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A chronology of key events: circa 800 BC - Jos plateau settled by Nok - a neolithic and iron age civilisation. circa 11th century onwards - Formation of city states, kingdoms and empires, including Hausa kingdoms and Borno dynasty in north, Oyo and Benin kingdoms in south. 1472 - Portuguese navigators reach Nigerian coast. 16-18th centuries - Slave trade sees Nigerians forcibly sent to the Americas. 1809 - Islamic Sokoto caliphate is founded in north. 1850s - British establish presence around Lagos. 1861-1914 - Britain consolidates its hold over what it calls the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, governs through local leaders. 1922 - Part of former German colony Kamerun is added to Nigeria under League of Nations mandate. 1960 - Independence, with Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa leading a coalition government. 1966 January - Mr Balewa killed in coup. Maj-Gen Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi forms military government. 1966 July - General Ironsi killed in counter-coup, replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon. 1967 - Three eastern states secede as the Republic of Biafra, sparking three-year civil war. 1975 - General Gowon overthrown by Brigadier Murtala Ramat Mohammed, who begins process of moving federal capital to Abuja. 1976 - General Mohammed assassinated in failed coup attempt. Replaced by his deputy, Lt-Gene Olusegun Obasanjo, who helps introduce US-style presidential constitution. 1979 - Elections bring Alhaji Shehu Shagari to power. 1983 August-September - President Shagari re-elected amid accusations of irregularities. 1983 December - Maj-Gen Muhammad Buhari seizes power in bloodless coup. 1985 - Ibrahim Babangida seizes power in bloodless coup, curtails political activity. 1993 June - Military annuls elections when preliminary results show victory by Chief Moshood Abiola. 1993 November - Gen Sani Abacha seizes power, suppresses opposition. 1994 - Moshood Abiola arrested after proclaiming himself president. 1995 - Ken Saro-Wiwa, writer and campaigner against oil industry damage to his Ogoni homeland, is executed following a hasty trial. In protest, European Union imposes sanctions until 1998, Commonwealth suspends Nigeria's membership until 1998. 1998 - Gen Sani Abacha dies and is succeeded by Maj-Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar. Moshood Abiola dies in custody a month later. 1999 - Parliamentary and presidential elections. Olusegun Obasanjo sworn in as president. 2000 - Adoption of Islamic Sharia law by several northern states in the face of opposition from Christians. Tension over the issue results in hundreds of deaths in clashes between Christians and Muslims. 2001 - Tribal war in Benue State, in eastern-central Nigeria, displaces thousands of people. Troops sent to quash the fighting kill more than 200 unarmed civilians, apparently in retaliation for the abduction and murder of 19 soldiers. 2002 February - Some 100 people are killed in Lagos in clashes between Hausas from mainly-Islamic north and Yorubas from predominantly-Christian southwest. 2002 November - More than 200 people die in four days of rioting stoked by Muslim fury over the planned Miss World beauty pageant in Kaduna in December. The event is relocated to Britain. 2003 12 April - First legislative elections since end of military rule in 1999. Polling marked by delays, allegations of ballot-rigging. President Obasanjo's People's Democratic Party wins parliamentary majority. 2003 19 April - First civilian-run presidential elections since end of military rule. Olusegun Obasanjo elected for second term despite EU observers reporting "serious irregularities". 2003 September - Nigeria's first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, launched by Russian rocket. 2004 May - State of emergency is declared in the central Plateau State after more than 200 Muslims are killed in Yelwa in attacks by Christian militia; revenge attacks are launched by Muslim youths in Kano. Trouble in the south 2004 August-September - Deadly clashes between gangs in oil city of Port Harcourt prompts strong crackdown by troops. Rights group Amnesty International cites death toll of 500, authorities say about 20 died. 2006 January onwards - Militants in the Niger Delta attack pipelines and other oil facilities and kidnap foreign oil workers. The rebels demand more control over the region's oil wealth. 2006 April - Helped by record oil prices, Nigeria becomes the first African nation to pay off its debt to the Paris Club of rich lenders, which had written off two-thirds of the $30bn debt the previous year. 2006 August - Nigeria agrees to cede sovereignty over the disputed Bakassi peninsula to neighbouring Cameroon under the terms of a 2002 International Court of Justice ruling. Transfer takes place in 2008. 2007 April - Umaru Yar'Adua of the ruling People's Democratic Party wins the presidential election. Boko Haram uprising 2009 July - Hundreds die in northeastern Nigeria after the Boko Haram Islamist movement launches an enduring campaign of violence. Government frees the leader of the Niger Delta militant group Mend, Henry Okah, after he accepts an amnesty offer. 2010 May - President Umaru Yar'Adua dies after a long illness. Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, already acting in Yar'Adua's stead, succeeds him. 2011 March - Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan wins presidential elections. 2012 January - More than 100 killed in single day of co-ordinated bombings and shootings in Kano, shortly after Boko Haram tells Christians to quit the north. 2013 May - Government declares state of emergency in three northern states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa and sends in troops to combat Boko Haram. 2014 April - Boko Haram kidnaps more than 200 girls from a boarding school in northern town of Chibok, in an incident that draws major national and international outrage. 2014 November - Boko Haram launches a series of attacks in northeastern Nigeria, capturing several towns near Lake Chad and running raids into neighbouring Chad and Cameroon in early 2015. It switches allegiance from al-Qaeda to the Islamic State group. 2015 February-March - Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger form military coalition and push Boko Haram out of all towns back into Sambisa Forest. President Buhari elected 2015 March - Muhammadu Buhari wins the presidential election, becoming the first opposition candidate to do so in Nigeria's history. 2016 June - Naira currency floated in attempt to stave off financial crisis caused by low oil prices. 2016 November - Niger Delta Avengers rebels bomb three oil pipelines in attempt to renew southern insurgency. 2017 December - Clashes between herders in Benue and Taraba states prompt thousands to flee. 2018 - Escalating attacks by Boko Haram from August onwards, targeting army bases. 2019 February - Presidential elections held after last-minute delay of a week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13951696

Politics

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Diabetes and obesity are deadly disorders of the human body. The symptoms of the first is chronic high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) which is caused by the failure of the human body to produce any or enough insulin to regulate its glucose levels. The other is shown by excess weight gain and is caused by the inability of leptin hormones to send signals to the brain or the blocking of leptin signals in the brain by insulin hormones. Insulin hormone in the body controls diabetes by regulating the level of glucose in the blood, but it also causes obesity by blocking leptin hormone signals from the brain. Leptin is secreted by fat cells. It is responsible for telling the brain that we have enough energy stored and that we do not need to eat. Because of this, extremely high levels of insulin may be one of the reasons that people become leptin resistant and grow obese. Excess insulin may be created in the body when the body cells do not see the insulin signals and the pancreas thinks it needs to produce more. This is known as insulin resistance. According to Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist and an expert on child obesity, ‘excess dietary fructose from added sugars’ is one of the main drivers of insulin resistance. And, insulin resistance leads to critically high insulin levels. Classification of diabetes Diabetes is classified ‘type 1’ or ‘type 2’. Type 1 is about the body’s inability to make insulin and type 2 is about the body’s inability to react properly to insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common though. It makes roughly 90% of all diabetes cases reported. Obesity Society, in the post ‘Your weight and diabetes’, explains that, ‘the single best predictor of type 2 diabetes is overweight or obesity.’ It says, ‘Almost 90% of people living with type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity.’ The body of overweight or obese people have added difficulty using insulin properly to control blood sugar levels, so overweight and obese people are more likely to get diabetes. Insulin also sends signals to the fat cells, telling them to store fat and to hold on to the fat that they are carrying. There are many other factors linked to type 2 diabetes. These include age, race, genetics, pregnancy, stress, family history, high cholestrol and some kinds of medications. It is good news that type 2 diabetes is preventable. Diet, physical activity and weight management are among ways to prevent the development of diabetes. A study that lasted three to six years found that lifestyle changes and small amounts of weightloss in the range of 5-10% can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes among high-risk adults, according to Obesity Society. More good news You do not have to get confused on how to modify your lifestyle or lose weight in order to avoid obesity, and diabetes altogether. Attend SlimFitU’s Health Seminar themed: Diabetes and Obesity: The Link Join certified health practitioners and weightloss coaches on Saturday November 19, 2016 at our health seminar where we will discuss the link between diabetes and obesity, debunk weightloss myths, simplify healthy living jargon and share workable tips on avoiding obesity. Register to attend for free here.

http://www.slimfitu.com/lifestyle/understanding-the-relationship-of-diabetes-and-obesity/

