How Vulnerable are Public-Supply Wells?
The USGS has conducted a new study to determine the contaminant vulnerability of public-supply wells around the country, and also to discover which pollutants in an aquifer will make their way into those wells.
In the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) public-supply well study, ten study areas were the main focus. Those areas included Modesto, Calif., Woodbury, Conn., near Tampa, Fla., York, Nebr., near Carson City and Sparks, Nev., Glassboro, N. J., Albuquerque, N. Mex., Dayton, Ohio, San Antonio, Tex., and Salt Lake City, Utah.
"Improving the understanding of the vulnerability of public-supply wells to contamination is needed to safeguard public health and prevent future contamination," said Suzette Kimball, acting USGS Director. "By examining ten different aquifers across the nation, we have a more thorough and robust understanding of the complexities and factors affecting water quality in our public supplies."
Results of the study indicated that some aquifers allow contaminants to stay in groundwater longer or travel to wells much quicker than other aquifers because of direct pathways, such as fractures in rocks or wellbores of non-pumping wells. Irrigation and high-volume pumping were also found as human-induced contaminants in groundwater. Arsenic and uranium were found as natural contaminants in drinking water as a result of geochemical changes.


Use this information to create a tool to refer to on EVERY story. Create an “accuracy checklist” (Some links below will give you examples and instructions).
Don’t blow your credibility on basic items. The Basics are so important in news.
Here are 10 important items to double check. Special Credit goes to NPR Training which has a much more extensive list.
Many of these things you should ensure you get while reporting, whether or not they end up in the story.
Ages — Get the date and birth and do the math. Just because the police say someone is 35 doesn’t mean they are correct.
Grammar and spelling — There are some listeners or readers who will discount your reporting if you discount the use of proper grammar and usage.
Historical information — We all think we remember. Checking the history could reveal us to be human.
Names of people, groups & institutions. Get the correct spelling and pronunciation. Record the pronunciation. It is so wonderful when you pronounce the name of the local arts center correctly.
Numbers — Check your math. Learn about percent vs. percentage point. Don’t mix up millions and billions. Uncomfortable with your math, then please make sure you get someone else to doublecheck it.
Places — This is easier with web resources, but make sure you have locations and pronunciations of such places correct.
Pronunciations — Not only names, but places and terms, too. IBANewsroom has a pronunciation guide available.
Quotes — Make sure they’re accurate, correctly attributed and in proper context.
Titles — Find out the exact title. CEO & President are not always the same.
Whens — Are you sure it happened then? Confirm.
Web addresses and phone numbers — Never report them without testing them first. orgs, coms and all the rest can get mixed up.
Other sources to help you
Reynolds Center For Business Journalism Accuracy Checklist
NPR Accuracy Checklist
Steve Buttry Accuracy Checklist
Poynter Accuracy Tips


Nutritional tables: what they are and how to read them
The nutritional tables contain information on the energy value of a food and its nutritional principles: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, but also dietary fiber, sodium, mineral salts and vitamins. They can be more or less detailed, at the discretion of the producer and also of the type of food; however there is a legislative decree regulating food labeling and establishes for which products the nutritional tables are optional, for which, instead, they are mandatory.
The energy value is expressed through two units of measurement of energy: kcal (chilocalorie) e kJ (chilo Joule) and usually refers to an amount equal to 100 grams for solid foods and 100 milliliters for liquids. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, sodium and fiber are expressed in grams and usually refer to a quantity equal to 100 grams; the quantities of these nutrients can also refer to the portion; in any case the quantity to be taken into consideration is shown on the same nutritional tables. Vitamins and mineral salts are expressed in micrograms or milligrams, both as absolute quantities and in relation to Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).
The values shown on the nutritional tables should be considered as average values and derive from laboratory analysis carried out by the manufacturer or even by calculating the average of the values of the ingredients contained in the product recipe.
Nutritional tables: let's not ignore them
How often do we buy packaged food without reading the label? It is a wrong habit because we take a product home with us without knowing its ingredients, energy and nutrient content. The nutritional tables should always be read as they provide us with very important information on the foods we buy. Even the presence or absence of nutritional tables, where it is not mandatory, gives us important information; if there is and it is detailed, one can deduce the will of a certain one transparency from the manufacturer.
Rewarding companies that enter nutritional tables, especially when we buy more "critical" foods, for example sweets, French fries, various snacks ... We will make a more informed shopping and, perhaps, encourage more companies to insert detailed nutritional tables on the packaging of food products .
| Urban Woodswalker


Diagnosing Heart Valve Disease
Some heart valve defects can be identified by simply listening to your heart sounds with a stethoscope. This is usually the first step in diagnosing heart valve disease. A characteristic known as a heart murmur (abnormal sounds in the heart due to turbulent blood flow) can often indicate valve regurgitation.
However, to further define the type of valve disease and extent of the valve damage, physicians may use any of the following diagnostic procedures suggested by the Cleveland Clinic.
Tests For Identifying Heart Valve Disease
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias), and detects heart muscle damage.
- Chest x-ray - a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film. An x-ray can show enlargement in any area of the heart.
- Cardiac catheterization - this diagnostic procedure involves a tiny, hollow tube (catheter) being inserted into an artery leading to the heart in order to image the heart and blood vessels. This procedure is helpful in determining the type and extent of valve blockage.
- Transesophageal echo (TEE) - TEE is a diagnostic test that is used to measure the sound waves that bounce off the heart, creating a graphic image of the movement of the heart structures.
- Radionuclide scans - these scans use radioactive imaging to view blood flow, internal organ structure, and organ function.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.
You Might Also Like
Here's more educational information about diagnosing heart valve disease and our patient community. We hope this helps you or your loved one!
- How are Echocardiograms Used to Diagnose Heart Valve Disease?
- What is Aortic Valve Disease Echocardiogram Criteria?
- What is Mitral Valve Disease Echocardiogram Criteria?
- Explore the Heart Valve Learning Center
- Research Over 1,000 Patient-Recommended Heart Valve Surgeons
- Watch 50+ Inspirational Patient Success Story Videos
Page last updated: September 17, 2020


Eggs and coffee are in, sugar is out and vegetables will always be good for you, according to a committee of top nutrition experts tasked with advising the federal government. Their recommendations reflect the latest and greatest in food and nutrition research, and will help update the nation’s dietary guidelines — something they have to do every five years.
“The [advisory committee] has produced an honest, straightforward, courageous report thoroughly based on research and at long last without mincing words,” NYU professor Marion Nestle told The Huffington Post. “Whether the agencies — USDA and HHS — will accept its recommendations remains to be seen.”
Here’s what a panel of experts had to say about the report:
1. The focus on foods, not nutrients, is a good thing.
2. Cholesterol limits are gone, but that won’t change much.
3. Sustainability is also part of good nutrition.
4. There need to be real limits on sugar.
5. Research about the link between food and mental health is still emerging.
6. These suggestions need your support.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/21/dietary-guidelines-advisory-committee_n_6724416.html


How to turn rainwater into safe drinking water?
Starting from the early 2000s, the process of rainwater harvesting and reuse has been gaining popularity in the European Union and around the world. During the past 20 years, more than several million tanks were installed by households and companies in the EU to collect rainwater for servicing toilets, watering gardens and washing cars. But is it safe to use this water for drinking and cooking?
Key problems of rainwater collection
The rainwater is collected in concrete or plastic tanks using a system of gutters on the roof. Sounds romantic, but what about all the air pollution particles that settle into the tanks together with the rainwater?
In case there is an industrial area nearby, which is quite common, all substances that fall onto the roof may end up in your collection tank. During the seasonal changes, such as the blooming period in the summer, even more foreign particles will be collected with rain. So, the problems with dissolved substances need to be solved, but what is the solution?
AQUAPHOR Professional (APRO) keeps supplying rainwater purification reverse osmosis systems to Western Europe. The recovery of these systems reaches an average of 95%. Space-saving footprint allows the installation in limited areas.
Easy to use and not needing constant maintenance, APRO system is equipped with a patented AQUAPHOR smart control unit, which allows securing the regular supply of drinking water to the household using the technology of multisource. When there is not enough rainwater in a tank, the system automatically switches to a reserve source of inlet water, such as municipal water supply for example.
The benefit of the system for short-time use, which is required for example in summer houses or seasonal hotels, is stagnation protection technology. This function protects the system from bacteria growth or other organic damages. When the system is not in use and is set to standby mode after a certain period, it automatically starts recirculatory of rainwater.
The APRO system purifies water, and then saturates it with minerals to the level necessary for drinking water.
The outstanding characteristics of APRO systems are a space-saving design, low power consumption and minimum required maintenance. The service call will be needed 1-2 times a year. The APRO reverse osmosis system for rainwater treatment is totally suitable for both private and municipal buildings.


