere akin to 750-800. These are the students who are likely to qualify for admission to our most selective universities.
Then comes "proficient," which represents solid academic performance, equivalent to an A or a very strong B. Guggenheim assumes that any student who is below "proficient" cannot read at "grade level." He is wrong.
The third level is "basic." These are students who have achieved partial mastery of the knowledge and skills necessary to be proficient. This would be equivalent, I believe, to a grade of C. Many (if not most) states use NAEP's "basic" as their own definition of "proficient." This is because they know that it is unrealistic to expect all students to be "A" students.
"Below basic" is the category that Guggenheim confused with "below grade level." In 8th grade reading, 25 percent of students are below basic, not 70 percent. If Guggenheim knew what he was talking about, he might have said that 70 percent of 8th grade students were unable to score the equivalent of an A, but that would not be an alarming figure. It would not be a very dramatic story had he said, in sonorous tones, "25 percent of our 8th grade students are 'below basic' in reading, and that figure includes students who are learning English and students with disabilities."
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What Skin Pigmentation Means?
The human body produces a natural pigment: “Melanin”. The quantity of melanin production defines the texture of your skin, hair, and eye. It is specified that excess melanin production results in dark patches on the skin. The increase in melanin production depends on various factors that cause pigmentation concerns on the face and body.
How Skin Pigmentation Occurs?
The top layer of skin is pigmentation. Excess production of Melanin occurs when external disruption emerges on the skin’s surface. It acts as a physical barrier to external disturbance.
Read below for more causes of pigmentation on the skin.
What Causes Pigmentation on the Face?
Sun Damage/Exposure to UV Rays
Exposure to sunlight from UV rays can cause hyperpigmentation as you age. Generally, sun spots, freckles, melasma, and sun lentigines are caused. These are the common types of pigmentations. The Ultraviolet rays damage the cell known as melanocytes that produce skin pigments Melanin. When the skin absorbs the UV light, the skin cells get damaged. Hence, pigmentation occurs.
Pigmentation occurs during hormonal changes. Hormones activate melasma, which results in dark patches on the skin. For example: during pregnancy, women face this.
Skin Inflammation and Wound Healing
Acne, skin scars, eczema, psoriasis are the skin inflammation that causes spots and patches. Skin inflammation causes a fluctuation in producing pigments that cause hyperpigmentation.
Medicines can also harm your skin. Generally, drugs are taken for treating thyroid or ovarian concerns. Some of the medications can make your skin sensitive, and they can cause melasma.
For preventing your skin from pigmentation, you must avoid going out in the sun, treat your acne in a definite way naturally, avoid having medications that damage your skin.
Pigmentation is a skin concern that can’t be cured by treatments, therapies, or home remedies. This may help you lighten the dark patches but won’t help you eliminate them. You must be patient and be careful about what you are using. You can use Natural Papaya Face wash that will reduce your pigmentation concerns.


Christianity In Slovakia
Religion and history research papers often touch base on topics that are similar. When researching the history of Slovakia, students find that Christianity in Slovakia was an important part of their early history. Paper Masters will outline the history of Christianity in Slovakia for students in a custom written research paper.
Below is an overview of what you will want to include in writing on Christianity in Slovakia.
Christianity's official introduction to the Czech Lands and Slovakia has an ironic twist.In 828, Frankish Archbishop Adalram consecrated the first Christian church in Nitra. Historians contend that without the consent of Nitra's ruler, Pribina, this church could not have been built. Pribina allowed Christian encroachment because he felt confident that "his people were cohesive and strong enough to engage in discourse with Frankish missionaries and countenance conversion". Pribina would be shocked to learn that Christianity would offer the Czech and Slovak peoples the social cohesion necessary for survival in Central Europe's tumultuous political history.
Christian Missionaries in Slovakia
Christian missionaries interacted with the Slovaks in Greater Moravia as early as the eighth century. The Frankish Empire, heavily influenced by the Frankish Church, used missionaries as tools to expand social and political influence.The missionary presence led to official recognition of the Church in Nitra.From there, the Frankish Empire expanded its control of Greater Moravia until the areas became a vassal state, obligated to pay dues to the Frankish government.
Catholic Church In Slovakia
In 862, Moravian prince Rastislav sought connection with the Catholic Church for the following reasons:
- Frankish influence over the politics had grown stifling
- Widespread acceptance of the Frankish Church was increasing Frankish entrenchment
- Rastislav's unfortunate alliance with the loser in a Frankish power struggle made him an enemy of his neighbors.
In order to balance the mass of power against him, Rastislav requested a Catholic bishop and teachers.This would begin the Slovak historical connection with the Byzantine Empire.


Monday, December 11, 2017
Gene Therapy Treats Patients with Hemophilia?
Hemophilia is an inherited disease that causes the patient's blood not to clot properly. Patients that suffer with hemophilia often find themselves bruising easily and experience excessive bleeding if injured. Scientists have recently discovered a way to treat/cure this disease using gene therapy. Ten men were injected with a virus that contained a gene for factor IX. The factor IX is a blood clotting protein that is often missing in people who have Hemophilia and that is why their blood does not clot properly. These virus injections were given to the ten men every few days. After a year and a half scientists began noticing that the men's bodies began making on their own about a 1/3 of the amount of factor IX that should be produced normally. Eight out of the 10 men no longer needed to keep getting the injections every few days because of efficient their bodies were at creating the protein.
This article was very interesting. Hemophilia is a very serious disease and victims of it have to live every single day worrying for their lives. Because of advancements in gene therapy and trial and error scientists have began making big advances in curing diseases. Now scientists can use what they learned from finding a way to manipulating factor IX production to cure other diseases.
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Hemophilia is a very serious disease so finding a cure for it is kind of detrimental. It will give these people a normal life, and relieve them of so many worries! They no longer have to fear a small bruise, or worry over a scratch that won't stop bleeding. I hope this becomes a big thing!ReplyDelete
I have heard so many upsetting stories about people suffering from hemophilia, so to hear that there are ways to be curing it is amazing. I agree with you about how gene therapy has been making so many new advancements at helping cure and prevent diseases. This study about hemophilia though is quite the improvement in the medical world!ReplyDelete


Today, in many families across the U.S., both parents are working, and more mothers are working now than a generation ago. This, combined with an increased understanding of the connection between high-quality early education, brain development, and school readiness, have contributed to increased demand for high-quality, affordable child care and other early education programs.
A high quality early education experience depends on a high-quality workforce of early educators. How we value and support those early educators as a nation – through access to higher education, professional development and commensurate compensation – has direct implications on their ability to do their difficult and important job well.
The research is clear on the benefits of high-quality early education for children from birth to age five. For many working families, access to affordable, reliable, and high-quality child care and early education is both a necessity to attain and maintain a job and to foster the learning and development of their young children. Many children, particularly low-income children, depend on high-quality early learning settings for school readiness.
Early learning settings include programs serving children from birth through age five (or the age at which states mandate school attendance).
High-quality early education for young children is a multi-purposed strategy to support:
- Young children in their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development, to ensure they are prepared for success in school and beyond;
- Working parents with their need for safe, reliable child care so they can work, go to school, or attend training; and
- Employers and the local economy, which are dependent on working parents.
The quality of any early learning setting is directly related to the quality of their staff, their understanding of child development, and their ability to translate that understanding into positive interactions, securely attached relationships, and age-appropriate learning opportunities with children.
This report discusses the importance of supporting the early learning workforce – nearly a totality of whom are women – not only to improve the quality of early learning programs, but also to ensure fair pay so that they can support their own families.