Health

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About 90% (or 9 out of 10) of all lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. Furthermore, lung cancer claims the lives of more women each year than breast cancer. About 80% (or 8 out of 10) of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease are caused by smoking (COPD), needless to say, that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. In both men and women, cigarette smoking raises the chance of dying from any cause. We don’t want to terrify you, but you must stop smoking. According to the American Lung Association, “There are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes. Cigarettes emit around 7,000 compounds when they are burned. At least 69 of these substances have been linked to cancer, with many of them being hazardous.” Nicotine is a colorless and deadly chemical found in tobacco plants. It’s a strong substance that affects the brain and becomes addictive quickly Tobacco combustion produces an odorless and colorless gas. It enters the bloodstream, interfering with the heart’s and blood vessels’ functions when breathed. Up to 15% of a smoker’s blood may contain carbon monoxide rather than oxygen. Arsenic is a chemical element that can be found in both gray and yellow forms in the periodic table’s nitrogen group. Small amounts of arsenic-containing pesticides used in tobacco farming can be found in cigarette smoke. Rat poison frequently contains arsenic. Ammonia is a poisonous, colorless gas with an unpleasant odor. Cleaning products and fertilizers frequently contain ammonia compounds, they are also used to increase the effect of nicotine in cigarettes. Acetone is a colorless, transparent liquid. It’s a type of solvent that can dissolve or degrade other materials like paint, varnish, or grease. It immediately dissipates into the atmosphere. Acetone is found in trees and other plants, as well as in tobacco smoke and car exhaust. When exposed to air at room temperature, toluene is a transparent, colorless liquid that turns into a vapor. Toluene is a recreational inhalant that has the potential to cause severe neurological damage. READ ALSO: 6 Natural Ways To Help You Sleep Better Stopping smoking is one of the most important steps someone can take to improve their health. This is true, no matter their age or length of the smoking experience. Quitting smoking can lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory problems, and reproductive issues as the case may be Why you should quit smoking; There is no single ideal method to stop smoking. Everyone’s smoking habits, levels of addiction, and tastes are unique. What works for one individual may not work for someone else. As a result, the best way to quit smoking tobacco includes more than one proven approach. Here are some; A qualified tobacco specialist will assess your nicotine dependence, readiness to stop, and preferred way of learning. The specialist will create a treatment plan tailored to your needs in order to increase your chances of quitting successfully. The latest tobacco treatment drugs, such as bupropion, varenicline, and/or nicotine replacement therapies, are part of your treatment approach (e.g., nicotine gum or the patch). You’ll need some time to prepare your mind and body for success before quitting — 14 to 30 days is usually ideal. At this stage, you are advised to gradually cut down on your regular daily consumption Anti-craving medications and/or nicotine replacement treatment can help you quit smoking. There are resources available to assist you in your efforts to quit smoking. Develop the ability to recognize situations that could lead you back to smoking and learn new techniques to avoid it. Techniques such as; A temporary change in routine, and actively dealing with stress and mood swings amongst others would help greatly. Find healthier ways to cope with stress than smoking. Tobacco really makes your heart, kidneys, and other essential organs work harder since it raises your heart rate and blood pressure, then constricts blood vessels. Talking to a doctor would help. The most important aspect is to be ready and willing to stop. By doing all you can to stop smoking, you can give yourself the most valuable gift a smoker can give to himself or herself: life, health, and self-esteem. Treatment costs less than a pack of cigarettes per day and varies depending on the individual’s unique needs and financial situation.

https://getreliancehealth.com/blog/why-you-need-to-stop-smoking-tobacco-today/

Health

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In 2020, we observed the largest one-year debt surge since World War II, with global debt rising to $226 trillion as the world was hit by a global health crisis and a deep recession. Debt was already elevated going into the crisis, but now governments must navigate a world of record-high public and private debt levels, new virus mutations, and rising inflation. Global debt rose by 28 percentage points to 256 percent of GDP, in 2020, according to the latest update of the IMF’s Global Debt Database. Borrowing by governments accounted for slightly more than half of the increase, as the global public debt ratio jumped to a record 99 percent of GDP. Private debt from non-financial corporations and households also reached new highs. Debt increases are particularly striking in advanced economies, where public debt rose from around 70 percent of GDP, in 2007, to 124 percent of GDP, in 2020. Private debt, on the other hand, rose at a more moderate pace from 164 to 178 percent of GDP, in the same period. Public debt now accounts for almost 40 percent of total global debt, the highest share since the mid-1960s. The accumulation of public debt since 2007 is largely attributable to the two major economic crises governments have faced—first the global financial crisis, and then the COVID-19 pandemic. The great financing divide Debt dynamics, however, differ markedly across countries. Advanced economies and China accounted for more than 90 percent of the $28 trillion debt surge in 2020. These countries were able to expand public and private debt during the pandemic, thanks to low interest rates, the actions of central banks (including large purchases of government debt), and well-developed financial markets. But most developing economies are on the opposite side of the financing divide, facing limited access to funding and often higher borrowing rates. Looking at overall trends, we see two distinct developments. In advanced economies, fiscal deficits soared as countries saw revenues collapse due to the recession and put in place sweeping fiscal measures as COVID-19 spread. Public debt rose 19 percentage points of GDP, in 2020, an increase like that seen during the global financial crisis, over two years: 2008 and 2009. Private debt, however, jumped by 14 percentage points of GDP in 2020, almost twice as much as during the global financial crisis, reflecting the different nature of the two crises. During the pandemic, governments and central banks supported further borrowing by the private sector to help protect lives and livelihoods. Whereas during the global financial crisis, the challenge was to contain the damage from excessively leveraged private sector. Emerging markets and low-income developing countries faced much tighter financing constraints, but with large disparities across countries. China alone accounted for 26 percent of the global debt surge. Emerging markets (excluding China) and low-income countries accounted for small shares of the rise in global debt, around $1-$1.2 trillion each, mainly due to higher public debt. Nevertheless, both emerging markets and low-income countries are also facing elevated debt ratios driven by the large fall in nominal GDP in 2020. Public debt in emerging markets reached record highs, while in low-income countries it rose to levels not seen since the early 2000s, when many were benefiting from debt relief initiatives. Difficult balancing act The large increase in debt was justified by the need to protect people’s lives, preserve jobs, and avoid a wave of bankruptcies. If governments had not taken action, the social and economic consequences would have been devastating. But the debt surge amplifies vulnerabilities, especially as financing conditions tighten. High debt levels constrain, in most cases, the ability of governments to support the recovery and the capacity of the private sector to invest in the medium term. A crucial challenge is to strike the right mix of fiscal and monetary policies in an environment of high debt and rising inflation. Fiscal and monetary policies fortunately complemented each other during the worst of the pandemic. Central bank actions, especially in advanced economies, pushed interest rates down to their limit and made it easier for governments to borrow. Monetary policy is now appropriately shifting focus to rising inflation and inflation expectations. While an increase in inflation, and nominal GDP, helps reduce debt ratios in some cases, this is unlikely to sustain a significant decline in debt. As central banks raise interest rates to prevent persistently high inflation, borrowing costs rise. In many emerging markets, policy rates have already increased and further rises are expected. Central banks are also planning to reduce their large purchases of government debt and other assets in advanced economies—but how this reduction is carried out will have implications for the economic recovery and fiscal policy. As interest rates rise, fiscal policy will need to adjust, especially in countries with higher debt vulnerabilities. As history shows, fiscal support will become less effective when interest rates respond—that is, higher spending (or lower taxes) will have less impact on economic activity and employment and could fuel inflation pressures. Debt sustainability concerns are likely to intensify. The risks will be magnified if global interest rates rise faster than expected and growth falters. A significant tightening of financial conditions would heighten the pressure on the most highly indebted governments, households, and firms. If the public and private sectors are forced to deleverage simultaneously, growth prospects will suffer. The uncertain outlook and heightened vulnerabilities make it critical to achieve the right balance between policy flexibility, nimble adjustment to changing circumstances, and commitment to credible and sustainable medium-term fiscal plans. Such a strategy would both reduce debt vulnerabilities and facilitate the work of central banks to contain inflation. Targeted fiscal support will play a crucial role to protect the vulnerable (see the October 2021 Fiscal Monitor). Some countries—especially those with high gross financing needs (rollover risks) or exposure to exchange rate volatility—may need to adjust faster to preserve market confidence and prevent more disruptive fiscal distress. The pandemic and the global financing divide demand strong, effective international cooperation and support to developing countries. Virat Singh, Andrew Womer, and Yuan Xiang provided valuable research assistance updating the Global Debt Database.