Broken Down by Work and Sex: How Our Health Declines
Self-reported health status (SRHS) is an imperfect measure of non-fatal health, but allows examination of how health status varies over the life course. Although women have lower mortality than men, they report worse health status up to age 65. The SRHS of both men and women deteriorates with age. There are strong gradients, so that at age 20, men in the bottom quartile already report worse health than do men in the top quartile at age 50. In the bottom quartile of income, SRHS declines more rapidly with age, but only until retirement age. These facts motivate a study of the role of work, particularly manual work, in health decline with age. The Grossman capital-stock model of health assumes a technology in which money and time can effect complete health repair. As a result, declines in health status are driven, not by the rate of deterioration of the health stock, but by the rate of increase of the rate of deterioration. We argue that such a technology is implausible, and we show that people in manual occupations have worse SRHS and more rapidly declining SRHS, even with a comprehensive set of controls for income and education. We also find that much of the differences in SRHS across the income distribution is driven by health-related absence from the labor-force, which is a mechanism running from health to income, not the reverse.
- The rate at which health deteriorates with age is faster in manual occupations than in non-manual occupations. For many people, work...
Broken Down by Work and Sex: How Our Health Declines, Anne Case, Angus S. Deaton. in Analyses in the Economics of Aging, Wise. 2005


BróðurgjöldOld Norwegian Dictionary - bróðurgjöld
Meaning of Old Norwegian word "bróðurgjöld" (or bróðurgjǫld) in Norwegian.
As defined by the Johan Fritzer's Old Norwegian dictionary:
- bróðurgjöld (bróðurgjǫld)
- bróðurgjöld, n. pl. = bróðurbœtr. Eg.55 (11630); SE. I, 356.
Part of speech: n pl
Orthography: Johan Fritzner's dictionary used the letter ö to represent the original Old Norwegian (or Old Norse) vowel ǫ. Therefore, bróðurgjöld may be more accurately written as bróðurgjǫld.
Possible runic inscription in Medieval Futhork:ᛒᚱᚮᚦᚢᚱᚵᛁᚯᛚᚦ
Medieval Runes were used in Norway from 11th to 15th centuries.
Futhork was a continuation of earlier Younger Futhark runes, which were used to write Old Norse.
Also available in related dictionaries:
This headword also appears in dictionaries of other languages related to Old Norwegian.


Stay healthy over the holidays with these helpful holiday food safety tips.
With all the food and drink over the holidays, it can be easy to forget that food is one of the more common pathogens. Food-borne illnesses are some of the most common ways for infection to spread, outside of upper respiratory illness.
Follow these simple food safety tips to keep your food safe this holiday season.
- Wash your hands. Wash your hands multiple times while preparing food, before eating, and after eating. Always wash hands after touching raw meat, raw eggs, or unwashed vegetables. Wash before eating or drinking, after blowing your nose or coughing or sneezing, or after using the bathroom. Keeping your hands clean is one of the top ways to avoid spreading disease.
- Cook foods thoroughly. Use a thermometer to ensure that foods are cooked to the safe minimum internal temperature. Meat, poultry, seafood and eggs should be temperature checked.
- After food is cooked, keep hot food hot and cold food cold. Keep hot food on a heated burner or serve from a slow cooker set to "warm." Keep cold food cold by placing over ice. Refrigerate or freeze any perishable foods within two hours – do not let food sit out for longer than two hours or eat food that has been sitting at room temperature for an extended period.
Is dark chocolate good for you?
Dark chocolate contains many healthy nutrients like iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc and more, making it a bittersweet treat to enjoy in moderation.
Chocolate cherry baked oatmeal recipe
Makes 6 servings Ingredients 2 cups old fashioned oats 1 tsp. baking powder ¼ cup light brown sugar 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder ¼ tsp. salt 2 cups fresh or frozen
Do juice cleanses really work?
It's true that you’re likely to lose weight on a juice cleanse, but this is simply because you’re consuming fewer calories.
How to get more vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient, meaning your body doesn’t produce enough and needs adequate amounts through the food you eat.


From National Geographic:
Pictures: Strange Sea Species Found Off Greenland
Alien of the Deep
Looking like a creature from the Alien movies, this nightmarish “longhead dreamer” anglerfish (Chaenophryne longiceps) was until recently an alien species to Greenland waters (map).
The dreamer, which grows to a not-so-monstrous 6.7 inches (17 centimeters) in length, is 1 of 38 fish species found around the Arctic island for the first time, according to a recent study led by biologist Peter Møller of the Natural History Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen.
Ten of the species new to Greenland are new to science too. All 38 were discovered since the last such survey in 1992.
Rising ocean temperatures due to global warming—which could be drawing unfamiliar fishes to the region—and increased deep-sea fishing may be responsible for the spike in fresh fish faces seen off Greenland, according to the study, published in February in the journal Zootaxa. (Learn about global warming.)
Published April 21, 2010
A collaborative research team led by Queen’s University biologists has found that potent metals like mercury and lead, ingested by Arctic seabirds feeding in the ocean, end up in the sediment of polar ponds: here.
Controlling mercury in the Arctic: here.
Greenland’s ice cap, the world’s second largest, is on track to hit its tipping point: here.
Arctic ice at multi-millennium low:
Less ice covers the Arctic today than at any time in
the past few thousand years, a study concludes.


F-10 Curriculum (V8)
F-10 Curriculum (V9)
Tools and resources
What would it be like to live on a space station? In this clip you'll see footage of astronauts on the International Space Station and discover what their daily life is like. You'll also find out about how the space station was built and about some important research being done there.
Do you know that people have been living and working in space for more than 10 years? The International Space Station (ISS) orbits the Earth more than 300 kilometres above us. Watch this clip to discover what life is like in space and the type of research that is conducted there.
Why might we need to keep a collection of seeds from all over the world? Where would we keep a collection like that? Should we send some of them into space? Watch this clip to reveal answers to all these questions and more.
This is a NASA 'Our World' video clip focusing on the different ways that astronauts on the International Space Station use technology to communicate with ground staff and others on Earth. The narrators include the puppet Lily and actual astronauts on the space station. Different modes of communication include radio contact, ...
This is an interactive resource that explores the International Space Station through a Station Spacewalk Game in which participants conduct virtual NASA repair work on the International Space Station. In the game, participants leave the airlock and complete tasks executed by astronauts to help power up the space station ...


Do you ever wonder why you get your gums poked when you’re at the dentist? What exactly are they looking for? Why are some areas more sensitive than other areas? The instrument your hygienist or dentist use to poke your gums is called a periodontal probe. The periodontal probe is actually a calibrated instrument used to measure the depth and topography of periodontal pockets. A periodontal pocket is the area between your tooth and the gum next to the tooth. Probing provides an assessment of bone loss and periodontal health. So what exactly does all of this mean? Each dental visit, your hygienist will probe your gums (next to the tooth) and track the measurements they get. A normal, healthy reading would be a pocket depth between 1-3 mm. Pockets deeper than 5 mm may indicate periodontitis. Periodontitis is an inflammation of the gums around the tooth, causing the gums to pull away from the tooth. As the gums pull away from the tooth, plaque spreads lower and lower below the gum line, allowing bacteria in. If the condition is not treated, the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. The teeth may eventually become loose and have to be removed. If the pockets around your teeth become too deep, your dentist or hygienist may recommend root planing and scaling. Root planing and scaling is a deep cleaning of your periodontal pockets to remove all of the built up plaque. Don’t worry, your hygienist will numb your gums before this procedure, making it a piece of cake! Now when your hygienist or dentist are probing your teeth and you feel a sensitive area, you will know you need to pay more attention to that tooth when you are flossing and brushing. If you are in need of a dental cleaning, you can call 952-938-7746 or click HERE to request an appointment.


Two State Process Model in Operating System
The OS process's passes from many states, beginning from its formation to its completion. A process is made up of program data and its associated data and a PCB. A process can change its state due to the following events such as I/O requests, synchronization of processes, interrupt routines, process scheduling algorithms, etc. The process can run or cannot run, and if the process is running, it has to be supported by the systems for proper progress of the process.
Two-State Process Model
It is the simplest process model in the process state model because it has only two states. These states are as follows:
1. Running State
It is the current process state in which the process is running.
2. Not Running State
It is the state of a process that is waiting for running.
Execution of Two-State Process Model
This process state may be created anytime, whether a process is running or not.
Processes that are not currently running must be placed in a queue and wait for their chance to execute. There is only a single queue, and the entry is a pointer to a PCB. It has a block that stores information in a data structure such as context data, state, program counter, identifier, etc.
You must be aware that a queue may contain linked list blocks representing a single process. If a process is interrupted, it is shifted to the queue waiting process, and if the process is finished its execution, it is terminated. The dispatcher then chooses another process from the queue and runs it. The dispatcher's behavior is shown in the above queuing diagram.
Next TopicBest Book for Linux Operating System


The palm oil industry is concentrated in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. A recent article in Nature Climate Change estimated that to date about 5% of the mills capture methane from palm oil waste water treatment facilities. This leaves an annual 140 MtCO2e/year of methane which is emitted to the atmosphere. The calorific potential of that methane is 24 million MWh, equal to about a fourth of the energy consumption of Malaysia.
Although these emissions are dwarfed by those from deforestation and the drainaing of peatlands, they need to be reduced. The market is consolidated around a few large palm oil producers and offset project aggregators. While Malaysia and Thailand established requirements for methane capture and provide incentives for using the methane, the regulatory framework in Indonesia is less stringent or persuasive.
Shifting Paradigms, at the time as staff member of Climate Focus, has assessed the potential of a portfolio of 26 palm oil waste water projects in Malaysia and Indonesia to generate Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) under the Clean Development Mechanism. The assessment has been carried out to support an investor with their decision to acquire the project portfolio.
The scope of the due diligence included a detailed assessment of the:
- methane abatement potential of all projects, and the robustness of the monitoring systems in place,
- regulatory risk considering compliance with national legislation and the requirements from te UNFCCC for offset projects,
- reputational risk.
Partners: (as an employee and shareholder of) Climate Focus, Royal HaskoningDHV,
Countries: Indonesia, Malaysia