good faith and USA
The concept of good faith has existed for thousands of years in Western civilization. Indeed, it has been asserted that the concept is one of the bases of those civilized society. The ancient Greeks recognized something similar to the notion of bona fides as « a universal social norm governing the relationships of its citizens. »For their part, the Romans converted the notion into a basis for legal action; Roman jurists incorporated the notion into the essence of « a number of legal rules defining the obligations in normal commercial transactions . . . . » The notion played an especially important role in the enforcement of informal consensual contracts in classical Roman law.
The concept has also found its way into American commercial law. A majority of them jurisdictions recognize the concept as a matter of case law. Fifty of the 400 Code provisions expressly mention good faith. Article 2 of the Code, devoted to sales, includes 13 sections explicitly using good faith standards. The Code’s general good faith provision, § 1-304, announces: « Every contract or duty within the Uniform Commercial Code imposes an obligation of good faith in its performance and enforcement. » Moreover, if one can take the broad language in some of the judicial opinions at face value, the obligation has meaningful substantive content; many opinions contain sweeping language to the effect that the obligation precludes a contracting party from taking any action that would destroy or impair the other party’s contractual rights or benefits.


Back to basics
What are Keys to Steam Purity Monitoring?
By William Harfst
BOILERS CONDUCTIVITY CORROSION MONITORING SCALING STEAM STEAM SAMPLING
Welcome to our GWi | Ultrapure archive of more than 2,200 articles. This month’s article is by William Harfst and was originally published in January 1997 as a part of our Back to Basics series. Mr. Harfst examines steam purity and ways to monitor it in power plant and in industrial plants using boilers.
Maintaining the integrity, reliability, and efficiency of steam turbines, super heaters, and heat exchangers requires a source of high-purity steam. Steam of inferior quality can result in costly downtime caused by corrosion, solids deposition, and fouling of this equipment. Fortunately, these problems can be prevented by routine measurement and monitoring of steam quality.
Boiler water contains dissolved and suspended impurities. These solids are introduced into the boiler from the feedwater, or added via the chemical feed system. As steam is generated, it separates from the bulk of the boiler water where it exits through the main steam header. Under these conditions, the steam is pure (that is, it does not contain any of the dissolved or suspended solids present in the boiler water. In actual practice, however, steam separation is not 100% efficient. Some of the boiler water becomes entrained or carries over with the steam, resulting in its contamination with boiler water impurities.
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The shaggy bracket fungus on the ash tree at Fiveways, first reported by Clive Knight and identified for us by our Tree Officer Rich Murphy, has grown HUGE.
To really appreciate how big it has become, compare it with the ivy stem growing behind it.
 Taken on Aug 26th;  taken on Sept 2nd;  taken on Sept 16th
To a forester or an orchard keeper, shaggy bracket fungus is a dangerous pathogen busily infecting the tree’s heartwood, threatening the production of saleable timber or fruit. In a country park, on the verge of being declared a nature reserve, it is a welcome sign of biodiversity.
The ash tree’s rotting heartwood will house and feed the larvae of many species of wood-boring beetles and their tunnels will provide nesting holes for tiny wasps and bees. Long-beaked tree creepers will probe the tunnels for insects to eat and hungry woodpeckers will drill into the rotting wood in search of larvae. Larger holes will appear: homes and nesting sites for a whole new set of tenants.
 small scissor bees nest in the tunnels of wood boring beetles;  tree creeper photographed in the park by DKG;  green woodpecker and  blue tit photographed at nest holes by DKG.
The park is home to thousands of species of fungi; every cubic centimetre of soil will contain kilometres of hyphae, the thread-like structures of the mycelium, the hidden parts of fungi. Autumn is the time when many fungi produce their sometimes highly visible fruiting bodies. Keep a look out for them and send us pictures; we are not very good at identifying fungi but we will do our best.


Standard flow cytometry protocols may require that you stimulate a batch of control cells with some sort of non-specific mitogen or antibody. Have you ever considered why these control samples are stimulated and what this tells you about your experiment?
1. You can check how well your cells are functioning. We all know that it’s important to stain cells with viability markers to distinguish between live and dead cells, but non-specific stimulation lets you confirm that your cells can indeed produce cytokines and express cell surface markers.
2. You can set up accurate flow cytometry gates. When you begin your flow cytometry acquisition you need unstimulated negative control cells, as well as your stimulated positive control cells, to help you set up appropriate parameters, or “gates,” in your flow cytometry software. This will insure that useful data will be collected for your experimental samples.
3. You can create a “mock” phenotype for assay development. Flow cytometry assay development requires having samples that you can evaluate to insure your stimulation and staining protocols are working correctly. Stimulated cells will have a “mock” phenotype that can be used to develop and validate assays under development.
Stimulated cells are a critical part to routine flow cytometry experiments as well as for use during assay development. Never forget this key component in your flow cytometry experiments!


Sustainable Design Projects
LERA is assisting with the launch of Totem, an innovative green energy solution combining solar energy, lighting, wireless communications and electric vehicle charging into a single product in the built environment.
The platform provides smart lighting beneath an array of solar panels, while the base holds compartments for 4G and WiFi, battery storage and electric vehicle charging. Designed to transform the future of public space, it will be placed in city streets, schools, corporate campuses and retail settings.
NYPA Solar Panel Installations
LERA was the structural engineer for the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of seven existing school buildings in New York City: five in Queens, one in the Bronx and one in Staten Island. The project involved evaluating the conditions of the existing roof structure to ensure that the panels’ imposed equivalent uniform superimposed dead load of approximately 4 lb/sf did not exceed the original design loads. The design and installation of the solar panels was provided by Standard Solar.
This project consists of an interactive, working farm sited at the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center. The design, which explores the use of sustainable and recyclable materials in a temporal space, was selected as the winning entry in the museum’s Young Architects Program. Cardboard tubes were used as the primary building material, resulting in an expression of thoroughly integrated architecture and structure.
Public Farm One
The Edible Schoolyard consists of a free-standing, single-story building that contains a working greenhouse, an organic farm and a culinary classroom with a full kitchen. A previous school parking lot was transformed into the hands-on learning center that functions as an affiliate of the Edible Schoolyard program, which promotes nutritional awareness to students.
The building is composed of three major components: the greenhouse is a polycarbonate and aluminum structure; the steel-framed kitchen classroom is clad in a pixilated pattern of colored shingles; and utilities at the rear are designed as bold volumes covered in a bright blue rubber coating.