https://brandspurng.com/2021/12/16/global-debt-reaches-a-record-226-trillion/

Politics

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Keeping track of vaccinations remains a major challenge in the developing world, and even in many developed countries, paperwork gets lost, and parents forget whether their child is up to date. Now a group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers has developed a novel way to address this problem: embedding the record directly into the skin. Along with the vaccine, a child would be injected with a bit of dye that is invisible to the naked eye but easily seen with a special cell-phone filter, combined with an app that shines near-infrared light onto the skin. The dye would be expected to last up to five years, according to tests on pig and rat skin andhuman skin in a dish. The system—which has not yet been tested in children—would provide quick and easy access to vaccination history, avoid the risk of clerical errors, and add little to the cost or risk of the procedure, according to the study, published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. “Especially in developing countries where medical records may not be as complete or as accessible, there can be value in having medical information directly associated with a person,” says Mark Prausnitz, a bioengineering professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, who was not involved in the new study. Such a system of recording medical information must be extremely discreet and acceptable to the person whose health information is being recorded and his or her family, he says. “This, I think, is a pretty interesting way to accomplish those goals.” The research, conducted by M.I.T. bioengineers Robert Langer and Ana Jaklenec and their colleagues, uses a patch of tiny needles called microneedles to provide an effective vaccination without a teeth-clenching jab. Microneedles are embedded in a Band-Aid-like device that is placed on the skin; a skilled nurse or technician is not required. Vaccines delivered with microneedles also may not need to be refrigerated, reducing both the cost and difficulty of delivery, Langer and Jaklenec say. Delivering the dye required the researchers to find something that was safe and would last long enough to be useful. “That’s really the biggest challenge that we overcame in the project,” Jaklenec says, adding that the team tested a number of off-the-shelf dyes that could be used in the body but could not find any that endured when exposed to sunlight. The team ended up using a technology called quantum dots, tiny semiconducting crystals that reflect light and were originally developed to label cells during research. The dye has been shown to be safe in humans. The approach raises some privacy concerns, says Prausnitz, who helped invent microneedle technology and directs Georgia Tech’s Center for Drug Design, Development and Delivery. “There may be other concerns that patients have about being ‘tattooed,’ carrying around personal medical information on their bodies or other aspects of this unfamiliar approach to storing medical records,” he says. “Different people and different cultures will probably feel differently about having an invisible medical tattoo.” When people were still getting vaccinated for smallpox, which has since been eradicated worldwide, they got a visible scar on their arm from the shot that made it easy to identify who had been vaccinated and who had not, Jaklenec says. “But obviously, we didn’t want to give people a scar,” she says, noting that her team was looking for an identifier that would be invisible to the naked eye. The researchers also wanted to avoid technologies that would raise even more privacy concerns, such as iris scans and databases with names and identifiable data, she says. The work was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and came about because of a direct request from Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates himself, who has been supporting efforts to wipe out diseases such as polio and measles across the world, Jaklenec says. “If we don’t have good data, it’s really difficult to eradicate disease,” she says. The researchers hope to add more detailed information to the dots, such as the date of vaccination. Along with them, the team eventually wants to inject sensors that could also potentially be used to track aspects of health such as insulin levels in diabetics, Jaklenec says. This approach is likely to be one of many trying to solve the problem of storing individuals’ medical information, says Ruchit Nagar, a fourth-year student at Harvard Medical School, who also was not involved in the new study. He runs a company, called Khushi Baby, that is also trying to create a system for tracking such information, including vaccination history, in the developing world. Working in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, Nagar and his team have devised a necklace, resembling one worn locally, which compresses, encrypts and password protects medical information. The necklace uses the same technology as radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips—such as those employed in retail clothing or athletes’ race bibs—and provides health care workers access to a mother’s pregnancy history, her child’s growth chart and vaccination history, and suggestions on what vaccinations and other treatments may be needed, he says. But Nagar acknowledges the possible concerns all such technology poses. “Messaging and cultural appropriateness need to be considered,” he says.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/invisible-ink-could-reveal-whether-kids-have-been-vaccinated/

Religion

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New computer simulations have shown how the parting of the Red Sea, as described in the Bible, could have been a phenomenon caused by strong winds. The account in the Book of Exodus describes how the waters of the sea parted, allowing the Israelites to flee their Egyptian pursuers. Simulations by US scientists show how the movement of wind could have opened up a land bridge at one location. This would have enabled people to walk across exposed mud flats to safety. The results are published in the open-access journal Plos One. The researchers show that a strong east wind, blowing overnight, could have pushed water back at a bend where an ancient river is believed to have merged with a coastal lagoon. With the water pushed back into both waterways, a land bridge would have opened at the bend, enabling people to walk across exposed mud flats to safety. As soon as the wind died down, the waters would have rushed back in. The study is based on a reconstruction of the likely locations and depths of Nile delta waterways, which have shifted considerably over time. "The simulations match fairly closely with the account in Exodus," said the study's lead author Carl Drews, from the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). "The parting of the waters can be understood through fluid dynamics. The wind moves the water in a way that's in accordance with physical laws, creating a safe passage with water on two sides and then abruptly allowing the water to rush back in." The study is part of a larger research project by Mr Drews into the impacts of winds on water depths, including the extent to which Pacific Ocean typhoons can drive storm surges. By pin-pointing a possible site south of the Mediterranean Sea for the crossing, the study also could be of benefit to archaeologists seeking to research the account. A way through In the Book of Exodus, Moses and the fleeing Israelites became trapped between the Pharaoh's advancing chariots and a body of water that has been variously translated as the Red Sea or the Sea of Reeds. In a divine miracle, the account says, a mighty east wind blew all night, splitting the waters and leaving a passage of dry land with walls of water on both sides. The Israelites were able to flee to the other shore. But when the Egyptian Pharaoh's army attempted to pursue them in the morning, the waters rushed back and drowned the soldiers. Other scientists have also sought to explain the account through natural processes. Some have speculated that a tsunami could have caused waters to retreat and advance rapidly. But the scientists behind the latest research point out that such an event would not have caused the gradual overnight divide of the waters or have been associated with winds. Other researchers have focused on a phenomenon known as "wind setdown," in which a particularly strong and persistent wind can lower water levels in one area while piling up water downwind.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11383620

Religion

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The categories given to the distinct periods of ancient Ife’s artistic production center around the paving of the city’s courtyards and passageways with terracotta bricks sometime around 1000 A.D., marking the beginning of Ife’s Pavement period. This practice is thought to be associated with the urbanization of Ife. The origin of the pavement is explained in a popular story: according to Yoruba mythology, Queen Oluwo ordered the construction of the pavement when her robes were muddied in the dirt. Artistic production at Ife predates the construction of these pavements. The minimalist stone monoliths and other works of early Ife are generally attributed to the Archaic (before 800 A.D.) and Pre-Pavement (ca. 800–1000) periods. The emergence of the highly specialized sculptural tradition of Ife is believed to have begun sometime after 800 A.D. and reached its height between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. These eras, from the pre- to post-Pavement periods (stretching from 800 to 1600), are marked by both an increasingly expressive naturalism in the depiction of human figures and the development of a highly abstract artistic style. Scholars disagree as to whether the portraitlike naturalism is a precursor of the more stylized form, or whether the naturalistic and abstract styles coexisted. A ritual vessel depicting a shrine with a naturalistic head flanked by two tapering cylindrical heads suggests that the two styles were contemporaneous. They may have been deliberately juxtaposed to represent the contrast or unity of an inner spirituality depicted in an abstract form, and an outer physicality shown through realism. A center of political and religious power, Ife has been a formidable city-state through much of the second millennium A.D. The flowering of Ife art coincided with the commercial expansion of the neighboring city-state of Oyo, a strategically placed trading center that channeled goods coming down the Niger River from the Songhai empire to Ife and other centers. The aesthetic style developed during the Pavement period of Ife art has been an ongoing influence in Yoruba sculptural styles since its inception. The fundamentally naturalistic style continues to be the basic form of representation of the human figure throughout Yorubaland. At the same time, the distinctively bulging eyes, flat, protruding, and parallel lips, and stylized ears seen in some of the works of medieval Ife art are also characteristic of present-day Yoruba sculpture.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pave/hd_pave.htm

Culture

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61,000 Lives a Year According to the WHO, this merciless virus causes the deaths of more than half a million children every year. In fact, by the age of five, virtually every child on the planet has been infected with the virus at least once. Immunity builds up with each infection, so subsequent infections are milder. However, in areas where adequate healthcare is limited the disease is often fatal. Rotavirus infection usually occurs through ingestion of contaminated stool. Because the virus is able to live a long time outside of the host, transmission can occur through ingestion of contaminated food or water, or by coming into direct contact with contaminated surfaces, then putting hands in the mouth. Once it’s made its way in, the rotavirus infects the cells that line the small intestine and multiplies. It emits an enterotoxin, which gives rise to gastroenteritis. Typically less than 100 lives a year, though a severe Ebola outbreak was detected in West Africa in March 2014. The number of deaths outnumbered all other known cases from previous outbreaks combined. Once a person is infected with the virus, the disease has an incubation period of 2-21 days; however, some infected persons are asymptomatic. Initial symptoms are sudden malaise, headache, and muscle pain, progressing to high fever, vomiting, severe hemorrhaging (internally and out of the eyes and mouth) and in 50%-90% of patients, death, usually within days. The likelihood of death is governed by the virulence of the particular Ebola strain involved. Ebola virus is transmitted in body fluids and secretions; there is no evidence of transmission by casual contact. There is no vaccine and no cure. 3.1 Million Lives a Year Human Immunodeficiency Virus has claimed the lives of more than 25 million people since 1981. HIV gets to the immune system by infecting important cells, including helper cells called CD4+ T cells, plus macrophanges and dendritic cells. Once the virus has taken hold, it systematically kills these cells, damaging the infected person’s immunity and leaving them more at risk from infections. The majority of people infected with HIV go on to develop AIDS. Once a patient has AIDS common infections and tumours normally controlled by the CD4+ T cells start to affect the person. In the latter stages of the disease, pneumonia and various types of herpes can infect the patient and cause death.

http://www.ranker.com/list/the-top-13-most-incredible-viruses-on-earth/analise.dubner