Digital learning objects: A need for educational leadership
Falloon, G., Robin, J. & Annick, J. (2009). Digital learning objects: A need for educational leadership. Agora, 44(3), 48-53.
Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/5424
Despite increasing interest in technology-assisted education, technology-based instructional design still lacks support from a reliable body of empirical research. This dearth of reliable information hampers its integration into mainstream school systems. In fact, many teachers remain resistant to using technology in the classroom. In order to overcome teacher resistance to technology in the classroom, we have sought to follow a process described by Friesen to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the educational use of digital learning objects (DLOs) from the teachers' point of view. This article explores the opportunities and challenges inherent in using digital learning objects and reports on the impact of DLO use at both the classroom and school levels. By providing research that links students' use of DLOs with the development of key competencies, we hope to sharpen teachers' visions of how DLOs can help them achieve their educational goals, and to encourage DLO uptake for educational purposes. Finally, we envision a DLO that can assist school principals in the facilitation of educational leadership and help transform teachers' attitudes toward technology-based teaching.
History Teacher's Association of Victoria
This article has been published in the journal: Agora. Used with permission.
- Education Papers


During grade school research classes, students will learn about the Earth’s surface area, air, and water. They will also explore the solar system and study real estate of straightforward machines. Their particular jobs will involve building circuits and a bridge, and they will learn about the Earth’s surface through experiments and activities.
Grade university science classes also give attention to technology. Learners will learn about straightforward machines including the solar oven, and they’ll create chemical reactions. Their tasks may include building a jellyfish aquarium tank or working experiments with live ocean wildlife.
The grade college science curriculum as well emphasizes the study of life periods. Students will likely learn about the periodic table and the properties of various materials. They are going to experiment with stomach acids and link bases. They will learn about hormone balance and physics. These topics include factors, light, and sound.
College students in grade school scientific research classes will even study the solar system, the Earth’s ambiance, and the solar yard lights system’s room. They will also check out the properties of surroundings, water, and minerals. Their particular projects may involve building a circuit or maybe a solar oven. Their assignments will train them regarding the solar-system, and they will learn about the Globe’s interior.
Level school science classes also instruct students about the homes of materials, including precious metals and plastic materials. They will also learn about the Earth’s surface, and they’ll study the properties of air, water, and nutrients. These subject areas include the planet science, hormone balance, and physics.
The class school research curriculum as well promotes the utilization of technology, just like computers. Students will learn regarding the history of the solar system plus the laws of gravity.


Scientific name: Calidris ferruginea
IUCN designation: Near Threatened
The Curlew Sandpiper is a small to medium sized slender shorebird, known for their lengthy migration from their breeding grounds in the Siberian Arctic to their wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Australia — an extensive range1!
The Curlew Sandpipers is typically 18-23 cm (7-9 in) long and have a wingspan of 38-41 cm (15-16 in)1,2. It can be identified by its rusty red head, neck, chest, and underparts during its summer breeding season. During the non-breeding season, the plumage is dull grey/brown with a white belly3. The legs and feet are black2. One can distinguish the highly gregarious Curlew Sandpiper from other shorebirds by identifying its long, decurved black bill, white rump, and the white fringes on its dark brown scapular and covert (upper and outer wing) feathers1,4.
The Curlew Sandpiper follows multiple migratory routes. The AMASS project is following two routes going across the western Palearctic: one going towards West Africa and one towards southern Africa, passing through the East African Rift Valley lakes1.
Given its range, the Curlew Sandpiper is exposed to multiple threats which are dependent on the site they occupy. The populations of Curlew Sandpiper which AMASS is following are threatened by habitat degradation due to urban/industrial development and pollution. Additionally, certain areas are threatened by intensive fish/benthic fauna harvesting, water management, and irrigation schemes1,5.
To learn more, visit our Curlew Sandpiper StoryMap or the links below!
- IUCN Red List – Curlew Sandpiper
- Australian Government – Calidris ferruginea
- eBird – Curlew Sandpiper
- QLD Wader Study Group – Curlew Sandpiper
- Birdlife International – Curlew Sandpiper


|Publication Type:||Conference Paper|
|Year of Publication:||2012|
|Authors:||S. Reich, Wesselingh, F. P., Renema, W.|
|Conference Name:||Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs|
Seagrass ecosystems play an important role in sedimentation processes and nutrient cycling and support local biodiversity by providing food and shelter for numerous associated organisms. These ecosystems have been around since the Late Cretaceous. In order to understand their emergence in geological time and their response to past perturbations we have to be able to recognize seagrass communities in the fossil record. However, seagrass itself hardly fossilizes and therefore we are searching for indirect indicators to recognize ancient seagrass vegetation. In this contribution we review molluscan evidence for palaeo-seagrass settings. Indicator species are rare since the majority of seagrass associated molluscs occurs in other marine habitats as well. Furthermore, those habitats appear to be patchy, both spatial and temporal, resulting in mixed occurrences of seagrass and non-seagrass faunas. Often only the high abundance of certain mollusc groups and the general taxonomic composition of a fauna points to seagrass environments. However, the distribution of gastropod trophic guilds in species richness versus abundance data appears to yield patterns that may be very characteristic for the identification of fossil seagrass associated faunas. We are currently applying Indirect PaleoSeagrass Indicators (IPSI’s) to a number of fossil and modern shelly samples, both from seagrass and non-seagrass environments. We also briefly review potential sedimentary and geochemical IPSI’s as well as fossil groups different than molluscs. Identifying seagrass environments enables us to assess diversity trends in such ecosystems through time and to study their response over time intervals with major environmental and climate change.
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What is a Memory Chip?
Memory chips are electronic components that store data and programs used by computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. They are essential for fast processing and accurate retrieval of information.
A memory chip is composed of semiconductor circuits that can store data in the form of electric charges. The charge represents a bit of information, which is either 1 or 0, and is the basic unit of digital computing. Memory chips can store a vast amount of data in a small space and can access it quickly.
One of the most common types of memory chips used in today’s computers and devices is the dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chip. DRAM stores data temporarily and provides the working memory for the computer’s central processing unit (CPU). It is called “dynamic” because it needs to be constantly refreshed with an electric charge to maintain the data stored in it.
Another type of memory chip is the static random-access memory (SRAM) chip. SRAM is faster than DRAM because it does not need to be refreshed as frequently. It is used in devices that require faster memory access, like embedded systems, cache memory, and some network routers.
Flash memory is another type of memory chip that is commonly used in digital cameras, USB drives, and smartphones. It is called “flash” because it can be erased and rewritten multiple times. Unlike DRAM and SRAM, flash memory does not need a constant supply of electricity to maintain the data stored in it.
Memory chips are also used in the form of memory modules, which are plugged into a computer’s motherboard or other devices. The most common memory module in desktop computers is the DIMM (Dual In-line Memory Module).
Memory chips have become an essential component of modern computing systems. They provide the fast processing and accurate storing of data that is required by computers and other electronic devices. As technology advances, memory chips will continue to evolve to meet the demands of the ever-increasing amount of data generated and stored by businesses and individuals.


tDCS (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) is a contemporary form of neurostimulation
(or neuromodulation) that delivers a constant low current to specific areas of the brain.
How does it work exactly and what are they for?
By applying a positive or negative current through electrodes to one area to help with the depolarization or hyperpolarization of neurons, in other words, increasing or lowering neurons’ threshold to send electrical pulses.
Originally, tDCS was developed and refined to aid patients with brain injuries or with neurological disorders, however, several scientific studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of tDCS in cognitive enhancement for the general population.
In layman’s terms, these are DIY devices for depression and anxiety treatment at home, and they also help treating sleeping disorders (I personally experienced deeper sleep sessions after using the FDA approved ActivaDose tDCS Starter Kit).
According to Google Trends, Denmark, USA, and Australia are the top three countries using tDCS, today. Denmark has admitted tDCS to public, private, and education hospitals, Australia has promoted tDCS as a non-invasive treatment, and the USA has validated tDCS technology on a large scale.
In this cozy safe space of mine, I rank the best tDCS devices to use for your disorders –
Flow tDCS Headset, NeuroMyst, BrainTap headset, Caputron Activadose, and The Brain Driver (scroll down for a discount code) – based on their features, cost, delivery time, and effectiveness, topped with real-life user reviews.


Return to Conservation Biology Research on Fish
Schuldt, J., M. Lapp, and R.A. Bellig. 1986. Distribution and habitat selection of the shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) in the Minnesota River. Final report submitted to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 18 pp.
The shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) has recently been of some concern because of apparent population reductions throughout much of its range in Minnesota and has recently been placed on the list of Special Concern by the Fish Group Committee of the Endangered Species Advisory Committee. The Minnesota River flowing through southern Minnesota may be one such area of concern. While it apparently had once been relatively abundant, MDNR surveys did not report it and other authorities such as Eddy and Underhill believed sturgeon to be scarce or absent altogether. A more recent MDNR survey of the river in 1980 and 1982 yielded few specimens. In contrast, rather substantial numbers of shovelnose sturgeon have been captured over the years in samples collected by personnel at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. The occurrence, age composition and food habits of sturgeon in the Minnesota River were reported in 1979. Continued interest in the sturgeon led to subsequent investigations which further substantiated the sturgeon's relative abundance in the vicinity of St. Peter. The primary goal of these studies was to determine by radiotelemetry and netting, the fall movements and habitat selection of shovelnose sturgeon.
The purpose of this present study was essentially two-fold. Because much of what we know about the sturgeon's relative abundance and habitat selection is from a rather small portion (15 km) of the total river length (533 km) it was considered important to determine their general distribution throughout the system. Secondly, what has been learned about this fish has been primarily from fall and early winter investigations and it was considered important to supplement this information with summer gathered data. In brief, we were interested in determining if sturgeon could be captured in the summer throughout the river with about the same success rate as is possible in a small study area in the fall. We were also interested in determining if sturgeon generally utilized summer habitats similar to those we have come to expect them to utilize during the fall.