The best testing methods vary depending on the type of product under test (consumer-facing application, enterprise-level software, entertainment website, etc.). Some of the most common testing methods include:
This testing method is generally performed at the early stages of development and consists of exploring peer and competitor websites, applications, and products to analyze which elements are most common and how they are placed. This method may give a broader understanding of the best practices in a specific field or for a certain type of product or website.
Comparative (A/B) testing
There are two approaches to comparative testing. The first aims at comparing two or more ready-made design outlays to decide which best suits the objectives. The second is to compare the existing or planned design to competitors’ designs to figure out which elements can be added or discarded.
Hallway (guerilla) testing
The essence of such testing is to interview random people in public places with high foot traffic. It is assumed that these will be people with different backgrounds and different levels of technical skill, which can potentially reveal the flaws of the product in a variety of non-repetitive areas.
This method does not require any specific technology or skill. It is mostly used during the prototyping stage to define the direction early on. However, it can be time-consuming and sometimes not quite representative of your user depending on the product under test.
The main characteristic and benefit of this type of usability testing is outsourcing your testing efforts anywhere in the world. The main condition for such testing to be effective and insightful is that users should not have any prior experience with your product.
There are two ways you can conduct remote testing: a moderated and an unmoderated approach. The difference is the presence of a moderator to guide the user through the product and note the difficulties encountered. Without a moderator, a user explores a product on their own and documents their user journey experience in detail. As a result, the engineering team has invaluable first-hand data on how their target audience responds to their product.


Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a term used to describe the process of using specific tools and methods and approaches to expose the true causes of problems or recurring issues.
The main reason this collective term is so important is because without figuring out what the root of the problem is, the problem will re-occur. The goal is to eradicate the problem permanently.
The Five-Step RCA DMAIC Process:
- Step 1: Define the problem
- Step 2: Measure and collect data to determine the severity of the problem
- Step 3: Analyze to determine the root cause of the problem
- Step 4: Improve with a solution to solve the problem
- Step 5: Control determine how you will sustain the improved process
A great tool for identifying the root cause of a problem is the 5 Whys. Here is a breakdown of this important tool:
- State the problem
- Determine the cause by asking “why” until the cause has been established
- Use a Cause & Effect chart to establish the relationship between the two
- Use a Pareto Chart to show the significance of the identified root causes
The entire process is detailed and must be first broken down into specific pieces to be dealt with. An important detail to remember is that you are dealing with the actual problem and not just the symptom.
The simplicity of the 5 Whys tool will make discovering the root cause easy to determine. The Pareto chart and the Cause and Effect chart will show you the significance of the stated issue that must get resolved permanently.
In business as in life, finding out the root of a problem can save an entire empire. Want to learn more about Root Cause Analysis? Click here to learn more information on our Six Sigma training courses and services.
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Stalin began a state-run program of rapid industrialization, Factories were built, transport networks developed and workers encouraged, even forced, to work harder. Stalin intended to turn the economy around and make the USSR competitive with capitalist countries. he also brought about this huge change, he acted ruthlessly.
as a result of Stalin's direct orders or as a result of his policies, it is possible that 20 million people died during Stalin’s reign from this. He was hated and feared as a dictator. but surprisingly He was also adored this was surprising because of all that he did but people have their own opinions... During his life he was glorified in newspapers and films, cities and streets were named after him, and statues of him were put up around the USSR. He was seen as the man who turned an undeveloped and divided nation into an industrial super-power.
Hope this helps!
A: Tensions Over slavery diminished
Before the US Supreme court judgement, there has been tension that exist between the slave owners and the slaves due to series of action carried out by them inorder to ensure that, the slaves remained loyal and not being granted any rights whatsoever.
When the case came up, people especially slave owners were apprehensive that, if the court recognize them as citizens, they would be stripped of their rights as owners and the slavery business in general. Immediately after the judgement, the tensions diminished.
To bring the USSR in the modern global market and open trade/relations with the West.
Q2. C, E idk what else can be correct


Long QT or Irregular heartbeat, Energy Drinks Do not Mix
As they report in the International Journal of Cardiology, the researchers found that the patients given the caffeinated energy drinks had increased blood pressure levels and that a portion of patients also had prolonged QT intervals, which could led to dangerously irregular heartbeats.
Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a congenital disorder characterized by a prolongation of the QT interval on electrocardiograms (ECGs) and a propensity to ventricular tachyarrhythmias, which may lead to syncope, cardiac arrest, or sudden death.
“Some individual patients may be at a higher risk,” says senior author Christopher Semsarian in a statement. “We therefore suggest caution in allowing the consumption of energy drinks in young patients with LQTS.”
In an editorial also appearing in the International Journal of Cardiology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano’s Peter Schwartz and Federica Dagradi note that many long QT syndrome patients don’t exhibit symptoms until after their teenage years. “[This] implies that a significant number of youngsters with LQTS will help themselves to energy drinks without knowing their real condition and thus endangering themselves,” Schwartz says in a statement.
About QT Syndrome
Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a rare congenital and inherited or acquired heart condition in which delayed repolarization of the heart following a heartbeat increases the risk of episodes of torsades de pointes (TdP, a form of irregular heartbeat that originates from the ventricles). These episodes may lead to fainting and sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation. Episodes may be provoked by various stimuli, depending on the subtype of the condition.
The condition is named for the appearance of the electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) on which a prolongation of the QT interval occurs. Normally, the QT interval duration is between 350 and 440 milliseconds. In some individuals, the QT prolongation occurs after the administration of certain medications, which may be dangerous. In addition to medications, long QT syndrome can be acquired from too low blood potassium or low blood magnesium, as in anorexia nervosa.
Reblogged this on Health Concierge. Telemedicine. Personalized Diet Plan.


The nebula pictured here may have had more names bestowed upon it over the ages than any other object of its kind. Although officially known as Messier 17, its nicknames include: the Omega Nebula, the Swan Nebula, the Checkmark Nebula, the Horseshoe Nebula and — lest those with more of a more marine bent miss out — the Lobster Nebula.
Messier 17 is located about 5500 light-years from Earth near the plane of the Milky Way and in the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer). The object spans a big section of the sky — its gas and dust clouds measure about 15 light-years across. This material is fueling the birth of new stars and the wide field of view of the new picture reveals many stars in front of, in, or behind Messier 17.
The nebula appears as a complex red structure with some graduation to pink. Its colouring is a signature of glowing hydrogen gas. The short-lived blue stars that recently formed in Messier 17 emit enough ultraviolet light to heat up surrounding gas to the extent that it begins to glow brightly. In the central region the colours are lighter, and some parts appear white. This white colour is real — it arises as a result of mixing the light from the hottest gas with the starlight reflected by dust.
The gas in the nebula is estimated to have more than 30000 times the mass of the Sun. Messier 17 also contains an open star cluster of 35 stars, which is known as NGC 6618. The total number of stars in the nebula, however, is much higher — there are almost 800 stars in the centre with even more forming in its outer regions.
Throughout this rosy glow, the nebula shows a web of darker regions of dust that obscure the light. This obscuring material is also glowing and — although these areas are dark in this visible-light image — they look bright when observed using infrared cameras.
The nebula owes its official name to the French comet hunter Charles Messier who included the nebula as the seventeenth object in his famous astronomical catalogue in 1764. But even with a name as bland as Messier 17, this flowery nebula still looks dazzling.