Health

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Lice infestations are a common problem that affects people of all ages, but unfortunately, many myths and misconceptions surround these tiny parasites. These myths can lead to unnecessary fear and stigma, as well as ineffective treatment. It is important to debunk these myths and promote accurate information to ensure that lice infestations are properly understood and managed. Understanding the Anatomy of Lice: Why the Brain is Not a Suitable Host One of the most persistent myths about lice is that they can infest the brain. However, this is simply not true. Lice are adapted to live on the scalp and hair, not in the brain. Their anatomy and behavior make it impossible for them to infest the brain. Lice have specialized mouthparts that are designed for feeding on blood from the scalp. Although parasitic they cannot penetrate the skull or survive in the brain tissue. Additionally, lice are not equipped to navigate through the complex network of blood vessels and tissues that make up the brain. They are specifically adapted to cling to hair shafts and lay their eggs close to the scalp. The Origins of the Brain Infestation Myth: Historical and Cultural Contexts The idea of lice infesting the brain has been around for centuries, but it has no scientific basis. This myth likely originated from a lack of understanding about lice and their behavior. In the past, people may have observed individuals scratching their heads due to lice infestations and mistakenly believed that the lice were causing them to go mad. Cultural beliefs and superstitions have also contributed to the persistence of this myth. In some cultures, lice infestations have been associated with poor hygiene or social status, leading to stigmatization and fear. These cultural beliefs can perpetuate misinformation and prevent effective treatment and prevention strategies from being implemented. Common Misconceptions About Lice and Their Life Cycle There are several common misconceptions about lice and their life cycle that contribute to the spread of myths. One of the most prevalent misconceptions is that lice can jump or fly. In reality, lice cannot jump or fly. They can only crawl from one host to another through direct head-to-head contact or by sharing items such as combs, hats, or headphones. Another misconception is that lice can survive for long periods of time off the human body. While lice can survive for a short period of time away from the scalp, they rely on the warmth and blood supply from the human scalp to survive and reproduce. Without a host, lice will quickly die. Understanding the life cycle of lice is also important for effective treatment and prevention. Lice go through three stages: eggs (nits), nymphs, and adults. The eggs are laid close to the scalp and are attached to the hair shafts. Nymphs hatch from the eggs and mature into adults within 7-10 days. Adults can live for up to 30 days on a human host. It is important to remove both the lice and their eggs to prevent re-infestation. The Role of Personal Hygiene in Preventing Lice Infestations Good personal hygiene practices can help reduce the risk of lice infestations, but they are not foolproof. Regularly washing hair with shampoo and conditioner can help make it more difficult for lice to cling to the hair shafts. Additionally, avoiding sharing personal items such as combs, hats, and headphones can also reduce the risk of lice transmission. However, it is important to note that lice can still spread even in clean environments. Lice infestations are not a reflection of poor hygiene or social status. Anyone can get lice, regardless of their cleanliness or socioeconomic background. It is important to dispel the myth that lice infestations are a result of personal negligence and instead focus on evidence-based approaches to treatment and prevention. Debunking the Evidence: Scientific Studies on Lice Infestations Scientific research has consistently shown that lice infestations are not linked to poor hygiene or social status. Multiple studies have found no correlation between lice infestations and cleanliness or socioeconomic factors. Lice are equal opportunity parasites that can infest anyone, regardless of their personal hygiene habits. Effective treatment requires evidence-based approaches, not myths and misconceptions. Over-the-counter and prescription medications are available to treat lice infestations, as well as manual removal of lice and eggs. It is important to follow the instructions provided with these treatments and to thoroughly comb through the hair to remove all lice and eggs. Symptoms and Treatment of Lice Infestations: What to Look for and How to Treat Them Common symptoms of lice infestations include itching, redness, and visible lice or eggs on the scalp or hair shafts. Itching is often the first sign of a lice infestation, as lice saliva can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. It is important to note that not everyone will experience itching, so it is important to regularly check for lice and nits. Treatment options for lice infestations include over-the-counter and prescription medications. Over-the-counter treatments usually contain chemicals that kill lice and their eggs. Prescription medications may be necessary for more severe infestations or if over-the-counter treatments have been ineffective. Manual removal of lice and eggs using a fine-toothed comb can also be an effective treatment option. It is important to follow the instructions provided with these treatments and to thoroughly comb through the hair to remove all lice and eggs. Additionally, it is important to wash all bedding, clothing, and personal items that may have come into contact with lice to prevent re-infestation. The Importance of Education and Awareness in Tackling Lice Myths Dispelling lice myths requires education and awareness campaigns. Schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations can play a key role in promoting accurate information about lice infestations. By providing accurate information about lice and their life cycle, as well as debunking common myths, we can reduce the stigma and fear surrounding lice infestations. Education should focus on promoting evidence-based approaches to treatment and prevention, rather than perpetuating myths and misconceptions. By providing accurate information about lice infestations, we can empower individuals to take proactive steps to prevent infestations and effectively manage them if they occur. Common Sources of Lice Infestations: How to Identify and Address Them Lice can spread through direct head-to-head contact, as well as through shared items like combs, hats, and headphones. It is important to identify and address these sources of infestation to prevent the spread of lice. Regularly checking for lice and nits is crucial for early detection and prevention. If lice or nits are found, it is important to notify close contacts, such as family members or classmates, so that they can also be checked and treated if necessary. Additionally, it is important to avoid sharing personal items that may come into contact with lice, such as combs, hats, and headphones. Dispelling Lice Myths and Promoting Accurate Information Lice infestations are a common problem that affects people of all ages. However, myths and misconceptions can make these infestations worse by perpetuating fear and stigma. By promoting accurate information about lice infestations and debunking common myths, we can reduce the stigma and fear surrounding these infestations. Education and awareness campaigns are crucial for dispelling lice myths and promoting evidence-based approaches to treatment and prevention. By providing accurate information about lice and their life cycle, as well as addressing common sources of infestation, we can empower individuals to take proactive steps to prevent infestations and effectively manage them if they occur. If you’re concerned about the possibility of lice infestation, you may have wondered if lice can go in your brain. According to a related article by Lice Busters NYC, it is a common misconception that lice can go in your brain. The article explains that while lice do live on the scalp and feed on blood, they do not burrow into the brain. To learn more about lice transmission and treatment options, check out the article here. Q: What are head lice and lice eggs? A: Head lice are tiny insects that feed on human blood and lay eggs, called lice eggs or nits, on the hair shafts close to the scalp. These eggs are often mistaken for dandruff but can be differentiated by their glue-like attachment to the hair. Q: What are the symptoms of a lice infestation? A: The most common symptom of a lice infestation is intense itching on the scalp, neck, and ears. Additionally, small red bumps or sores may develop from scratching, and nits or adult lice may be visible in the hair. Q: Can lice go to your brain? A: No, the idea that lice can go to the brain is a myth. Lice are external parasites that stay close to the scalp to feed on blood. They do not have the ability to burrow into the brain or any other part of the body. Q: How do lice spread? A: Lice are typically spread through direct head-to-head contact. Sharing personal items such as combs, brushes, hats, or towels can also lead to the spread of lice. Q: Are head lice a sign of poor hygiene? A: No, the presence of lice is not indicative of poor hygiene. Lice infestations can occur in anyone, regardless of cleanliness or hair type. Q: Can lice infest other parts of the body, such as eyebrows or eyelashes? A: While head lice primarily infest the scalp and hair, in some cases, they can also be found on eyebrows and eyelashes, although this is less common. Q: What are some home remedies for treating lice? A: Home remedies for lice infestations include using a fine-toothed nit comb to remove lice and nits, applying mayonnaise or olive oil to suffocate the lice, and washing infested clothing and bedding in hot water. Q: How do treatments for lice work? A: Treatments for lice, such as medicated shampoos or lotions, work by killing the lice and nits. It’s essential to follow the instructions carefully and repeat the treatment as recommended to ensure all lice and eggs are eradicated. Q: Are there any bite marks from lice? A: Lice do not typically leave bite marks on the skin. However, excessive scratching due to itching can cause red bumps and sores on the scalp and neck. Q: Can children with lice attend daycare or school? A: Children with lice should be treated promptly and can return to daycare or school after the first treatment is completed. It’s important to inform the childcare facility so that other children can be checked for lice.

https://licebusters.org/transmission/should-i-notify-school-about-lice/Debunking

Health

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Individuals in the U.S and farmers stand to benefit from efforts by airlines to clean up their carbon footprint by switching to sustainable aviation fuel — made primarily from soybeans. Mac Marshall of the United Soybean Board talked with Steve Alexander about the projected needs of the airlines and how crush and processing plants are ramping up to meet the demand. Fatty acids from soybean oil can be turned into an array of industrial products normally made from petroleum, including fuel, ink and paints. One appeal of plant-based products is that they recycle carbon found in the atmosphere. ARS scientists say this makes plants a far more renewable resource than petroleum and other fossil fuels, which add carbon to the atmosphere as they’re processed and used. Airlines Turn To Soybeans For Jet Fuel Blends using biofuels are one of the ways the aviation industry is working to reduce its “carbon footprint,” or total emissions of greenhouse gases — particularly carbon dioxide — which amounted to 905 million tons in 2018. One approach to making soy jet fuel relies on the use of a precious metal called ruthenium to catalyze reactions that chemically modify the structure and properties of the oil’s unsaturated fatty acids. The problem with this approach is that it generates too few aromatic compounds. To get around the problem, scientists replaced ruthenium with iridium as the chief catalyst in a six-step procedure. In laboratory-scale experiments, use of the approach on high oleic-acid soy oil produced jet fuel formulations containing enough aromatics to be compatible with conventional jet fuels — and beyond what ruthenium-based methods can achieve. The advancement opens the door to increased blending of bio- and conventional- jet fuels as an emissions-cutting measure. The method also generates little or no naphthalene, a jet fuel component that emits soot upon combustion.