Therefore, if wanting to have beautiful, bright skin, it is necessary to nourish from the inside of the food classified as Super Foods that are rich in antioxidants Helps to slow down aging. Helps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases Make your skin bright Look younger than follows. Including CURCUMIN (curcumin), which has high antioxidant activity Helps reduce inflammation in the body Helps to kill bacteria and viruses. Including stimulating immunity in the body
1. Turmeric is a herb and food ingredient. Moreover, it is used in traditional medicine. Research shows that “turmeric” consists of proteins, fibers, vitamins, and minerals, including curcumin which is a powerful antioxidant, reduces inflammation, kills bacteria and virus, and stimulates body immune. For skin, eating turmeric can decrease chronic rashes, acnes, and skin inflammation as well as enhance wound healing.
2. Avocado is nourish of vitamin C, vitamin E, and omega 9 fatty acid which stimulate skin collgen production, reduce skin inflammation, as well as moisture and smoothener your skin.
3. Sweet potato is a good source of carbohydrate since it can quickly provide energy to your body. Moreover, it is loaded with beta carotene which is an antioxidant leads to healthy skin. Beta carotene also acts as natural sunscreen protecting your skin from damage or wrinkles due to UV. In addition, sweet potato has a high fiber, so it can improve excretion and is helpful for weight loss.
4. Green tea is rich in polyphenols, of which the main ingredient is EGCG, an excellent antioxidant. This substance can reduce body and skin inflammation, kill bacteria, and lessen wrinkles from sun exposure and acne inflammation. Furthermore, EGCG stimulates new hair growth.
Information provided by: Dr. Narumon Thongsriiam
Compiled by: Medisci


Photo by Sandeep Gangadharan on Flickr.com
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that his country wants to land a spacecraft on the moon by 2032 and explore the resources there as part of its “future space economy” plan.
According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, Yoon stated that they will continue with the vision that space can guide the global economy and solve humanity’s problems and that the dream of space power is not a distant future but an opportunity and a source of hope for children and young people.
Expressing that South Korea will send a spacecraft to the moon by 2032 and that the resources on the moon will be discovered within the scope of the “future space economy” plan, Yoon shared the information that his country will develop domestic rockets for the moon mission within 5 years.
Yoon noted that as part of its long-term space plan, South Korea aims to land a spacecraft on Mars on the 100th anniversary of Independence Day, which will be celebrated in 2045. It was stated that, within the framework of the comprehensive plan, the focus would be on the development of the space industry and the training of experts. It was also stated that a space agency similar to the US Aerospace Agency (NASA) would be established by the South Korean administration.
The creation of the space agency was one of Yoon’s campaign promises, and the government is preparing to have the agency’s creation bill approved next year.
MOON RECORDING VEHICLE LAUNCHED IN AUGUST
South Korea, which participated in the space race, has accelerated its investments in this field in recent years, and after the first attempt failed, it sent its domestic production rocket “Nuri” into space for the second time on June 21. South Korea launched its first lunar rover, KPLO, into space in August 2022.
The reconnaissance vehicle launched by the US-based space company SpaceX from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida, USA, with a Falcon 9 rocket, was South Korea’s first step towards the Moon mission.


Week of Respect
WEEK OF RESPECT
OCTOBER 3-OCTOBER 7, 2022
The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act has designated the first week of October as the Week of Respect. The aim of this week is to promote respect, kindness, and character development as a means of preventing bullying.
During the Week of Respect our students will participate in classroom activities coupled with schoolwide activities.
WEEK OF RESPECT SCHOOLWIDE ACTIVITIES
Monday, October 3:
BLUE SHIRT DAY - WORLD DAY OF BULLYING
STOMP OUT BULLYING: By wearing a blue shirt, we join together to stop bullying and cyberbullying.
Simple Ways to show KINDNESS:
Pay someone an honest compliment.
Listen to someone’s story.
Tell your friends your favorite thing about them.
Include others who are often on their own.
Tuesday, October 4:
Everyone Counts Day
Students and Staff wear clothing with a number on it.
Let’s promote respect for others with Random Acts of Kindness:
Smile at someone; give someone a compliment; eat lunch with someone new;
Do a kind act every day; help another student make friends; respect others.
Wednesday, October 5:
School is a Safe Place to Be Yourself
Dare to be different: Wear Mismatched clothes.
WE ARE ALL PEOPLE AND WE MUST HONOR OUR DIFFERENCES AND RESPECT AND CELEBRATE OUR SIMILARITIES.
Thursday, October 6
Help, Encourage, and Respect Others. Have a positive attitude and look for the good qualities in others.
Friday, October 7
Stand Up Against Bullying
School spirit day
Bullying can happen anywhere. Be an upstander. If you see bullying happening, do not become part of it; Stand up for a friend.


Researchers from the Institute for Evolutionary Biology (IBE: CSIC-UPF) have collaborated in a study of ancient DNA analysis that has revealed genomic changes in the population of southeastern Iberia that could have influenced social and political changes in the transition to the Bronze Age.
The project is based on the DNA analysis of 136 Iberian individuals from between 3,000 and 1,500 BC. This data, added to the results of previous studies, has created a database of around 300 individuals from the transition between the Copper Age and the Bronze Age (2,200 BC approximately).
The study has revealed the presence of a genomic component from the European steppe in the individuals of El Argar – one of the first European societies to emerge in the Iberian southeast – which was not found in their predecessors.
“We can now conclude that the population movement that began in the steppe areas of Eastern Europe around 3,000 BC. C. required more than four centuries to reach the Iberian Peninsula and another 200 years to appear in present-day Murcia and Alicante”
Roberto Risch (UAB, collaborating entity of the project)
These results, as the authors explain, could serve to better understand the social changes that took place in Iberia during the transition from the Copper Age to the Bronze Age. Those changes, which happened in the rest of Europe at the same time, modified the burial rituals and social hierarchies and broke with previous traditions.
Vanessa Villalba-Mouco et al. Genomic transformation and social organization during the Copper Age-Bronze Age transition in southern Iberia; Science Advances 2021


Turkish Journal of Zoology
The impact of chilling on selected attributes of the blowfly, Calliphora vicina(Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), under laboratory conditions
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of four different chilling periods, varying from 24 to 120 h, on the mean survival rate, larval and pupal development durations and the pupal and adult weight of Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) under laboratory conditions at 4 ºC in 2018 at Ondokuz Mayıs University. Chilling reduced the survival rate of the pupae of all developmental stages. The adult eclosion rate of first instar larvae and pupae was lower, especially after 72 and 120 h chilling periods, but it increased for the second instar, third instar and postfeeding larvae with increasing chilling period. In addition, the larval development period was increased by increased chilling period for all developmental stages except for postfeeding larvae for 120 h. Pupal and adult weight were also affected by chilling period, and the postfeeding larval and pupal stages were the most intolerant groups to chilling. Overall, the effects of chilling on the life history parameters of C. vicina were substantial and should be considered to provide a more reliable estimate of postmortem interval.
Calliphora vicina, chilling period, development duration, survival rate, weight
KÖKDENER, MELTEM; GÜNDÜZ, NEVRAN EYLEM AKMAN; and ZEYBEKOĞLU, ÜNAL
"The impact of chilling on selected attributes of the blowfly, Calliphora vicina(Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), under laboratory conditions,"
Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 45:
3, Article 4.
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol45/iss3/4


Battle of Corydon Memorial Park
On July 8, 1863, Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan and approximately 1,800 cavalrymen commandeered two steamboats and crossed into Indiana, with the intentions of distracting Union forces from Confederate actions in Tennessee. After a quick skirmish with local militia near their landing site in Mauckport, Indiana, Morgan’s forces continued deeper into Indiana. The next day, the Harrison County Home Guard, led by Colonel Lewis Jordan, caught up with the Confederate contingent a mile south of Corydon and engaged in Indiana’s only Civil War battle. Outnumbered and outfought, Jordan retreated to Corydon and surrendered after only an hour of fighting. Although short, the battle left fifteen dead and almost sixty wounded. Morgan gradually made his way to Corydon with 355 captured Home Guard members, releasing the troops before plundering the city.
After leaving Corydon, Morgan went north, hitting the small towns of Vernon, Dupont, Pekin, Salem, and Versailles before leaving Indiana on July 13th. He was eventually defeated in the July 23, 1863 Battle of Salineville in Ohio. The raid caused the citizens of Indiana a considerable amount of anxiety, not to mention a considerable cost in damaged property and payments to militia members--but Morgan’s actions had little impact otherwise on the state or the Civil War’s final outcome.
The Battle of Corydon Memorial Park marks the spot where Harrison County’s Home Guard skirmished with Morgan’s troops. The park includes commemorative markers, a replica log cabin, and a walking trail. It also hosts an annual re-enactment of the battle near the end of June. The battle site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.


sorry this is so late notice but i must have this done in two hours. please choose from one of the questions below.
Write a 1,000- o 1,500 word on ONE of the following. Refer to specific examples to support your argument. Please Note: 1,000 words is the MINIMUM for a passing grade; papers with 999 or fewer words will fail. This assignment does not require research or sources outside of the assigned reading. Cite examples and quotations from our text using the system in the MLA Handbook. If you are unfamiliar with this system, you can consult the Handbook (available in the library or the Writing Center); also, any freshman writing handbook will have a section on MLA.
Topics to choose from:
1. Compare the treatment of death in at least 2 works. (Choose from Lysistrata, Ramayana, Metamorphoses, the Qu’Ran, Beowulf, The Thousand and One Nights, Inferno.) Does the culture believe in life after death? What is that like?
2. Compare the treatment of women in at least 2 works. (Choose from Lysistrata, Ramayana, Metamorphoses, the Qu’Ran, Beowulf, The Thousand and One Nights, Inferno.)
3. Compare Beowulf the hero to Rama the hero. What do the differences tell us about the respective cultures?