Insight into the genes involved in the eyeball-building process
Our eyes work by focusing light through the lens at the front of the eyeball onto a layer of light-sensitive cells (retina) at the back. Having eyeballs that are too small relative to where the lens focuses light results in far-sightedness. Some people are born with a fault in a gene called TMEM98, which causes a condition known as nanophthalmos – Greek for ‘very small eye’. This leaves them severely far-sighted and can eventually lead to loss of vision altogether. To find out more about how faults in TMEM98 affect eyeball size, researchers have been studying mice carrying a similar fault in the gene to that found in human patients. Curiously, the eyeballs in these animals are unusually large and misshapen (right) compared with healthy mice (left), rather than being abnormally small. The findings suggest that other genes are also involved in nanophthalmos, highlighting the genetic complexity of the eyeball-building process.
BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences the website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biomedicine. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.
BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.


When to Sow Fullonum Dipsacus Seeds
Spring or later summer
Where to Sow
Teasel seeds can be sown direct into growing site in well prepared soil.
When to Transplant
Seedlings can be transplanted if required and this likes most garden soils.
FLOWER SEED SOWING TECHNIQUE
Prepare a nursery bed well in advance, ensuring that it is weed free. Choose a time for sowing when the soil does not stick to your shoes but is moist below the surface and fairly dry on top. The soil should be crumbly and even. Rake the surface after a light treading.
Mark out drills in the nursery bed or mark out an area for scattering the seed to rake in afterwards. Rows should be approximately 30cm apart and clearly labelled at the end.
Sow the seed carefully and thinly, aiming to get a seed every 2cm (3/4") and then gently rake the soil to cover, and firm with the back of the rake. Water gently if the weather is dry for a period, but do not water too often as this will encourage the roots to form just below the surface and you will be watering all summer long to save your plants. Aim to encourage the root to look further down for water, and you will have a more relaxed summer and a finer show of flowers in the long run.
When the plants have formed their first pair of true leaves, thin the plants to 10cm (4") apart and firm the soil around the bases.
In September or October carefully raise the plants taking a ball of soil with the roots using a trowel and plant them in the flowering site and gently water them in. It is sometimes beneficial to give a little protection from winter winds for the first year.


This proposal is based on the emission reduction commitment (known as an INDC) made by the United States prior to the 2015 UN Climate talks.
Which proposals are included in your plan and how do they fit together?
This seed proposal is based on the emission reduction commitment submitted by the United States in advance of the UNFCCC's 2015 climate negotiations. It was created by a Climate CoLab Fellow. We invite other CoLab members to link to this proposal or to use it as a starting point for creating new proposals of their own. The government of the United States has not reviewed or endorsed this proposal.
As part of the climate negotiations conducted each year under the auspices of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries submit Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) that outline pledges for future reductions in their national greenhouse gas emissions.
As declared in its INDC, the United States aims to achieve an economy-wide target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.
The United States intends to achieve its target without the use of international carbon markets, and including emissions and sinks in the land sector (LULUCF). Current policy would achieve a 19,5-23% emissions reduction target. Thus, additional policy will be required to fill the 3- 8,5% gap.
The following goals are to be accomplished through current and planned policies.
- Doubling overall energy productivity: Adoption of energy efficiency standards in buildings and transportation.
- Doubling the share of renewable energy production, excluding hydro-power, to a 20%. Including hydro, the share of renewables by 2030 will be around 28%.
- Fuel switching to electricity and low-carbon fuels.
- Reduction of methane and other greenhouse gases, contributing a 3.5-7% reduction of the total target.
Explanation of the emissions scenario calculated in the Impact tab
What are the plan’s key benefits?
What are the plan’s costs?
What are the key challenges to enacting this plan?
United States INDC: http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/INDC/Published%20Documents/United%20States%20of%20America/1/U.S.%20Cover%20Note%20INDC%20and%20Accompanying%20Information.pdf


This course is designed for 19+ adults.
This qualification will give you the skills to read fluently and write effectively.
Students will learn to demonstrate a confident control of standard English and they should be able to write grammatically correct sentences, deploy figurative language and analyse texts.
This course will lead to:
- Further education
- Higher education
The entry requirements for this course are:
- Functional Skills Level 2 qualification in English
- GCSE Grade D (3) or any other equivalent qualifications in English
- You will be required to complete an initial and diagnostic assessment in English followed by an informal interview
This course consists of the following modules:
- Spoken Endorsement
- Listen to and understand spoken language, and use spoken standard English effectively
Paper 1 - Explorations in creative reading and writing
The source for the reading questions will be a literature fiction text. It will be drawn from either the 20th or 21st century. The genre will be prose fiction.
Paper 2 - Writers' viewpoints and perspectives.
The sources for the reading questions will be non-fiction and literary non-fiction texts. They will be drawn from the 19th century and either the 20th or 21st century.
You will be assessed via:
- Spoken Endorsement Assessment
- Paper 1- Written examination
- Paper 2- Written examination


About Weiyuan Fort
Weiyuan Fort is a coastal-defense fort, now in ruins, in Humen, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
Weiyuan Fort history
Weiyuan Fort is a generic name given for the old river defence batteries built along the east bank of the Humen River in China. This was earlier referred to as the Anunghoy Batteries by the British.
The fort was constructed in 1835 and was in use during the Opium Wars. The fort is situated immediately under the Humen Bridge. There were 44 cannons there to defend against the British, 40 dark artillery and 4 open fort. It is 360 meters in length. Admission is free, with valid documents.
Plans for Weiyuan Fort was drawn up in 1834 as part of efforts by the Qing government to fortify the Humen strait in the Pearl River Delta. After the construction of four major forts along the straits, Lu Kun suggested that another fort be constructed in the style of a crossed platform which was Weiyuan Fort. At the same time, Yong’an Fort was built on the western end of an island in the strait and Gonggu Fort was constructed on the opposite bank in the foothills of Luwan Mountain. Weiyuan Fort was captured in the 1841 Battle of the Bogue, 1847 Expedition to Canton, and 1856 Battle of the Bogue.
Weiyuan Fort today
What remains today as a memory of these battles is the forts and cannon defence systems that were built during the time.
The fort complex now houses the Opium Wars Museum, covering an area of nearly 800,000 square meters.
The nearby Sea Battle Museum contains a history of the events during the war told using models, artefacts from the time and paintings. The museum also has a dedicated section that promotes the current anti-drug use campaign.
Getting to Weiyuan Fort
Weiyuan Fortress lies on the southwest beach in front of the south hill of Weiyuan island in Humen.
China Historic Sites
Discover China's rich history at these 10 sites across the country, from the ancient Terracotta Army to the birthplace of Mao Zedong.
Castles in China
Discover the best Castles in China, from Gyantse Dzong Castle to the 8th century Miran Fort.