https://brandspurng.com/2022/01/10/airlines-turn-to-soybeans-for-jet-fuel/

Travel

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Before his reign as king, Jehu functioned as a commander in the army of Ahab (2 Kings 9:5, 25) in the northern kingdom of Israel. Jehu was the son of Jehoshaphat, although he is more commonly mentioned as son of Nimshi, his grandfather, perhaps because Nimshi was more well-known. Jehu’s name, meaning “Yahweh is he,” portrays well his future, God-given task: to obliterate the house of Ahab along with the worship of Baal that pervaded Israel at the time. Jehu was a reformer of sorts who was used by God to clean up the mess that Ahab had made. Of King Ahab it is recorded that he “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him” (1 Kings 16:30). Marrying Jezebel, daughter of the king of the Sidonians, Ahab was seduced into her idolatrous worship of Baal and Ashtoreth. Although God was patient for a time with Ahab, his many sins eventually brought God’s judgment upon his family line (1 Kings 21:20–22). This judgment first lands upon Ahab’s own head, as he is shot and killed in a battle against the Arameans (1 Kings 22:34–38). God chose Jehu as one of three men who would enact His judgment upon Ahab’s family. God told the prophet Elijah, “Anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu” (1 Kings 19:15–17). One way or another, Ahab’s dynasty would be destroyed. God also chose Jehu to be the king of Israel. After he was anointed king, Jehu immediately took steps to secure the throne. Knowing that Joram, son of Ahab, had recently gone to Jezreel to recover from wounds in a battle against the Arameans, Jehu ordered his men to seal the city so that no one could alert Joram of Jehu’s anointing (2 Kings 9:1–16). Jehu made haste to Jezreel and killed two of Ahab’s progeny—Joram, king of northern Israel; and Ahaziah, king of Judah (2 Kings 9:14–29). Jehu then proceeded to Jezebel’s palace in Jezreel, where the queen stood watching for him at her window. At Jehu’s command, eunuchs surrounding Jezebel threw her down from the window. Jezebel’s blood splattered over the pavement, and her body was eaten by dogs (2 Kings 9:30–37). Jehu left no man standing who was in alliance with King Ahab, as God had commanded long before through Elijah. Entering the temple of Baal, Jehu slaughtered all the priests of Baal and destroyed the temple and its sacred stone, thus eradicating Baal worship in Israel (2 Kings 10:23–28). The Lord blessed Jehu for his obedience, granting him a dynasty that would last to the fourth generation (2 Kings 10:30). However, because Jehu continued to hold on to the idolatrous worship of King Jeroboam (2 Kings 10:29, 31; 12:26–30), God began to reduce the size of Israel, gradually giving them over to the power of even Hazael of Syria (2 Kings 10:32–33). Jehu reigned over Israel a total of twenty-eight years and was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz (2 Kings 10:35–36). Through Jehu we can learn that, although it is true that God blesses and grants success to those who seek to obey Him, God also can and will pull away His blessing from one who willfully chooses to live in sin. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” We cannot serve God while continuing to hold on to false gods. As Joshua said, we must “choose for [ourselves] this day whom [we] will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Where does your allegiance lie?

https://gotquestions.org/King-Jehu.html

Religion

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Ahead of its time: How jean makers in the 1890s designed tiny pockets to carry this once commonplace item - but can YOU guess what it's for? - The tiny pocket on jeans were designed to hold an everyday item in the 1800s Have you ever wondered what the small pockets on jeans are used for? The confusing design dates back to the 19th century, and made a lot more sense when first introduced. As designers still include the feature on jeans more than a century later, many have tried to work out what the pocket can actually hold. Some have tried to squeeze their mobile phones into the small space, but even when they were the size of Nokias it would not be a comfortable fit. Similarly, shoving your keys in there will only lead to a bulging pocket and a scratched hip bone. And while it can fit small change, it was not designed for this purpose. Turns out, the pocket is not to add aesthetic or inconvenience - but is actually meant to hold your watch. Levi Strauss & Co's historian Tracey Panek explained the purpose of the tiny pocket to Insider. The pockets can be traced back to the design for 'waist overalls,' the original name for the blue jeans made by Levi Strauss & Co. They appear in the patent Strauss and J.W. Davis received for 'Improvement in Fastening Pocket Openings,' on May 20, 1873, and were first distributed in 1890 with the 'Lot 501' jeans, the model for Levis 501 jeans today. Panek said: 'The oldest pair of waist overalls in the Levi Strauss & Co. Archives (from 1879) include the watch pocket. Our 19th century overalls had a single back pocket on the right side of the pant beneath the leather patch.' Pants with the tiny pocket are called 'five-pocket pants,' but the fifth pocket is actually on the back-left, added to Levi's 501 jeans in 1901. As the tiny pocket is intended to hold watches, you won't find them on suit trousers because the watch is designed to wear inside the suit jacket. And, as jeans were manufactured for a casual look, pocket watch owners would need an alternative place to put them. But nowadays, there isn't much use for the pocket, as watches are worn as fashion statements rather than actual convenience. Panek, however, said the feature is still kept to maintain the integrity of the early Levi's design. She added that Levi's jeans have remained almost unchanged since first launching in the 19th century, and have mostly maintained the iconic design with the exception of World War II. Panek said: 'One interesting fact about the watch pocket is that during WWII the two corner rivets were removed as a way to conserve metal for the war effort.' The rivets returned to the watch pocket after the war and were likely kept as an homage. The location of the pocket varies, some brands put it in the front next to a bigger pocket while others will include the watch pocket in a regular sized pocket. Unfortunately, today there isn't much you can do with the tiny pocket. Some people have tried to make use of the historic design by using them to keep coins, condoms or matches. An online debate about the pockets was sparked after a user posted a picture of the pocket and said: 'I'm tired of pretending, what's this mini pocket for?' Some users suggested putting train tickets or small jewelry items in there - but the design of the pocket can make it difficult to extract anything from it. It's difficult to imagine what jeans would look like with the absence of a tiny pocket, so perhaps there's a market for a new small device to be kept in there.