16 March 2021
Now that we’ve changed to Daylight Saving Time sunrise is an hour later. Perhaps you’re getting up in the dark this week and have heard birds singing before dawn. Who are these early songsters? Here are three species you’ll hear in mid-March in Pittsburgh.
Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are early birds. Awake before dawn, they sing while it’s still dark. Both male and female sing.
Song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) are early risers, too.
In brightly lit urban areas, some song sparrows will sing through the night, apparently thinking the sun is just about to rise!— Song Sparrow description, American Bird Conservancy
In mid-March, large flocks of American robins (Turdus migratorius) stopover in Pittsburgh on their way north. They arrive at night, then sing before dawn. The sound of an entire flock singing at once is a special experience.
Here’s their dawn song:
And their dusk song:
It’s worth getting up before dawn to hear them.
(photos by Steve Gosser, Chuck Tague and Wikimedia Commons)
2 thoughts on “Singing Before Dawn”
Dear Kate, I am up at five everyday and I hear the birds talk to each other but we still have the winter birds here and I like to hear the catbirds every morning in the bushes in my back yard. They are my favorite ones to hear and I call them to come to the bird feeder every day. They talk to each other every morning and every evening. Pretty soon they will leave but they come back in September to winter in Deland Florida.
One time I had accidently woke up around 4:00 in the morning. Before I went back to bed, I thought I heard birds singing.I wasn’t sure so I went outside to make sure. Believe it or not, they WERE singing! Such a sight! I never even thought that birds could sing at nighttime. My family and I are big time bird lovers so I was curious to know why they did this. Reading why they did this was interesting and something new to learn about them. I will never forget that moment. Thank you for the information.


New batch of RS satellites by China
China successfully launched three new remote sensing satellites from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on June 23, 2022.
The satellites were launched as the second batch of the Yaogan-35 family at 10:22 a.m. (Beijing Time) by a Long March-2D carrier rocket and entered the planned orbit successfully.
This launch marked the 424th mission for the Long March series carrier rockets. https://english.news.cn
Remote sensing helps track carbon storage in mangroves
Mangrove forests store huge amounts of carbon but figuring out how much is stored globally is challenging. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new model that uses remote sensing of environmental conditions to determine the productivity of mangrove forests.
In a recent study in Scientific Reports, researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, developed a model to assess the productivity of coastal mangroves in China. Mangroves grow along tropical coastlines and are regularly inundated by seawater. These unique species are well adapted to tropical coastal habitats and have special features such as aerial roots and salttolerant tissues that enable them to thrive under dynamic conditions. As a result, the productivity of mangrove forests is influenced by a range of environmental factors, such as sea surface temperature, salinity, and photosynthetic active radiation.
In the past, light use efficiency models have been used to assess the productivity of terrestrial forests but there are no such models for more complex mangrove ecosystems. https://phys.org
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“Full protection by the UK of the waters around the South Sandwich Islands is needed”
New research finds that the western South Atlantic humpback population is well on its way to recovering from the devastating impacts of commercial whaling.
Whaling took a large toll on the global humpback population between the late 1700s and the mid-1900s, with as many as 300,000 whales estimated to have been killed. Some breeding populations, due to their relatively small size, remain endangered to this day.
The whaling industry drove the western population of South Atlantic humpbacks right up to the precipice of extinction. The whales spend their winters in mating and calving grounds off the eastern coast of South America, then migrate to feeding grounds in the higher latitudes of the South Atlantic, near South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, for the summer months. This particular population of humpbacks was hunted from at least the early 1800s onward, but it wasn’t until commercial whaling expanded to high latitudes during the early 1900s that the whales’ numbers were the most heavily impacted.
According to a study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science last week, there were nearly 27,000 western South Atlantic humpbacks as of 1830, but the population was reduced by some 95 percent, to just 450 whales, by the mid-1950s. In the 12 years between 1904 and 1916 alone, the population lost approximately 25,000 individuals.
Source: ‘Progressive Recovery’ of 25K South Atlantic Humpback Whales. In 1950s there were 450 – EcoWatch


If circumstances dictate that a child is unable to attend school (for example if school is unable to open safely or if an individual child has an infectious illness, but is well enough to learn remotely) lessons will be provided via Seesaw to enable learning to continue at home. Children should also remember to read every day and practise spellings and times tables!
In such circumstances, whilst children are at home, they should submit work to their teacher on a daily basis via Seesaw. You can print out work and send in a photo of the completed task, screenshot a completed task and put that in Seesaw or even work from the webpage on paper and then send in a photograph of your work. Please assign the work to the ‘extra home-learning’ folder to indicate it has been completed at home. Parents of children in Early Years can share work with their teachers via Tapestry.
Please remember: If you are unwell, we do not expect you to complete school work. Just look after yourself and we look forwards to see you back in school soon!
What can I do to help my child?
While your child is at home (in any scenario), these tips can help make remote learning easier for them:
- Create a positive environment for your child to learn at home;
- Distinguish between weekdays and weekends, to separate school life and home life;
- Designate a working space if possible, and at the end of the day have a clear cut-off to signal school time is over;
- Create and stick to a routine, as this is what your child is used to at school. For example, eat breakfast at the same time each morning and make sure they're dressed before starting the ‘school’ day;
- Stick a timetable up on the wall so everyone knows what they should be doing when, and tick activities off throughout the day;
- Make time for exercise and breaks throughout the day to keep your child active.
Useful website links:
Please click on the images to go to the relevant website.
Please use Chrome, Firefox or Edge to access Seesaw online.
Alternatively, you can download the Seesaw app to use on compatible devices.
Please also see our Seesaw help videos for support.


Using the Microsoft Word tool, you can open a WORD document, then edit it and save it as a new or an existing DOC document. You can add an access password to the .DOCX document. The password protects the document against unauthorized access by people who do not have permission to view or edit the document.
How to secure a .DOCX document with a password?
You can save the file to a folder on your computer, network location or cloud at any time. Specify the destination location if different from the default and save the file. Press CTRL + S or click the File tab, and then click Save or use the instructions below.
- In the Word document editing view, press Ctrl + S or click the File button at the top of the screen.
- Go to edit settings, and then click Save As to save the Word document. Use your own preferences, e.g. change the default location or document format.
- Select the location, name and format of the saved file, by default, the Word document will be saved in .docx format.
- Click the More Options button to manually edit the settings of the saved .docx file in Microsoft Word.
- Choose a location and enter the file name. Then click Tools > General Options. The button is located at the bottom of the window, next to the Save button.
- In the new view, enter the password for accessing the Word document created or edited in Microsoft Word. Enter the password to open the document and view its contents. Set the password needed to edit the document.


Hepatitis B Surface Antibody
Surface antigen usually appears in the serum following exposure to Hepatitis B virus and peaks shortly after onset of symptoms. It typically disappears within 1 to 3 months. Persistence of Hepatitis B surface antigen for greater than 6 months is a prognostic indicator of chronic Hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is one of the several viruses that cause hepatitis. It is severely contagious, being spread mostly through unprotected sex. Hepatitis is a form of liver inflammation and enlargement which can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. There are many tests that can be used to test for hepatitis B. The HBV surface antibody test measures the antibodies in the blood against HBV. This hepatitis lab test is useful to measure the immunity to HBV, 1 to 6 months after exposure. The antibody number diminish over time, requiring need for immunisation. It can also detect whether there was previous exposure to HBV.
This hepatitis lab test is performed in following conditions such as:
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dark urine and/or pale colored stool
• Anyone needing protection from HBV e.g. healthcare workers
Also Known As: Hepatitis B Immunity Test, Hep B Titer
It is recommended that someone taking Biotin (also known as vitamin B7 or B8, vitamin H, or coenzyme R) stop consumption at least 72 hours prior to the collection of a sample.
Estimated Time Taken
The Hepatitis B Surface Antibody test typically sees results in 2-4 business days.