Fronteras: San Antonio’s Tamal Institute Explores The Culture And History Of Tamales And Tamaladas
Tamales aren’t just a treat that we enjoy on the holidays. Its origins date as far back as 7000 B.C., and a new institution aims to further explore the importance behind the staple corn husk dish.
The Tamal Institute was created by San Antonio’s Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center to explore the origins, history and cultural significance of tamales in the region. It grew out of San Antonio’s designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
“This is really part of our charge as a UNESCO Creative City to preserve our culinary traditions,” said Colleen Swain, Director of the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office. “We want to preserve those roots, but yet also explore the innovations that are occurring.”
The work behind this cuisine is no easy feat and is often achieved with large groups of people. Families and friends will gather to assemble and prepare dozens of tamales, an event known as a tamalada. But this tradition will likely come to a halt this year, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the country and much of the world.
“We know that families in Latin America and Latinos here in the U.S. have very, very strong family traditions,” said Cristina Ballí, director of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. “And then we know that making tamales is just such a key part of the holidays. I imagine people will still be continuing with that tradition in their homes, likely with precautions.”
Ballí said while there may be a tamalada void this holiday season, online virtual events could be a solution for some families or for those spending the holidays socially distant from vulnerable friends and family members.


Imperial Rome Republican Rome came to an end in 27 bce , and the Roman Empire began. The first emperor was Augustus, who greatly improved the city. He divided it into 14 areas, each one run by officials. He set up a fire brigade and a police force. He constructed many buildings, boasting that he transformed a city made of brick into one made of marble. Later emperors continued to build in These powerful people were called patricians. The ordinary people of Rome were known as plebeians. In 494 bce the plebeians rebelled against patrician rule. The result was the election of two plebeian representatives, called tribunes, and a written code of law called the Twelve Tables, displayed in the Forum. Patricians and Plebeians The elected consuls in the Roman Republic were guided by a council called the Senate. Only the richest people in Rome could vote for the consuls, or be in the Senate.
Julius Caesar was one of Ancient Rome’s greatest leaders. He came to power in 49 bce. Five years later he was murdered on his way to a meeting in the Senate.
Rome and to expand the Empire. During the 1st and early 2nd century ad Rome was a magnificent city, with a population of more than one million.
The fall of the Empire In the 3rd century ad the Romans found it increasingly hard to control their huge empire. Foreign tribes were threatening to invade and there was a risk of civil war . To try to protect the city, Emperor Aurelius built a huge wall, the Aurelian Wall, around Rome. Nevertheless the city was raided and looted in 410 by the Visigoths and in 455 by the Vandals . In 476 the western half of the Roman Empire collapsed, completely overrun by foreign tribes.
A maid brushes her mistress’ hair. This stone sculpture is from Tunisia in North Africa, part of the Roman Empire. ⌂
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Feature Standardization, also known as ‘Z-Score Normalization’, is a technique for pre-processing numerical raw data during the creation of your training data.
It consists of centering and scaling your data so that it has the properties of a Standard Normal Distribution (Gaussian Distribution) i.e. a mean centered at zero and a standard deviation (for all Features) equal to 1.
Feature Standardization is: –
Essential for some algorithms (esp. those utilizing a euclidean distance function): –
- Support Vector Machine utilizing a Radial Basis Function or RBF Neural Networks
- Clustering Algorithms having Features with ≉ comparable scales
Recommended for: –
- Any Algorithim that assumes Gaussian Distribution
- Arguably benefits Multi Layer Perceptron Neural Networks
- Clustering Algorithms having Features with ≈ comparable scales
Less important for: –
- Tree Based algorithms (high robustness to Un-standardized Data
- Logistic Regression
You can expect that, within a Real World Dataset, the features will be of different units, with a different range of values and having different types of statistical distributions. There might also exist data as outliers. All of which can introduce modeling errors if not dealt with correctly.
Without feature standardization, predictive models may perform badly as features with higher orders of magnitude and range can incorrectly overshadow the importance of those that are relatively lower, even if these offer better prediction capability.


The digital world is one that is constantly evolving and changing. It can be tough to keep up with the latest trends, but it’s important to be aware of what’s going on in the digital world if you want to ensure your children are safe online.
One trend that has been gaining a lot of traction lately is the rise of robotics. Robotics offers a lot of potential for children, including the ability to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Many schools are now incorporating robotics into their curriculums, and there are several after-school programs available as well. If your child is interested in robotics, there are plenty of resources available to help them get started.
Another trend that has been growing in recent years is the use of 3D printing. This technology has become more accessible and affordable, which has led to its increased popularity. 3D printing can be used for a variety of purposes, including creating toys, jewelry, art projects, and much more. If your child is interested in 3D printing, there are several ways they can get started, such as taking classes or using online tutorials.
The internet of things (IoT) is another trend that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The IoT refers to devices that are connected to the internet and can share data with each other. This includes everything from smart TVs and thermostats to wearable devices and home security systems. As more devices become connected to the internet, it’s important to make sure your child understands how to use them safely and responsibly.


Let’s put the environment on the election map
On October 19, Canadians go to the polls. We want to make sure the environment—and in particular climate change—receives the attention it deserves from federal candidates.
Sierra Club BC has released a report, prepared by the University of Victoria’s highly respected Environmental Law Centre, detailing how British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment (EA) process fails to consider climate change. Blind Spot: The Failure to Consider Climate in British Columbia’s Environmental Assessments also shows how climate considerations can be built into the EA process.
We call it the Climate Test. Projects that fail the test will not proceed, helping B.C. achieve desperately needed emission reductions. LNG terminals and tar sands pipelines, for example, would not pass the test.
The need for a Climate Test is not just a B.C. issue. Other provinces can adopt something similar. And so can the federal government.
Canada’s environmental laws and regulations have been severely weakened, over the last few years. Re-instating, and enforcing, strong environmental laws and strengthening our national environmental review process are crucial steps to climate action.
Climate is not currently being considered in federal reviews of projects such as Enbridge Northern Gateway or Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline and tankers.
Ask your local candidates where they stand: Will they commit to ensuring climate impacts are considered when energy projects such as pipelines are reviewed?
Our election page lays out a number of questions, in addition to the Climate Test, we think local candidates should answer on the environment. It also shows how you can make sure you are registered to vote.
Click here to visit our election page
Let’s talk to our candidates now so we can hold them accountable after the election!
Want to do more? Let the B.C. Government know that the Climate Test needs to be a priority!
Photo by TJ Watt