https://trib.al/QSUgYfz

Family

en

Map of the Kingdom of Kongo BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KINGDOM OF KONGO The Kingdom of Kongo. This is not the present Democratic Republic of Congo but not the Republique de Congo (Brazzaville-Congo) either. These modern states are products of colonizing powers in the XIXth century. The dynasty of the Kingdom of Congo goes back to more than 500 years, and its traditional territory is the Atlantic coast and moderate interior of the present Democratic Republic of Congo & Northern Angola. The Kongo Kingdom is a regular Kingdom for more than half a millennium. The new rulers are not necessarily the oldest son; he is elected by a Royal Council, from amongst the descendants of the Kimpanzu or the Kimulazu clans; an infante . The capital city is Mbanza Kongo. Names in italics mean that we definitely know that the person did not originate from one of the two "canonical" clans. Data in italics indicate parallel rules, so probably pretenders. The numbers denote the place in the sequence of Manikongos, "rulers of Kongo". The Kingdom of Kongo was composed of 6 provinces: Mpemba, Mbata, Nsundi, Mpangu, Mbemba and Soyo, plus 4 vassal Kingdoms: Loango, Cacongo and Ngoye, at the North of the N'Zari river, and Ndongo, at the South of the Congo river. The Kongo Nation and Kingdom By John Henrik Clarke The people and nations of Central Africa have no records of their ancient and medieval history like the "Tarikh es Sudan" or the "Tarikh el Fettach" of the Western Sudan (West Africa). The early travelers to these areas are mostly unknown. In spite of the forest as an obstacle to the formation of empires comparable to those of the Western Sudan, notable kingdoms did rise in this part of Africa and some of them did achieve a high degree of civilization. The Kongo Valley became the gathering place of various branches of the people we know now as Bantu. When the history of Central Africa is finally written, it will be a history of invasions and migrations. According to one account, between two and three thousand years ago a group of tribes began to move out of the region south or southwest of Lake Chad. Sometime during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the center of Africa became crowded with pastoral tribes who needed more land for their larger flocks and herds. This condition started another migration that lasted for more than a hundred years. Tribes with the prefix Ba to their names spread far to the west into the Congo basin and southward through the central plains. The Nechuana and Basuto were among these tribes. Tribes with the prefix Ama—great warriors like the Ama-Xosa and Ama-Zulu—passed down the eastern side.In the meantime some of the more stable tribes in the Congo region were bringing notable kingdoms into being. The Kingdom of Loango extended from Cape Lopez (Libreville) to near the Kongo; and the Kongo Empire was mentioned by Europeans historians as early as the fourteenth century. The Chief of Loango, Mani-Kongo, extended his Kingdom as far as the Kasai and Upper Zambesi Rivers. This Kingdom had been in existence for centuries when the Portuguese arrived in the fifteenth century. They spoke admiringly of its capital, Sette-Camo, which they called San Salvador. The Kingdom of Kongo dates back to the fourteenth century. At the height of its power it extended over modern Angola, as far east as the Kasai and Upper Zambesi Rivers. Further inland the Kingdom of Ansika was comprised of the people of the Bateke and Bayoka, whose artistic talents were very remarkable. Near the center of the Kongo was the Bakuba Kingdom (or Bushongo), still noted for its unity, the excellence of its administration, its art, its craftsmanship and the beauty of its fabrics. South of the Congo basin the whole Bechuana territory formed a vast state which actually ruled for a long time over the Basutos, the Zulus, the Hottentots and the Bushmen, including in a single empire the greater part of the black population of Southern and Central Africa. This was the era of Bushongo grandeur; the people we now know as Balubas. Only the Bushongo culture kept its records and transmitted them almost intact to modern research. The Bakubas are an ancient people whose power and influence once extended over most of the Kongo. Their history can be traced to the fifth century. For many centuries the Bakubas have had a highly organized social system, an impressive artistic tradition and a secular form of government that expressed the will of the people through a democratic political system. Today, as for many generations in the past, the court of a Bakuba Chief is ruled by a protocol as rigid and complicated as that of Versailles under Louis XIV. At the top of the Bakuba hierarchy is the royal court composed of six dignitaries responsible for cabinet-like matters such as military affairs, justice and administration. At one time there were in the royal entourage 143 other functionaries, including a master of the hunt, a master storyteller and a keeper of oral traditions. In the sixteenth century the Bakubas ruled over a great African empire. The memory of their glorious past is recalled in the tribe with historical exactitude. They can name the reigns of their kings for the past 235 years. The loyalty of the people to these rulers is expressed in a series of royal portrait-statues dating from the reign of Shamba Bolongongo, the greatest and best known of the Bakuba kings. In the Bakuba system of government the king was above all a symbol, rather like the Mikado in the eyes of the Japanese. His ministers, the Kolomos, paid him great respect in public, even if they were his known enemies. In private they made no pretense of subservience. If the king wanted to see his ministers he had to go to their houses or meet them on neutral ground. The ordinary members of the tribe had representatives at the court on a political and professional basis. Some of these officials represented geographical areas, trades and professions. The weavers, the blacksmiths, the boat-builders, the net-makers, the musicians and the dancers all had their representatives at court. There was even a special representative of the fathers of twins. The representative of the sculptors was held in highest esteem. The Bakuba sculptors are considered to be the finest in Africa. Shamba Bolongongo was a peaceful sovereign. He prohibited the use of the shongo, a throwing knife, the traditional weapon of the Bushongo. This wise African king used to say: "Kill neither man, woman nor child. Are they not the children of Chembe (God), and have they not the right to live?" Shamba likewise brought to his people some of the agreeable pastimes that alleviate the tediousness of life. The reign of Shamba Bolongongo was really the "Golden Age" of the Bushongo people of the Southern Kongo. After abolishing the cruder aspects of African warfare, Shamba Bolongongo introduced raffia weaving and other arts of peace. According to the legends of the Bushongo people, their history as a state goes back fifteen centuries. Legends notwithstanding, their magnificent sculpture and other artistic accomplishments are unmistakable, the embodiment of a long and fruitful social experience reflecting the life of a people who have been associated with a higher form of culture for more than a thousand years. Early in the twentieth century when the European writer, Emil Torday, was traveling through the Kongo collecting material for his book On the Trail of the Bushongo, he found the Bakuba elders still singing the praises of Shamba Bolongonog. They also repeated the list of their kings, a list of one hundred twenty names, going back to the godlike King who founded their nation. From these Bakuba elders, Emil Torday learned of Bo Kama Bomanchala, the great King who reigned after Shamba Bolongongo. The elders recalled the most memorable event that had occurred during his reign. On March 30, 1680, there was a total eclipse of the sun, passing exactly over Bushongo. Jose Fernandez, one of the first European explorers to visit Central Africa, went there in 1445. Any number of subsequent expeditions were carried out by such men as Diego Borges, Vincente Annes, Rebello de Araca, Francisco Baretto and Dom Christovao da Gama. The parts of Africa visited, explored and discovered by these men included the Kingdom of the Kongo, Timbuktu, the East Coast of Africa, Nubia, the Kingdom of N'Gola (Angola), Abyssinia and the Lake Tsana region. Much of the history and civilization of Central Africa and East Africa was revealed by the study made by the Portuguese African explorer Duarte Lopez in his book History of the Kingdom of Kongo. Duarte Lopez went to the Congo in 1578 and stayed for many years. According to Lopez, the Kingdom of the Kongo at the time measured 1,685 miles. The King, still reliving his past glory, styled himself Dom Alvarez, King of Kongo, and of Abundo, and of Natama, and of Quizama, and of N'Gola, and of Angri, and of Cacongo, and of the seven Kingdoms of Congere Amolza, and of the Pangelungos, and the Lord of the River Zaire (Kongo) and of the Anzigiros, and of Anziqvara, and of Doanga, etc. He also tells us that the Kingdom of N'Gola (Angola) was at one time a vassal state of the Kongo. At the time of Lopez's twelve years stay in the country, the Kingdom of the Congo was divided into six provinces. The province of Bamba was the military stronghold of the kingdom, and was capable of putting 400,000 well-disciplined men in the field. The rich gold mines at Sofala (now a port of Mozambique) attracted the Portuguese to the East Coast of Africa. They used intermarriage with the Africans as a means of gaining favor and pushing into the interior of Africa. In turn, the Africans gradually lost their anti-Christian hostilities and gave in to being converted to Christianity. And thus Christianity was introduced into the Kongo before 1491. The Mani Sogno was the first Kongo nobleman to embrace the Christian faith. The Moslems, coming into the Congo from the East Coast, prevailed upon the Africans to resist being converted to Christianity, telling them that Christianity was a subtle method used by the Portuguese to take over their country. This warning notwithstanding, Christianity continued to spread in the Kongo. In 1513, Henrique, son of Dom Affonso, then King of the Congo, was sent to Lisbon and to Rome to study theology. In 1520, Pope Leo X appointed Henrique Bishop of Utica and Vicar-apostolic of the Congo. Unfortunately, Henrique died before he could return to the Congo. He was Rome's first Central African bishop. The royal archives of Portugal still hold the records reflecting the ceremonial respect that was paid to this Christian son of an African king and queen. In the years that followed, Portuguese evangelization of the Congo continued. The Holy See received ambassadors from and sent legates to the Congo. In 1561, Father Dom Goncalo da Silvera baptized the Emperor of the Court of Monomotapa. The peaceful relations between the Africans and the Portuguese were eventually disrupted by the rising European