Crocus come in about three main categories. Earliest of them are the species, of which there are many.
These are called winter-flowering, and will bloom at the slightest slackening of wintry weather.
Most of these are quite small in size but tough and willing to make considerable increases so that after a few years, they form showy clumps.
They are superb in rock gardens. Next comes the large Dutch crocus, a spectacular kind with big flowers. They rank with the showiest spring bulbs.
Finally, there is the autumn-flowering crocus planted in August or September and blooms soon afterward before foliage appears.
Winter-Blooming Crocus Species
Among the winter-blooming species, a choice is difficult, but any garden should include the following:
- Crocus ancyrensis or Golden Bunch—one of the earliest; small, yellow-orange.
- Crocus sieberi—very early, soft lilac. A variety called ‘Firefly’ has showy orange stamens.
- Crocus versicolor picturatus or Cloth of Silver—white with red feathering, large for this class.
- Crocus tornasinianus—several named kinds, all shades of purple, early.
- Crocus susianus or Cloth of Gold—yellow with brown stripes.
- Crocus chrysanthus—comes in many named varieties in shades of blue, cream, yellow. Grassy foliage.
- Crocus vernus— ‘Vanguard’ is a named kind, blue-gray, early.
Among Dutch croci, these stand out:
- Little Dorrit (silver-lavender, large)
- Striped Beauty (white with purple striping, large)
- Remembrance (soft purple-blue, with showy orange anthers, large)
- Dutch Yellow Mammoth (early for this type, long-lasting, large)
Among autumn croci, these are notably satisfactory:
- Crocus zonatus—large lavender with orange at the base, early.
- Crocus sativus (Saffron) —fragrant pink-lilac feathered with violet.
44659 by Na


Storms and Feathery Clouds
Saturn's southern hemisphere shows dark spots and wisps of high clouds in this image. Note the boomerang shape of the patterns in the mid-latitude bands. The image was taken with the Cassini narrow angle camera in the near infrared on May 8, 2004, from a distance of 28.1million kilometers (17.5 million miles). Image scale is 168 kilometers (104 miles) per pixel. The image has been enhanced to aid visibility.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Cassini-Huygens mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging team is based at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission, visit: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov
and the Cassini imaging team home page,


Witches in The Ancient World
Many people think that the witch is a creation of Christianity, or at any rate of the Bible. In this lecture, I’ll be exploring her pre-Christian antecedents in the classical worlds of Greece and Rome. I’ll be looking at this dark and terrifying and yet strangely seductive figure of Medea, and her descendants in the work of Lucan, whose hags scrabble for the body parts of dead soldiers left on the battlefield. We will also get to know the ambivalent goddess of the witches, Hecate, who also knows the realm of the dead.
This will enable us to take a deep and uncomfortable dive into the many magical papyri I surviving from the classical era, and the curses and curse tablets that also outlive those who wrote out their hatred and fear on those tablets. I will be looking at love magic in particular, even though very little of it measures up to modern standards of what love means, and most of it operates like date rape drugs. Finally, we will meet the strix, the scary witch bird said to disembowel infants in order to feed on their blood. At the end of the lecture, I will suggest some ways in which this body of material came to influence the witch hunts of the early modern period.
Diane Purkiss is Professor of English Literature at Keble College, Oxford. She was formerly Professor of English at Exeter University. She is the author of the highly acclaimed The Witch in History , and Troublesome Things: A History of Fairies and Fairy Stories
don’t worry if you miss it – we will send you a recording valid for two weeks the next day


Seattle's Space Needle Wire Replica
History: The Space Needle is the Pacific Northwest's most recognizable landmark and is the symbol of the U.S. city of Seattle, Washington. Located on the grounds of Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair. It is now privately owned. The Space Needle is a tower 184 m (605 feet) high and 42 m (138 feet) wide at its widest point and weighs 9,550 tons. It is built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) and earthquakes up to 9.1 magnitude, and has 25 lightning rods on the roof to withstand lightning strikes. The Space Needle features an observation deck at 520 feet (159 m), the SkyCity restaurant, and a gift shop. From the top of it, one can see not only the Downtown Seattle skyline, but also the Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands. Photographs of Seattle often show the Space Needle in a prominent position, even appearing sometimes to tower above the rest of the city's skyscrapers. Many first-time visitors to the city are surprised to see the Space Needle in its true perspective. At 60 stories it is not remarkably tall, and it is not as close to the cluster of downtown skyscrapers as one might think judging only from photographs. Visitors can reach the top via elevators that travel at 10 mph. This trip takes 43 seconds and some tourists wait in hour-long lines in order to ascend to the top of the tower.


Sunday, July 3, 2016
Honoring Elie Wiesel: On the Opposite of Love
Elie Wiesel was our conscience and our memory of the Holocaust. He was voice for millions of the murdered because of the hatred and madness of one leader and his supporters. But also the Jewish citizens died due to the overwhelming silence of others. It is both easy and difficult to understand the fear of speaking out when neighbors are disappearing. Consequences of disagreeing with Hitler, as with other dictators, were and are severe and usually fatal. But that begs the question on how dictators ascend to national control in the first instance.
Anyone who read Night was no doubt haunted by the inhumanity. But one of the lessons Mr. Wiesel taught us was not to wait in confronting hateful conditions as they are developing. Politics rooted in hate can be powerful and, if not curbed, lead to the sort of unimaginable suffering that Mr. Wiesel endured. Not confronting hatred when it first appears permits inhumanity to grow. Failure to confront hatred opens the door for demagogues.
As we celebrate July 4th, we might ponder how easily we could lose our independence through our silence. As Mr. Wiesel taught: "The opposite of love is indifference."


Valuing the benefits of nature-based solutions for IUFM in the Greater Mekong Region – Project flyer
Floods are the most frequent natural disaster globally, and cause more damage than any other weather or non-weather related event. Yet, flood-related damages are expected to grow, driven by urbanisation, land use changes and climate uncertainty. Countries in the Mekong region, such as Thailand and Vietnam, are among the world's most exposed countries to flooding.
Compared with conventional “grey” infrastructure by itself, nature-based solutions (NbS) can involve less upfront investment, are more scalable and flexible and generate a range of environmental, economic and social co-benefits beyond flood management.
The Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC) and the International Centre for Environmental Management (ICEM) worked in close cooperation with national government agencies in Thailand and Vietnam to identify and evaluate the full range of market and non-market benefits of NbS, as well as consider appropriate financing and investment models.
The project was established by the World Bank and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and was implemented by the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC) and the International Centre for Environmental Management (ICEM). It was supported by the Australian Water Partnership (AWP) as part of its Australia-Mekong Water Facility.


Australian values are based on freedom, respect, fairness and equality of opportunity are central to our community remaining a secure, prosperous and peaceful place to live. Our values define and shape our country and they are a reason why so many people want to become Australian citizens. Our democratic institutions and shared Australian values have created our peaceful and stable society.
Australian values include:
- Respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual
- Freedom of religion (including the freedom not to follow a particular religion), freedom of speech, and freedom of association
- Commitment to the rule of law, which means that all people are subject to the law and should obey it
- Parliamentary democracy whereby our laws are determined by parliaments elected by the people, those laws being paramount and overriding any other inconsistent religious or secular “laws”
- Equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, or national or ethnic origin
- A ‘fair go’ for all that embraces:
- mutual respect
- compassion for those in need
- equality of opportunity for all
- Recognising the English language as the national language, and as an important unifying element of Australian society.
For further information see Australian values and the Australian Values Statement
This post is also available in: 简体中文 (Chinese (Simplified))


The mantle where diamonds are birthed is deep within Earth, down over 100 km. It's a place of high temperatures and high pressures, conditions necessary for carbon atoms to bond together in such a way that diamonds will eventually result. To make it happen, the atoms have to arrange themselves in a particular way that lets them share electrons--a regular, three-dimensional geometric pattern that, if left to grow without interference, produces large, pure diamond crystals. Volcanic eruptions throw the crystals up from Earth's depths.
The high temperatures and pressures needed to create diamonds also exist when comets or meteorites strike Earth. The shock of impact is so great that minerals change from one form to another. In this case, graphite re-forms into diamonds. (Like diamonds, graphite is also made from carbon but joined in a different pattern.) Geologists look to such diamonds, sometimes only microscopic in size, as evidence of impact. Meteor collisions in space also result in diamonds.
There are two main processes by which manmade diamonds are created: the high-pressure, high temperature method (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The first tries to create conditions similar to that found in Earth to create diamonds, resulting in crystals useful for industrial purposes such as drilling or cutting. In the HPHT method, seeds of diamonds are placed in a chamber along with graphite. High pressure is applied mechanically by devices such as pistons or anvils, along with high temperatures. The graphite's carbon atoms begin bonding to the seeds and grow diamond crystals over the course of days.
Larger diamonds are created through the CVD process, which also uses a small diamond as a seed. The seed is placed in a chamber along with carbon bearing gases, where they are microwaved. This makes carbon atoms separate from the gas and fall upon the diamond seed. Using the seed as a building base, the carbon atoms join to form the geometric pattern that builds a diamond crystal.
About the Author
Sophie Johnson is a freelance writer and editor of both print and film media. A freelancer for more than 20 years, Johnson has had the opportunity to cover topics ranging from construction to music to celebrity interviews.
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Career planning stages
Educators have studied the process of determining how to choose an occupation since the early 1900s. A number of theories and assessments have been developed to aid in this process. According to the book Career Choice and Development, "Career development is a lifelong process of getting ready to choose, choosing and typically continuing to make choices from among the many occupations available in our society." (Brooks and Brown, 1996)
This process can be broken into four stages:
- Identify values, interests, personality traits, abilities, aptitudes and lifestyle preferences.
- Identify majors and occupations that relate to values, etc.
- Test major and occupational prospects through courses, volunteer work, student activities
- Obtain information about occupations.
- Interview people in jobs that interest you about the nature of their work.
- Link self-knowledge with occupational information.
- Declare a major.
- Evaluate occupational choices by gaining relevant work experiences through internships and employment.
- Concentrate on major coursework and choose electives that will enhance employability.
- Increase knowledge and skills through involvement in activities and organizations.
- Develop relationships with faculty and professionals.
- Begin learning job search strategies.
- Explore the full range of graduate study and employment options.
- Talk with professionals in your field about job search techniques, opportunities and graduate study options.
- Sharpen job search skills.
Assisting students and alumni in career exploration recognizes that each person is an individual and has unique aspirations and abilities. The Bluffton University Center for Career and Vocation provides services and resources that support individuals as they strive to determine where to go, as well as challenges them to gain self-knowledge, expand their horizons and utilize personal resources.