the scientific study of pet nutrition by veterinary nutrition specialists and experts.
Test your Nutrition Know-How for Cats with Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease or CKD is one of the most common diseases seen in cats. One study found that more than 60% of cats of all ages had evidence of at least mild CKD, but for cats over 15 years of age, more than 80% of the cats had CKD!1 Nutrition plays a critical role in the treatment of CKD and therapeutic kidney diets have been shown to be beneficial in slowing progression of disease, and may help cats to maintain weight and muscle mass.
Therapeutic kidney diets vary widely in terms of their individual nutritional profiles but, in general, phosphorus, protein, and sodium levels are lower than in diets designed for healthy adult cats, while calories and omega-3 fatty acids are often higher. These “kidney diets” typically are also less acidifying than typical cat foods. Despite the fact that commercial kidney diets have been available (at least for dogs) for more than 70 years, research continues to advance our knowledge in this area. If you have a cat – especially one with CKD – it’s important to be up-to-date on the most current information and avoid the many myths on the topic. We’ve put together this quiz to test your nutrition know-how for cats with kidney disease.
1Marino CL, Lascelles BDX, Vaden SL, Gruen ME, Marks SL. Prevalence and classification of chronic kidney disease in cats randomly selected from four age groups and in cat recruited for degenerative joint disease studies. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 2014;16:465-472.
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Essex pupils discover ‘wow’ factor science formula
Ahead of more stringent nationwide testing in primary schools next year, pupils at St John’s C.E. Primary School in Colchester are working in pairs or small groups.
Having subscribed to Empiribox, St John’s 120 Key Stage 2 pupils (7 – 11 year olds) can now conduct a different practical scientific experiment in the classroom every week of the school year.
“It’s a brilliant system that has been developed by teachers who know how children learn, giving us all the resources we need as well as the teacher training to provide the ‘wow’ factor in lessons,” said Nick Hutchings, Head Teacher at St John’s Primary. “Our children are really enjoying it and talking to parents about the experiments they are doing. The staff enjoyed the initial training and the lesson planning and like having all the equipment to hand so children can easily carry out experiments a number of times.”
Added Nick Hutchings, “By allowing us to effectively resource all the practical elements of science, it has helped improve the quality of provision for science in Key Stage 2, providing a clear progression through the subject with the ability for pupils to record science experiments in a meaningful way.”
A further school in Essex now enjoying the benefits of the Empiribox system is Broadford Primary School in Romford. This OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ school and recent TES Finalist is yet another fine example of how the Empiribox science revolution is taking hold across the country!


Can magnesium help lower blood pressure a small bit? According to news reports, an investigation and analysis of existing studies seems to suggest that magnesium can help some with lowering a person’s blood pressure. With that said, doctors do warn that patients who suffer from things like kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease, and other critical illnesses should always consult their doctor before using magnesium medications and supplements.
According to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), about 70 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure. This essentially means that 1 out of 3 adults in the US suffer from high blood pressure. The CDC estimates that $46 billion are spent annually on this medical condition. Included in that $46 billion are costs for health related treatment, medications for high blood pressure, and a person’s missed days from work.
A person’s blood pressure is written with two numbers, one on top of the other (a ratio). The top number reveals the systolic reading or the pressure when the heart muscle contracts. The systolic reading should be the higher of the two numbers. Diastolic is the name of the bottom number and it reveals essentially the resting heart beats. According to the American Heart Association (“AHA”) a normal blood pressure reading is a systolic reading of under 120 and a diastolic reading less than 80.
In a review of the information, people taking magnesium supplements had a higher amount of magnesium in their blood as compared to people who only took the placebo. This information suggest, but stops short of proving, that magnesium may help with lowering blood pressure.
To read more about this story, and the article which supports this post, click HERE. As cautioned above, be sure to speak with your doctor before beginning any type of medication or treatment.


Happy Fall everyone! Today, we’re going to talk about an upcoming holiday- Thanksgiving!Thank you so much to Kristine the opportunity to post today and talk about this fun stuff! This will hopefully be a quick little post filled with some fun and simple activities for you to do.
First, let’s start off with Thanksgiving vocabulary words.
Turkey, Stuffing, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, Gravy, Pie, Family, Pilgrims, Native Americans, Pumpkins, Thankful/Grateful, Biscuits/Rolls, Together, Celebrate, (insert any food item here)
I’m sure there are many more words that I could put up there, but those are generally the main ones that I know of. I recognize every family has their own traditions in terms of food or activities on Thanksgiving, so be sure to discuss those. If your kids have articulation goals, have them practice words with their sound in them. Make it fun, though- have everyone at the table practice some words!
Then, you can do some language fun! You can do almost anything with language. Here are some ideas for you:
1. Talk about your favorite memories or traditions with Thanksgiving. Talk about what you have done in the past, what you are doing now, and what you have done in the future.
2. Name categories. For example, name foods that are eaten at Thanksgiving. Name fall colors. Name games that people play on Thanksgiving.
3. Decorate. Talk about the colors, shapes, sizes, textures, etc of the things you’re decorating with.
4. Cook or bake together. Discuss the steps needed to make the given item. Use words such as stir, mix, whisk, etc.
Then, you can work on phonological awareness. Have the kids (or anyone at the table) name things that start with “T” (like turkey). Everyone has to name things that start with “T”. Then, pick another letter. You can do a similar game with rhyming.
For SLPs, these activities will work in school as well. Just pretend you’re sitting around the table, having a meal together!
I hope you enjoyed those quick and simple activities! You can find me over at Home Sweet Speech Room, on Facebook, and on Teachers Pay Teachers.


English whiteware round jar with lid decorated with a transfer printed image of bears at school; this box may have contained bear grease or pomade. A bear teacher scolds a a student while two other cubs hide behind their lessons; Lids of earthenware pots, made in the mid nineteenth century to hold foodstuffs and toiletries, were the ideal vehicles for multicolored prints, which displayed either advertising notices or colorful pictures to attract and amuse customers. The firm of F & R. Pratt of Fenton, Staffordshire, pioneered this technique. To produce a multicolored transfer print, the engraver first had to separate a given picture into individual colors. Copper plates were engraved to represent the areas to be printed in each color. A registration dot placed in exactly the same position on the sides of each plate assisted with alignment. The yellow oil was transferred first, then the blue, then the red, occasionally followed by green, and finally followed by black. Each time the registration dots were placed directly on top of the preceding print, and the final black print often had a decorative border that camouflaged the underlying dots to make a neat finish. Many of these bear's grease lids and some pots survive.
Link to share this object record:


Seatbelt Usage in Vermont
Vermont first enacted a seatbelt law in January, of 1994. However, it is not a primary enforcement state, which means a police officer may only give someone a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt if they were stopped for another reason.
The seatbelt law in Vermont applies to people 18 years old and up in all seats. Anyone in violation may be subject to a fine of $25 for a first offense. The state also has a child safety seat law. For children one-year-old or younger, they must be placed in a rear-facing safety seat. Once they turn one year old until they are eight years old, the child must be in a front-facing restraint seat or booster seat. Violation of this law has the same penalty as for the seatbelt law. Children one-year-old or younger must be placed in the rear seat unless the front passenger airbag has been deactivated.
The state has a slightly lower rate of seatbelt use than the national average. The rate for Vermont is 84 percent while the national average was 86 percent for 2012. Vermont has actually seen a decline in use from 2007 when it was at 87.1 percent. This number dropped down to 84.1 percent in 2014. The state does still have a low traffic fatality rate at 7 per 100,000 population in 2015. This is lower than the national average of 10.9.
Vermont is part of the Northeast region, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As a whole, the region had a seatbelt use rate of 88.1 percent. This is slightly behind the South and puts the Northeast in third place overall for seatbelt use. It is still well above fourth place, the Midwest at 81.7 percent.