lust for slaves and gold. It was from N'Gola (Angola) and the Kongo that the Portuguese New World was to derive its greatest source of slaves. In 1647, Salvador Correia of Brazil organized an expedition of fifteen ships for the purpose of reconquering Angola, which had been under Dutch rule for eight years. This event might be considered go be one of the earliest political interventions of the New World in the Affairs of the Old. Portuguese domination founded on the dire necessities of the slave trade persisted in Angola. After a period of relative splendor, the Christian Kingdom of the Congo began to weaken and was practically destroyed by European fortune hunters, pseudo-missionaries and other kinds of free-booters. By 1688, the entire Congo region was in chaos. By the end of the seventeenth century European priests had declared open war on the non-Christian population of the Kongo. They were attempting to dominate Congolese courts and had ordered the execution of Congolese ancestral priests and indigenous doctors. Now the Congolese Christians were pathetic pawns of the hands of unscrupulous European priests, soldiers, merchants and other renegade pretenders, mere parish priests from Europe were ordering Congolese kings from their thrones. Soon treachery, robbery and executions compounded the chaos in the Kongo. Violence became the order of the day as various assortments of European mercenaries vied for control of this rich area of Africa. In the ensuing struggle many of the Christian churches built by the Portuguese were destroyed. The Dutch, still feeling the humiliation of the decline of their influence in N'Gola (Angola), came into the Congo and systematically removed all traces of the once prevailing Portuguese power. By 1820 Arab slave traders had penetrated the Kongo from Zanzibar and through Tanganyika. Soon after their arrival their slave raids were decimating the population. The European rediscovery of the Kongo and neighboring territories began in the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1858, two Englishmen, Burton and Spoke, discovered Lakes Tanganyka and Victoria, approaching them from the shores of the Indian Ocean. The Scotch Protestant missionary, Livingstone, explored the regions of the big lakes and in 1871, Livingstone and Stanley met on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. From 1874 to 1877, Henry Morton Stanley crossed Africa from east to west and discovered the Kongo River. In the meantime, King Leopold II of Belgium focused his attention on Central Africa and in 1876 founded the Association International Africaine. In 1878, King Leopold commissioned Stanley to establish connection between the Congo River and the ocean in the non-navigable part of the river. From 1879 to 1885, a handful of Belgian officers sent by the King set up posts along the Kongo River. They were followed by Catholic and Protestant missionaries. King Leopold's undertakings gave rise to competition and greed. Other European nations had designs on the Kongo. The King's diplomatic successes at the Berlin Conference of 1884 settled this matter. The members of the Conference marked out spheres of influence in Africa and determined boundaries that are still in existence. The Kongo Free State came into being. The Belgian parliament agreed that Leopold should have "exclusive" personal ownership of the Kongo. The United States was the first power to ratify the arrangement, largely through the efforts of General Henry S. Stanford, who was American minister to Brussels at the time. And thus began the tragedy of Belgian rule in the Kongo. QUALIFICATIONS AND TITLES: Head of the Family: HH The Mani Kongo (King of Kongo), Ntotila a Ntinu ne Kongo (this latter title according to Rulers). The Portuguese did not want to recognize the qualification of Alteza (HH) since this implied that the King was not a vassal of the king of Portugal but acceeded to the qualification of Senhor (Lord) (Mbanza Kongo). Heir: The Nelumbo Other members of the Family: Infante (for the descendants of King Afonso I)SUCCESSION: The Mani Kongo (King of Kongo) was elected by a council of six, headed by the Marquess of Vunta (Mani Kabunga) who was an Infante i.e. a descendant of King Afonso I: generally he was not the son of the dead King and was already recognized as the Nelumbo. The new King had to be crowned by a Catholic priest. In fact, the succession was disputed among 2 lines of descendants of King Afonso I: the Kimulazu and the Kimpanzu. ORDERS AND DECORATIONS: Order of Christ conferred 16th-17th century by delegation of the king of Portugal by the King of Kongo to himself, to the heir and to a few dignitaries of his Court KONGOLESE NOBILITY: The Portuguese titles of Duke, Marquess, etc were adopted c1590. Fidalgo: free man Infante: member of the Kongo Royal family (descendant from King Afonso I) Kimpanzu: one of the 2 Royal clans pretending to the succession of the King Kimulazu: one of the 2 Royal clans pretending to the succession of the King Mani Kabunga: head of the Crown Council, an Infante with the title of Marquess of Vunta (Mani Vunta) Mani Kongo: King of Kongo Mani Pemba: Judge Mani Vunta: Marquess of Vunta Mbaji: capital city Mbanza: village of 200 huts Mushikongo: Tribe of the Mbamba province Mussorongo: Tribe of the Sonyo county Nelumbo: title of the Heir with the governorship of the capital city, Mbanza KongoHEAD OF THE FAMILY: José Henrique da Silva Meso Mankala, King of Kongo (Manikongo) since 19/11/2000 Ntinu Nimi a Lukeni, 1st King c.1380-1420 4 Kings- c. 1420-1435 - c. 1435-1450 - c. 1450-1465 - c. 1465-1480 Nzinga a Kuwu, renamed Joâo I on his conversion to Christianity 3/5/1491, 6th King of Mbanza Congo before 1484-1506, +1506. Father of: Mbemba a Nzinga, renamed Afonso I on his conversion to Christianity c1491, 7th King of Mbanza Congo 1506-1543, styled: by the grace of God, King of Kongo, of Loango, of Cacongo and of Ngoyo, below and beyond Zaïre, Lord of the Ambundo, of Aquisima, of Musunu, of Matamba, of Mulili, of Musuku and of the Anziques, of the Conquest, of Pangu Alumbu, etc., received a coat of arms from the King of Portugal, +1543. Father of: Nkanga Mbemba, renamed Dom Pedro I on his conversion to Christianity, 8th King of Mbanza Kongo 1543-deposed 1545, Dom Francisco I, 9th King of Mbanza Kongo 1545, Dom Diego I, 10th King of Mbanza Kongo 1545-1561, +1561. Son of Nzinga Mbemba (1st daughter of 7th King Dom Afonso I) and brother of: Dom Afonso II, 11th King of Mbanza Kongo 1561, +1561. Brother of: Dom Bernado I, 12th King of Mbanza Kongo 1561-1566, +1566, Dom Henrique I, 13th King of Mbanza Kongo 1566-1567, +1567, Dom Alvaro I, 14th King of Kongo (Rex Congi) 1567-1576 or 1587, styled: by the grace of God, King of Congo, of Matamba, of Kisama, of Muyilu, of Muswalu, of Musuku, of the Anziques, of Sumba, of Mbengu, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms of Kongo, of Rio Mullaza, of Cacongo, of Ango, of Rio Zaïre and of the Conquest, +1587, X Catarina. Son of Dona Isabel Lukeni lua Mbemba (2nd daughter of 7th King Afonso I), son in law of 13th King Dom Henrique I and father of: Dom Alvaro II, 15th King of Kongo (Rex Congi) 1576 or 1587-1614, Kt Military Order of Christ 10/3/1609, +1614. Regency of the Duke of Mbamba 1614 (2 months only) Dom Bernado II, 16th King of Kongo 1614-1615. Half-brother or son of 15th King Alvaro II, (Dutch in Mpinda) Dom Alvaro III, 17th King of Kongo 1614 or 1615-5/1622, +5/1622. Son of 15th King Dom Alvaro II, son in law of the Duke of Mbamba and/or descendant of the 2nd daughter of 7th King Afonso I, Dom Pedro II Afonso, 18th King of Kongo 5/1622-1624, Kt Military Order of Christ, +1624. Son of Nkanga Mbika ne Ntumba Mbemba, Duke of Nsundi (son of Dona Anna Ntumba Mbemba, 3rd daughter of 7th King Afonso I) and father of 3 sons among whom: Ne Mbemba Nzinga a Nkuwu a Ntinu, ruled under the name of Dom Garcia I, 19th King of Kongo 1624-deposed 4/1626, Duke of Mbamba before 1624, °1604, +between 23 and 26/6/1626,, Dom Ambrosio, 20th King of Kongo 4/1626-1631, previously named Ne Ntumba Mbemba Dom Alvaro IV, 21st King of Kongo 1631-25/2/1636, °1618, +25/2/1636. Son of 17th King Dom Alvaro III and uncle of: Dom Alvaro V, 22nd King of Kongo 25/2/1636-8/1636, +8/1636, Don Alvaro VI, King of Kongo giving Audience to ye Dutch in 1642 Dom Alvaro VI , 23rd King of Kongo 8/1636-1642, lost the region of Makuta to the Count of Sonyo 1637 and Luanda to the Dutch 1641, +1642, (Expels Dutch from Mpinda, 1639. Portugal is independent, 1640) Dom Garcia II Afonso, 24th King of Kongo 1642-1660 or 1661, previously named Garcia Okimbaku, Marquess of Kiowa, first King to be crowned, exchanged ambassadors with Portugal, +1663. Father of (2nd son): (Dutch take Luanda, Congolese-Dutch treaty, 1642. Spaniards plan to take Luanda with Congolese help. Portuguese take Luanda, 1648 ) Dom Antonio I, 25th King of Kongo 1660 or 1661-1665, +battle of Ambuila 1665, Dom Alvaro VII , 26th King of Kongo 1665-1666, from the Nimi na Mpangu clan, Dom Alvaro VIII , 27th King of Kongo 1666, from the Nimi na Mpangu clan, Dom Afonso III, 28th King of Kongo 1666-1667, Dom Pedro III, 29th King of Kongo 1667-1683, X Dona Anna, +Ngondo 1860, daughter of 24th King Dom Garcia II Afonso, Dom Rafael, 30th King of Kongo 1669-1674, Dom Alvaro IX , 31st King of Kongo 1669-...., from the Kinimi a Mbemba clan Dom Daniel, 32nd King of Kongo 1674-1678, originally named Daniel de Guzman ne Miyala Mpangu. Descendant of 7th King Afonso I and brother of: Dom Joâo II, 33rd King of Kongo 1683-1717, originally named Joâo ne Nsuki a Ntamba A possible Map of the Kingdom of Kongo circa 1711 Dom Pedro IV, 34th King of Kongo 1709-1718, from the Nsanu Mbemba clan Dom Pedro V, 35th King of Kongo 1718-.... ....Founder Lukeni seems historical, and came with a band of warriors from the northern bank of Kongo. Tradition did not conserve the names of the subsequent 4 kings (Manikongos), if they were really 4. John I is baptized in 1491, but in that time his rule is already well established, so we can guess the start of his rule cca. 1480, just before Diogo Cão reached the estuary of River Congo. For the previous 4 Manikongos I, in the lack of information, assume direct succession with short generations. However the first Manikongo must have been founder, so perhaps he started to rule in youth. According to Hungarian tradition, I suggest a terminology. Without doubt the dynasty starts with Lukeni. However Lukeni was not a KING, or Rex, in European sense. We will consider the first 5 Manikongos, and also the 6th until baptization.From Alvaro III Manikongos, Kings balance between Spain and Portugal. While the Spanish King rules in Portugal, the Far Eastern Portuguese sphere of interest is intact and Luanda is Portuguese; but Independent Congo seeks Spanish relations. With the start of Dutch liberation wars against Spain Holland considers Portuguese territories Spanish, and tries to take them. This is almost completely successful on Spice Islands (except for East Timor), partially in Brazil, and temporarily in Luanda. After the 35th Manikongo (and 30th Rex) some disorder takes place within the dynasty; sequence is disturbed. From the traditional numbering, however, we must place into the "dark decades" at least an Andrew I, an Alvaro X, an Anthony II, Garcias III & IV, Henry II and Manuels I & II. In the same time, Peter V (or IV?) seems to be regarded by the recent royalty as usurper, and the 34th Peter IV is not only parallel with the 33rd John II, but also he is from an un-canonical clan. So the minimal correction is to insert 8 kings after John II from 1717. That would mean 8 Kings in 76 years, so 9.5 years per king. As we shall see, that is almost exactly the global average of the dynasty (51 kings between 1491 & 1962, i.e. 9.2 years/king), so the reconstruction is not impossible. The dynasty reappears from the obscurity in 1793, and then we can continue the table approximately as: Dom Henrique III Afonso Nlengi, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1793-1802 Dom Alvaro XI Afonso Kafvasa, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1802 Dom Garcia V Afonso Ne Nkanga a Nvembi, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1802-1830 Dom Andre II Afonso, King of Kongo (Manikongo) Dom Andre III Afonso Ndondele Beya, King of Kongo (Manikongo) ....