This is an ancient surname of medieval English derivation, although its origination is pre 7th Century Anglo-Saxon. "Dowle" is a surname form of "doule", a headless wooden peg or bolt used in the construction of timber buildings. In effect the name is job descriptive for a maker of such "dowels". The surname is also found as "Dowler" as in Roger le Dowler of Worcester, recorded in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls. "Dowle" can also be a personal nickname for a small round person, a similar nickname being "Stubbs", which means the same thing, and is an equally popular surname.Clearly the nickname was regarded as a form of endearment; had it been derogatory, it could hardly have survived. The early surname recordings include: William le Doul in the 1280 Rolls of Worcester; and Michael Doul in the 1334 - 1335 Subsidy Rolls of Kent; whilst one Hugo de Doole of Surrey was recorded in circa 1290. This latter entry suggests a place called "Doul". If so it is not otherwise recorded. The "modern" spellings include Dowell, Doule, Dowall and Dowle, Benjamin Dowle being christened at Manchester Cathedral on May 20th 1750, in the reign of George 11 (1727 - 1760). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thurstan le Doul, which was dated 1247, in the "Fines Court Register of Surrey", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
© Copyright: Name Origin Research 1980 - 2022
Enjoy this name printed onto our colourful scroll, printed in Olde English script. An ideal gift.


One of the biggest issues some student have, including master’s students, is when to use a semi-colon or a colon. Here’s the scoop.
If you have two complete sentences (also known as independent phrases), you can put them together into one sentence using a semi-colon. Do not stick the word “and” in there- just combine the two sentences and put a semi-colon in between them. It could not be more simple.
Do not join two independent clauses with a comma; that is wrong (this sentence, however, is right). If you want to use the word “and,” then do not use a semi-colon. An example of all of these comments is seen below:
I want to go out to dinner. I would like to see a movie afterwards.
I want to go out to dinner; I would like to see a movie afterwards.
I want to go out to dinner, and I would like to see a movie afterwards.
All of these sentences are correct. Using a semi-colons correctly will impress the professor; using them incorrectly will irritate her.
So when do you use a colon? You can use them for lists of things, such as the following:
We are taking the following items with us: tents, sleeping bags, and toiletries. Please note that I did not capitalize the word after the colon, It is not a proper noun. An exception to this rule is if you are using a quotation immediately after the complete sentence in which you placed the colon. Here is an example:
The pastor announced: “Everyone, please come into the the gym after dinner.”
Hope this helps!
If You Want a Good Grade, Don’t Do the Minimum
24 May 2021 - Uncategorized


Many people think about drones being largely for recreational purposes. And indeed, many consumers buy them for kids as gifts or for hobbyists to race. But, drones are increasingly being deployed for professional services – particularly for surveillance and information collection.
XSun’s founders set out to design new types of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), powered by solar energy. Because they use a renewable energy source, these drones can be used for long range trips for as long as multiple days. Their innovative architecture is made of composite materials, which allows for a wide surface of solar panels and sensors, giving the machines enough energy to be highly autonomous. Each of their UAVs blends the latest satellite and cellular technology to provide a secure and permanent link between the drone and the control center.
These high-potential solar flying machines must be controlled by aerospace professionals or aircraft pilots. XSun is focusing on four key areas of monitoring:
- Terrestrial Infrastructures and Networks: for large industrial networks and energy distribution, pipeline, railways and power grids
- Environmental: for natural sites, civil security and search & rescue
- Agriculture: for predictive analysis and optimizing farm operations
- Maritime Borders: surveillance and detection of species
To help bring their vision to reality, XSun applied to join the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab. Through this program, Dassault Systèmes provides XSUN with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with a range of solutions for design and simulation. This includes optimizing for the constraints of aerodynamics, surfaces for solar cells, onboard systems, etc. and designing/simulating systems of systems. As with all participants in the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, XSun also has access to Dassault Systèmes’ experts for mentoring and networking.


Scientists outline plans to reduce the environmental footprint of Brazilian beef
Julian Hall and PhD student, Rafael de Oliveria Silva, with co-authors from SRUC, the University of York and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation have published a paper on how the country's farmers can meet the rising demands for beef without increasing the amount of farming space used.
The paper, ‘Sustainable intensification of Brazilian livestock production through optimised pasture restoration' has been published as part of the Agricultural Systems journal.
The group of scientists has outlined plans to optimise Brazilian grazing pastures in order to increase beef productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers have estimated that global demands for livestock products will double by 2050, a shift which is leading to calls for agricultural industries to adopt sustainable farming methods.
The team has now developed a method for restoring many of Brazil's degraded grassland areas.
It is estimated that over half of Brazil's pastures are currently degraded and, if restored, could transform the country's beef production systems.
Sustainable intensification in Brazil is also believed to be necessary in order to maintain the current low deforestation levels in areas such as the Amazon and the Cerrado.
One of the co-authors, Professor Dominic Moran (SRUC and University of York) said: "Brazil has the potential to lead the way for global sustainable intensification in beef production.
"This paper focused on how we can apply the method to many of the country's degraded farming fields, as well as outlining the benefits that this will bring to both the farming industry and environment.
"Through the optimisation of Brazilian grasslands, we can supply the growing demand for beef and also reduce greenhouse gas emission levels."


These designs bring the fastest and most convenient communication effect to corporate advertisements to a greater extent in life, and the diversity of information also enriches people's cultural life. But the use of graphic design in space has always been something we have been lacking in our research. In a big city with a fast pace of life, when people are busy with work, they often ignore the things they pass by and lack environmental feelings about the environment they are in. How to better combine the graphic design with the space environment , to provide people with a better urban life experience is what our designers should think about. Second, the significance of the use of graphic design elements in space With the continuous development and construction of cities.
large-scale urban buildings tend to be standardized and Image Manipulation Service unified. Coupled with the large-scale application of traditional and single decorative styles, people live in the same urban space. The emotional character that these spaces are supposed to have is also diminished. The rapid development of information technology has provided people with great convenience in life. People face mobile communication all day long, resulting in the lack of emotion in most people's communication. Therefore, it is hoped to apply graphic design elements to the space, change the visual experience brought by the space environment to people, and increase people's emotional experience in the city.
Even in unfamiliar cities or environments, people can feel the exclusiveness of urban space to be conveyed. emotion. The "super-flat style" that appeared in the 1960s was influenced by Pop Art at that time, and a group of rebellious designers combined graphic design with environmental design and architectural design. The graphic design elements are applied to the space façade, and the visual effects brought by the graphic design elements have brought about a great change in the environmental experience. While not changing the spatial structure, use graphic design elements to convey emotions.


Energy drinks are soft drinks advertised as boosting energy and usually do not emphasize energy derived from the calories they contain but rather through a choice of caffeine, vitamins, and herbal supplements the manufacturer has combined. Experts from the University of Edinburgh identify that consuming energy drinks during team sports may help young individuals perform better.
Scientists examined adolescents aged between 12 and 14 years and revealed that they can play for longer in team games when they gulp down an isotonic sports drink before and during games. Experts evaluated the performance of 15 youth during exercise mainly conducted to trigger the physical demands of team games like football, rugby and hockey.
Scientists observed that sports drinks assist young people continue high intensity, stop-start activity for around 24 percent longer as compared to players who drank a non-carbohydrate placebo solution. The analysis was conducted because apparently there is an evidence of young people consuming energy drinks during team games, thereby stimulating scientists to examine their impact.
Experts observed that drinking a six percent carbohydrate electrolyte solution enhanced stamina but did not make young people run with improved speed during intermittent exercise in team sports. The solution which contains carbohydrate, sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium enhances hydration restricts dehydration and offers a supply of energy to the body, thereby contributing to improved endurance capacity.
“The importance of hydration to improve performance during exercise for adults is well known. This research helps us further understand how adolescents respond to hydration and energy supply during exercise. The consumption of a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution was found to significantly enhance endurance capacity during simulated games play, and this could contribute to improved performance in adolescents,” remarked Dr John Sproule Head of the Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences of the University of Edinburgh’s Moray House School of Education.
The findings are anticipated to help examine the essence of regular hydration and energy intake with a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution during games to swap fluids and provide energy in adolescent players. This analysis claims to be the first to evaluate the effect of a six percent carbohydrate-electrolyte solution which may be similar to the make-up of an isotonic sports drink, on the performance of young people in team games.
These findings were published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology.


Scaling Up Access To Maternal, Child Health Care Would Prevent Most Deaths During Pregnancy, Childbirth
“Every day, 800 women lose their lives giving birth — 287,000 each year — and the vast majority of these deaths occurs in developing countries. … These deaths are unacceptable, particularly because they are preventable,” the heads of the Health 4+ (UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, U.N. Women, the WHO, and the World Bank, known as H4+) write in the Huffington Post’s “Global Motherhood” blog. They continue, “Every woman giving birth should be able to turn to a skilled health worker, and be given the life-saving — and cost-effective — medicines so critical to her and her baby.” They note the group is meeting “[o]n 24 September — during the 67th session of the U.N. General Assembly, … to advocate at the highest levels for the health of women and children globally” and “bolster joint efforts towards meeting the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in countries that are lagging the furthest behind.”
The H4+ authors continue, “What to do now is clear. Scaling up access to quality maternal and child health care and to life-saving medicines and supplies would prevent most deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.” The blog highlights a number of initiatives already underway, notes progress made in attaining the MDGs and concludes, “The H4+ is determined to keep up this momentum through 2015 by strengthening and building new partnerships. We urge decision-makers all over the world to join us and do what it takes to translate talk into action for millions of women and children” (9/21).
The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.