Exposure to Community Violence and Physical Health Outcomes in Youth: A Systematic Review.
J Pediatr Psychol. 2016 Oct 28;:
Authors: Wright AW, Austin M, Booth C, Kliewer W
OBJECTIVE?: To systematically review the evidence for associations between exposure to community violence and physical health outcomes in children and adolescents. METHODS?: A thorough search of multiple online databases and careful consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria yielded a final 28 studies for detailed review. In addition to review of findings, studies were rated on overall quality based on study design. RESULTS?: Seven categories of physical health outcomes emerged, including asthma/respiratory health, cardiovascular health, immune functioning, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning, sleep problems, weight, and a general health category. There were mixed findings across these categories. Evidence for a positive association between community violence exposure and health problems was strongest in the cardiovascular health and sleep categories. CONCLUSION?: There is reason to believe that community violence exposure has an effect on some areas of physical health. Additional well-designed research that focuses on mechanisms as well as outcomes is warranted.
PMID: 27794530 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
View full post on pubmed: asthma


Recovery is an individual process, the speed of its course depends on many reasons. Recovery can also occur in a wave manner: periods of exacerbation are replaced by remission and vice versa.
Many in rehab for mental health problems emphasize the importance of self-acceptance. For example, people with depression report that they experienced an inferiority complex and a lack of approval from others long before being diagnosed. Depression or any other mental disorder can cause feelings of guilt and shame, and recovery often begins only when these feelings are realized: it is important to understand that the experience of shame and guilt is groundless and every person is valuable as they are.
Experiences of belonging, approval and being heard are important in the healing process. The idea of support groups is based on this thesis. In a support group, a person is not judged by their external manifestations, in contrast to what many people undergoing rehabilitation face, for example, in their work collective.
Overcoming a mental disorder sometimes dramatically changes a human personality. Previously, life was based on representativeness and the achievement of goals. With a mental disorder, a strange feeling could appear: “Am I really this powerless and hopeless person?” In the process of recovery, a person’s value system and identity are often transformed and clarified. Recovering from an illness can lead to a new answer to the question “What makes me happy?”.
Benefits that are not always found in other people are quite common among those undergoing rehabilitation after a mental disorder. These virtues often go unnoticed by others due to the focus on the problems and weaknesses caused by the mental disorder. These advantages include, for example, the ability to make do with extremely modest income, knowledge of the social protection system, the ability to find and use personal reserves, the ability to continue life with the sign of the stigma, and the ability to understand other people in difficult life situations.
Many people undergoing rehabilitation after a mental disorder have successfully coped with such situations and surprises. The experience of people who have gone through such trials can be very useful in providing support to other people in difficult life situations.


Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is humans’ third most impactful example of potentially lethal coronavirus infection within the last 20 years. Coronaviruses are positive-stranded RNA (+RNA) viruses that replicate their unusually large genomes in the host cell’s cytoplasm. This process is supported by an elaborate virus-induced network of transformed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes known as the viral replication organelle (RO). Researchers used cryo electron microscopy to visualize these structures.
Coronavirus genome replication is associated with virus-induced cytosolic double-membrane vesicles, which may provide a tailored micro-environment for viral RNA synthesis in the infected cell. However, it is still being determined how newly synthesized genomes and mRNAs can travel from these sealed replication compartments to the cytosol to ensure their translation and the assembly of progeny virions.
Cellular cryo electron microscopy helped visualize a molecular pore complex that spans both membranes of the double-membrane vesicle and would allow the export of RNA to the cytosol. A hexameric assembly of a large viral transmembrane protein was found to form the core of the crown-shaped complex. This coronavirus-specific structure likely plays a critical role in coronavirus replication and thus constitutes a potential drug target.
The findings suggest a pathway for newly made viral genomic RNA from the DMV interior, via the pore channel, to the cytosolic sites of encapsidation. In the model, specific replicase subunits may associate with the pore complex to guide the newly synthesized RNA toward it.
Related Content: Drug Delivery Technology With Microscopy Technique


Tree ring, ice core and glacial geologic histories for the past several centuries offer an opportunity to characterize climate variability and to identify the key climate parameters forcing glacier expansion in Kamchatka over the past 400 years. A newly developed larch ring-width chronology (AD 1632-2004) is presented that is sensitive to past summer temperature variability. Individual low growth years in the larch record are associated with several known and proposed volcanic events from the Northern Hemisphere. The comparison of ring width minima and those of Melt Feature Index of Ushkovsky ice core helps confirm a 1-3 year dating accuracy for this ice core series over the late 18th to 20th centuries. Decadal variations of low summer temperatures (tree-ring record) and high annual precipitation (ice core record) are broadly consistent with intervals of positive mass balances measured and estimated at several glaciers in 20th century, and with moraine building. According to the tree-ring data the 1860s-1880s were the longest coldest interval in the last 350 years. The latest part of this period (1880s) coincided with the positive anomaly in accumulation. This coincidence led to a positive mass balance, which is most likely responsible for glacier advances and moraine deposition of the end of 19th-early 20th centuries. As well as in some other high latitude regions (Spitsbergen, Polar Urals, Franz Jozef Land etc.) in Kamchatka these advances marked the last millennium glacial maximum. In full agreement with subsequent summer warming trend, inferred both from instrumental and tree ring data, glacier advances since 1880s have been less extensive. The late 18th century glacier expansion coincides with the inferred summer temperature decrease recorded by the ring width chronology. However, both the advance and the summer temperature decrease were less prominent that in the end of 19th century. Comparisons of the glacier history in Kamchatka with records from Alaska and the Canadian Rockies suggests broadly consistent intervals of glacier expansion and inferred summer cooling during solar irradiance minima.
140LNTimes Cited:0Cited References Count:46