In working on the manuscript for my book, I have been reading and thinking about sheep and their role in settler-colonialism and the frontier wars.
Robert Kenny’s, The Lamb Enters the Dreaming, is fascinating on many levels. I particularly liked this reflection:
‘It is important to appreciate here that the connection between the religious symbolism of the Lamb and the white things wandering around the paddocks was lost to the settlers, but not to the local people. Having been brought up a Christian, it never occurred to me until I came to write this book that Jesus as Lamb of God, or myself as Lost Sheep found, had any connection to the dumb, fluffy animals that dot the countryside. Of course, I would recognise “the Lamb” as a lamb, but I would not look at a lamb in a field and think of Jesus. Or a sheep that had wandered alone onto a road and think of an apostate Christian. Since I was a small child, the separation of the symbolic Lamb from the wool-bearing sheep has been granted, the result of centuries of separation. But if I had come across the Christian symbolism of the Lamb at the same time as the novel presence of sheep, this separation would not be – and it would certainly not be if I understood the spiritual and physical worlds as unseparated.’ – Robert Kenny, The Lamb Enters the Dreaming, Melb., Scribe: 2010.
Also, it is disturbing how much of the frontier violence revolved around sheep and agriculture. This map makes the impact of colonial expansion on Indigenous life obvious.


Around 10% of the world’s population, some 650 million people, live with a disability. But what is classified as a disability? What separates people with a disability from those with a healthy and active lifestyle?
The Census Bureau defines disability status through six types of questions measuring difficulty with hearing, vision, cognition, walking/climbing stairs, self-care, and independent living. Relying on wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, hospital beds, and other tools designed for limited mobility or function, those living the reality of having a disability desire to maintain some sense of normalcy, whether it stem from an daily communication with those around them or an active lifestyle in the best ways that they can.
Over 20 million people over the age of 18 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs, making up 7.1% of non-institutionalized people with disabilities. Aside from those people who use a wheelchair, more than 11 million people use canes, walkers, or crutches to get around. And in the United States alone, more than 3 million people (over the age of 15) rely on a wheelchair to move around and keep as much of an active lifestyle as they can.
We have seen an increase in the accommodation levels for those relying on a wheelchair to move around. From push-button entrances and sliding doors to parking accommodations, ramps, public transportation adjustments, and more, wheelchair accessibility has allowed for inclusive travel for those in a wheelchair.
With all of the ins and outs of wheelchair use comes routine wheelchair maintenance. But what can happen that causes a need for wheelchair maintenance? Rigid wheels, brakes, cushions, footrest adjustments, and hand rims are just a few of the things that may need adjusted over time.
In order to keep an active lifestyle of sorts, wheelchairs must be “serviced” every so often to keep smooth mobility intact. Routinely adjusting the wheelchair cushion will allow for extended comfort. Making sure the footrests are positioned properly for the user but can also move when needed can align for comfort of the wheelchair user. Adjusting the wheelchair hand rims can help to avoid discomfort in the hands. Servicing the wheelchair tires can help to avoid a potential flat.
All of these details may seem like small fixes, but to someone in a wheelchair, it makes all of the difference in the world when it comes to mobility and having their version of an active lifestyle.


Why Do Young People Sing Differently in Everyday Life Scenarios and at School?
AbstractThe present study aims to provide theoretically grounded accounts of the relationship between young people’s singing activities in everyday life and at school. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather information about their style and attitude of singing by questioning where they sing, who they sing with, what they sing, why they sing and how they sing. Since the study also aims to illustrate the singing behaviour through the investigation of singing behavior/attitude in different cultures, the participants (junior high school students) from Japan and Portugal were recruited. The questions were organized in three parts. The content of Part 1 and 2 was the same. However, the questions of Part 1 were asking participants’ singing behaviour/attitude which occurred in everyday life (outside school) and the questions of Part 2 were asking participants’ singing behaviour/attitude which occurred during their secondary school life (in school). The questions of Part 3 were general questions, in which participants’ positive and negative singing episodes were asked. In the present study, positive attitudes towards singing were observed both in everyday life and at school. Although the style of singing, purpose of singing and the genre of songs were different in and out of school, the degree of participation in singing activities and the preference for singing were high in both in and out of school. Another important finding of the present study is that singing is conducted not only for recreational purposes, such as ‘fun’ or ‘stress removing’, but also for productive purposes, such as ‘improve singing skills’ and ‘widening new repertoires’. It can be concluded that many participants in both countries actively engaged in singing in and out of school.


What are Nature-based solutions (NBS)? Setting core ideas for concept clarification| Nature-Based Solutions | 2022 | Peer Reviewed | Review | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772411522000015
Although nature-based solutions (NBS) have been promoted as a key tool for solving diverse environmental and societal problems, the concept and its practical applications remain unclear. This ambiguity is linked to the fact that the NBS concept has emerged from the integration of multiple scientific fields. In addition, there has been a delay in establishing clear standards for NBS, hence a number of actions that today would be seen as complementary or related measures, are frequently branded as NBS. Thus, this paper paves the way to clarify NBS by identifying their core features and formulating criteria to exclude certain actions from the set of NBS. After reviewing 20 definitions of NBS, these actions are identified as interventions that: (1) are inspired and powered by nature; (2) address (societal) challenges or resolve problems; (3) provide multiple services/benefits, including biodiversity gain; and (4) are of high effectiveness and economic efficiency. The non-systematic review includes both peer-review research papers and relevant official reports, enabling the formulation of a set of criteria that exclude green/blue interventions from the set of NBS. These are: (1) lack of functioning ecosystems; (2) random actions; (3) post-implementation goal(s); (4) negative/no impact on biodiversity; (5) same benefits as grey infrastructure alone; (6) unfair distribution of benefits; (7) ‘copy-paste’ implementation approach; (8) top-down model of governance; (9) static management approach; (10) financial expenses disproportionate to benefits; and (11) ‘point scale’ approach. Ongoing and future practice will contribute to our understanding of the long-term operation of NBS as well as to the detection of synergies and trade-offs, thereby enabling us to better define this concept’s boundaries.


Any operator looking to better understand ground conditions in data scarce environments faces a multitude of challenges that include — but are hardly limited to — the limitations of official statistics, wrangling disparate data sources that are insufficient in scope and often out of date, and the difficulty of collecting new data — an expensive, time-consuming and resource intense endeavor.
Over the last several years, the remarkable increase in satellite-derived information and advancements in machine learning techniques have begun to significantly shift how we create new data and make inferences accordingly. It’s an exciting time for the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) space but with excitement comes a host of important questions that the research community is actively exploring:
- Can we trust the new data we are creating?
- Do we need to adjust our current methodologies?
- How can we collectively advance our work to ensure equitable access to these new opportunities?
The founders of Atlas AI, three Stanford scientists — Marshall Burke, David Lobell and Stefano Ermon — recently released an article in Science that reviewed and synthesized the rapidly growing scientific literature that seeks to use satellite imagery to measure and understand various human outcomes, including many outcomes directly related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Their work made four main points:
- Satellite-based outcomes predictions work reasonably well and the methods are improving.
- Training data — and not imagery — is now the biggest rate limiter to model development.
- Satellite-derived insights are most likely to strengthen — and not replace — well-developed and trusted ground-based data collection efforts.
- Limited uptake of this emergent technology is driven by a host of factors including the newness of the science, hesitancy in adopting measures that cannot fully be understood, the challenges with interpretability and maintenance of the status quo.
Over the next six months, we will unpack each of these points, discussing more about the work we are doing with trusted partners, and sharing exciting findings emerging from new initiatives.
Read the full article in Science here.
Learn more about Atlas AI’s work here.


Common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)
Chimpanzees are found across a west-east of equatorial Africa. They have about 98 percent of human gene, so chimpanzees are hey are highly social, care about their offspring and can live over 50 years. Chimpanzees are omnivores (eating plants and meat). Their diet includes leaves, fruit, seeds, tree bark, plant bulbs, tender plant shoots, and flowers. They also eat termites, ants, and small animals. Chimpanzees are an endangered species. They live in multi-male, multi-female communities. Chimpanzees make and use tools and even famous for using plants with medical value. They use facial expressions to convey emotions as humans do.
Height – up to 1,2 m
Weight – around 70 kg
Life span – 33 – 60 years
Statues – Endangered
Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
The mountain gorillas have two populations: one is found in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and oher in the Virunga volcanic mountains in south-west Uganda; in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. The Mountain gorillas live in forests high in the mountains. They are primarily herbivores, eat leaves, shoots and stems, also bark, roots, flowers and fruits. They are very social and live in groups. The mountain gorillas have thicker and longer fur then other gorillas as they live in colder temperatures. They also tend to be a bit larger than other gorillas. Mountain gorillas are usually active from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most of their day is spent in play, climbing trees and chasing one another.
Standing height – 1.2 to 1.8 m
Weight – 135 to 220 kg
Life span – 35 -50 years