As California residents prepare to file their taxes, there is one thing that tax officials are concentrating particularly hard on: sales taxes on items purchased online. Under state law, California residents must pay a “use tax” on any goods purchased online from a retailer that is based outside of the state. However, most Californians do not pay the tax, and that could result in a number of tax controversies with officials.
Of course, part of the problem may simply be that people are unaware of the use tax. In 2010, only $11 million was collected from California residents. However, officials estimate that each year $1.1 billion in use taxes go uncollected.
To increase compliance, the California Board of Equalization has released a “lookup table.” The table provides estimates of how much a person should pay in use taxes based on his or her income level. However, the table is just an average, and some people may owe substantially more or less than the provided estimate. Still, it is believed that the chart will almost double compliance and result in $10.6 million in more tax revenue.
In many cases, compliance with the use tax may be very difficult for consumers. That can be especially true for those who make most or all of their purchases online. However, 2011 could also be the last year for which Californians are expected to voluntarily report their online purchases. Starting later this year, online retailers will be required to collect the sales taxes, which currently isn’t the case. For now, though, to avoid any tax controversy with state officials, taxpayers may want to fish around for those online receipts.
Source: The Bay Citizen, “California’s New Tool to Stop Tax Evasion,” Ryan Jacobs, April 5, 2012


It’s an argument that has been made numerous times over the years, and, given the historic conflagration in northern California this fall, it needs to be repeated.
It’s no coincidence that wildfires tend most often to break out and live much longer on the Left Coast.
Rabid environmentalist policies aimed at ‘saving the trees’ [insert complementary econut drivel] over the last half century have resulted in a build-up of underbrush and over-growth of trees which have turned forests into tinderboxes just waiting for a spark.
As the Reason Foundation points out, the US Forest Service has been hamstrung with lack of funding and regulations preventing it from managing forests to control both the start and perpetuation of wildfires.
It’s a grand liberal irony that the policies aimed at protecting forests are precisely what has contributed directly to their destruction.
Here’s more from Daily Signal…
As a Reason Foundation study noted, the U.S. Forest Service, which is tasked with managing public wildland, once had success in minimizing widespread fires in the early 20th century.
But many of these successful methods were abandoned in large part because of efforts by environmental activists.
The Forest Service became more costly and less effective as it increasingly “rewarded forest managers for losing money on environmentally questionable practices,” wrote Randal O’Toole, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute.
Spending on the Forest Service has risen drastically, but these additional resources have been misused and haven’t solved the underlying issues.
“Fire expenditures have grown from less than 15 percent of the Forest Service budget in [the] early 1990s to about 50 percent today. Forest Service fire expenditures have increased from less than $1 billion in the late 1990s to $3.5 billion in 2016,” O’Toole wrote.
Perhaps now, Americans will begin to re-evaluate forest management policies.
In a May congressional hearing, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said, “Forty-five years ago, we began imposing laws that have made the management of our forests all but impossible.”


The Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA Program provides funds to:
- Prosecute violent crime cold cases.
- Decrease the number of awaiting/pending prosecution(s) of unresolved violent crime cold cases.
This program is aimed at providing resources for agencies to prosecute cases where a suspect’s DNA has been identified [suspect(s) may be known or unknown], decreasing the number of unresolved violent crime cold cases.
This program is one of the forensic science programs that moved from the National Institute of Justice to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in FY 2020.
See the Forensic Sciences page for additional resources and to learn more about how BJA supports this topical area.
Why This Matters
There is a cold case crisis within the United States. Based on data from 1980 to 2016, there are an estimated 242,000 unresolved homicides. The clearance rate for violent crimes declined from 78.3 percent in 1975 to 59.4 percent in 2016. Based on Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Part 1 data, the rate of homicides continues to increase.
It is clear that with an increasing homicide rate coupled with a decreasing clearance rate, there exists a need for the justice community to address. Justice is owed to the victims, their families, and friends. The Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA Program at BJA helps prosecutors meet their challenges and gaps in resources in order to provide justice to victims, their families, and friends in cold cases.


Throughout history, there have been countless individuals who have displayed immense courage and bravery in the face of adversity. Whether it’s a firefighter running into a burning building, a soldier risking their life on the battlefield, or a healthcare worker putting themselves on the front lines during a pandemic, these heroes deserve to be recognized and honored for their sacrifices. One way to pay tribute to these individuals is through art, specifically through creating a canvas of courage.
A canvas of courage is a piece of art that honors heroes and their acts of bravery. It can depict a particular individual or group of people, or it can be a more abstract representation of courage and resilience. Regardless of the specific subject matter, a canvas of courage is intended to inspire and uplift those who view it.
One of the benefits of creating a canvas of courage is the ability to preserve a moment in time. When we create a piece of art that honors a particular hero or act of bravery, we are capturing that moment and making it a part of history. This allows us to remember and reflect on these moments, and to honor those who were involved.
Creating a canvas of courage can also be a therapeutic process. For those who have been directly impacted by a particular act of heroism, creating a piece of art can be a way to process emotions and find a sense of closure. It can also be a way to express gratitude and pay tribute to those who have made a difference.
In addition to the personal benefits, creating a canvas of courage can also have a broader impact. By displaying these pieces in public spaces or sharing them on social media, we can inspire others to take action and make a difference in their own lives. These pieces serve as a reminder of the power of courage and the importance of standing up for what is right.
When it comes to creating a canvas of courage, there are many different approaches that can be taken. Some artists may choose to create a realistic portrait of a hero, while others may opt for a more abstract representation of bravery. The important thing is to create a piece of art that honors the hero and captures the essence of their courage.
In conclusion, a canvas of courage is a powerful way to honor heroes and their acts of bravery. It allows us to preserve a moment in time, process emotions, and inspire others to take action. Whether you are an artist or simply someone who admires art, consider creating or displaying a canvas of courage to pay tribute to those who have made a difference in our world.


For as long as there have been cars, there has been drunk driving. Over the last several decades, Louisiana law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations have attempted to curtail the frequency with which individuals drive while intoxicated. Despite their efforts, drunk driving remains a significant problem in our state and across our country.
The statistics surrounding drunk driving are startling. For example, one study found that nearly a third of all fatal car accidents involve an intoxicated driver. Also, approximately two-thirds of people will be involved in some sort of drunk driving accident in their lifetimes. More than 29 million people in the U.S. admitted to drinking and driving in 2012, which is more people than live in the state of Texas.
Alcohol is a depressant It slows nervous system functioning, reduces the ability to process information and diminishes hand-eye coordination. Those who are under the influence of alcohol may have compromised judgment, poor concentration, and slowed reaction time. These reduced abilities increase the likelihood of a car accident.
Even though driving under the influence has been criminalized, many still choose to do it, often resulting in serious injuries and death. Those who are injured in a drunk driving accident often suffer devastating losses, including medical expenses and lost wages. Pain and suffering can take a toll, too. These victims may be able to take legal action which could lead to the imposition of liability and the recovery of compensation. Those who wish to learn more about their legal rights and how best to act on them may want to consider speaking with a legal professional.
Source: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, “Driving While Impaired – Alcohol and Drugs,” accessed on July 23, 2016