-1842 Dom Henrique IV Afonso Lunga, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1842-1858 Dom Alvaro XII Afonso, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1858-1859 Dom Pedro V Afonso, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 7/8/1859-14/2/1891 Dom Alvaro XIII Afonso Mfutila, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1891-1896 Dom Henrique Afonso Nteye Kpage, Regent 1896-1901 Dom Pedro VI Afonso Mvemba, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1912-1915 Dom Manuel III Afonso Kiditu, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1912-1915 Dom Alvaro XIV Afonso Nzinga, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1915-1923 Dom Pedro VII and Dona Isabel Dom Pedro VII Afonso, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 1923-17/4/1955, +1955 Dom Antonio III Afonso, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 16/8/1955-11/7/1957, +1957. Husband of: Dona Isabel Maria da Gama, Regent 11/7/1957-9/9/1962 and since 10/1962 Dom Pedro VIII Afonso Mansala, King of Kongo (Manikongo) 9/9/1962-10/1962, +10/1962 Ne Kongo, Mbanza Congo, +19/11/2000 José Henrique da Silva Meso Mankala, King of Kongo (Manikongo) since 11/2000The Portuguese recognized the Manikongo King, but not Alteza (Highness). (See the alternative attempt of Alvaro III.) So for them the King of Kongo was an inferior, client King. Other Europeans did not accept the title at all. Surely the Portuguese were right to the letter. A sovereign Kingdom has got the Crown or the Title originally either from (the/an) Emperor, or from the Pope. In the first case the vassalage was tangible, in the second intangible. France was exceptional, but Louis I (Chlodwig), the Meroving, got the sacred balsam (crism) from the Pope, or rather, from Heaven. The Manikongo did not get crown from the Emperor or from the Pope. A King cannot create a sovereign king. So the Portuguese considered the Manikongo a Senhor, i.e. a Lord, even if the greatest Senhor of Central Africa. True, they called the state Kingdom, and the Manikongo King. Instead of complicated argumentations, read the classical geographic work: Duarte Lopes & Filippo Pigafetta: Relacao do Reino de Congo e das terras circumvizinhas (1591). The name of the country is always Kongo Kingdom, the title of the Manikongo is always King there. However, when the authors describe the history of the previous century, the relation of the 2 kings (the Portuguese and the Congolese) is always analogous with that of the Emperor and a King of the Empire. And in the XIXth century, when European powers finally cut up the map of Africa among themselves, nobody takes seriously the virtual rights of a Christian King without troops. But the royal family of Kongo retained its Lusitanian civilisation. The name of the latest Regent is Dona Isabel Maria da Gama. She is no kin of the Portuguese da Gamas. APPENDIX A: ON THE PADRÕADO OF THE DIOCESE SÃO SALVADOR King Alphonse I sends his brother Henrique to Rome for learning. Henrique is consecrated as Bishop in 1520. However he is Bishop of Utica, which is titulatory, and becomes the auxiliary to the Bishop of Funchal. So in 1520 the capitol São Salvador formally belongs to the Diocese Funchal (as does the Madeira Island), and of course is under the padrõado (patronatus) of the king of Portugal. In 1533 the Diocese of Funchal is elevated to the rank Archdiocese, and one of its dioceses is the newly organized Diocese of São Tomé, of course under the padrõado of the king of portugal. However the diocese of São Tomé includes the non-portuguese territory of Congo as well. In 1595 the new Diocese of São Salvador is separated from São Tomé; however it remains under the padrõado of the king of Portugal. The Kings of Kongo try to make use of the troubles of the Portuguese-Spanish personal union, but the efforts are only half-hearted and rather hopeless. The diplomatic moves of Garcia II towards Holland were in principle not so hopeless; but Holland was unsuccessful in Central Africa. MBANZA KONGO 1482- 1880When in 1482 Europeans and Africans met at the mouth of the Kongo River, their first impression seems to have been one of mutual attraction. To Diego Cam and his fellow portuguese the Bakongo appeared less savage than many of the tribes on the west coast, while by comparison with the Negroes of Nubia and Guinea they seemed handsome.' As for the Africans, they showed no fear of their unusual visitors, but ventured close to the portuguese ships in their canoes, and were soon bartering ivory for cloth and other trade goods. Quickly the news of the arrival of the white men spread, and large numbers gathered to see the strangers; they came both from Ngoyo to the north, and from Songo to the south of the river. It is recorded that when the Prince of Songo first met the portuguese, they 'were looked upon and reverenced by him almost like gods come down to live on the earth', and they had to protest forcibly that they were men like himself. This may have been European imagination. On the other hand it seems that the rare albinos of those parts were held in high honour by their neighbours because of their exceptional whiteness; they were thought to be divine beings and in the markets they were allowed to take whatever they liked without payment. So even before the arrival of the Portuguese a white skin appears to have been held in honour and to have conveyed certain privileges. The early respect shown by the portuguese for the Africans whom they met on the Kongo coast provides a startling contrast to the attitude of Europeans in the later nineteenth century towards the peoples of the Kongo interior. The portuguese appeared to have no colour prejudice and at the very beginning their attitude to the Kongo citizens tended towards assimilation. They did not doubt that the Africans could become portuguese in externals, and the Kongo Authorities seemed ready enough to conform. Four hostages were taken to portugal by Diego Cam as surety for the men whom he had sent on a mission to Mbanza Kongo, the capital of the Kingdom of Kongo. During their year in Lisbon they were treated as honoured guests, they learned to speak and write portuguese, and the Christian faith was explained to them. When they returned to the Kongo they wore portuguese dress, but the Africans noticed at once that it differed from that of the crew of the boat which brought them home; the four hostages were members of the Kongo nobility, and in Portugal they had been treated as such. Meanwhile, Diego Cam's messengers regaled the Kongo court with stories of life in portugal; they stressed the fact that King John II wished only to live in peace and friendship with the King of Kongo, and to trade with him to the mutual advantage of both portugal and the Kongo. So when the four hostages returned with glowing accounts of Lisbon and with the news that the King of portugal hoped that the Kongo would become a Christian country, the King of Kongo did not hesitate to send back Nsaka, one of the four, as his Ambassador to John II. He was to ask for priests to baptise King and people, and also for masons and carpenters to erect buildings in the portuguese manner. A group of young Kongo nobles were sent with Nsaka; the King asked that they should learn to read and write, and speak Portuguese, and should become Christians. For nearly five years (1485-90) the Kongo group stayed in Lisbon. Nsaka received the same honours as those accorded to any other ambassador there, the King and Queen themselves became his godparents, and on his baptism he took a portuguese name, Joao da Silva. The young Kongo nobility were educated chiefly by the Canons of St. John the Evangelist, and various members of the Portuguese nobility adopted them as their godchildren.' It was a primitive civilisation which the portuguese found in the Kongo, but the people were not savages. They used iron arms and tools, and practised the arts of pottery and weaving. The materials which they wove from raffia were fine enough to delight John II when he received some as a present from the King of Kongo, and to be compared by the Portuguese with silks and velvet. (Some of the best weaving, however, was done by inland peoples, who traded their work with the Bakongo in exchange for salt.) The people from Kongo kept sheep, goats and poultry, and in many regions cattle also, while they cultivated millet and sorghum in order to make bread. As money they used cowrie shells in the cast, and cloth in the west. The Kongo natives were illiterate, but their political organisation was nevertheless efficient enough to control a population of perhaps two million, The King was an absolute monarch who received divine honours. He ruled through six provincial governors, whom he could appoint or dismiss at will. His direct administration was bounded roughly by the Kongo on the north, the Kwango on the east, and the Dande on the south. Beyond its range lay a circle of smaller Kingdoms, whose dynasties were descended from that of Kongo and who on this account acknowledged the primacy of the King of Kongo, although they were in practice far beyond the reach of his control. From the very beginning the King of Kongo was treated with great respect by the Portuguese; the Ambassador who arrived in 1491 kissed his hand according to the custom of the portuguese court, and brought assurances of friendship from John II. But the Europeans never doubted that the Kongo Authorities would wish to remodel their way of living upon the pattern of that of their portuguese visitors as soon as possible. Masons, carpenters and artisans came out with the 1491 expedition; they arrived furnished with all the tools of their trade, and in many cases their wives accompanied them, bringing Portuguese cooking utensils. The Kongo court was delighted, hastily a stone church was erected, and the King of Kongo was baptised. The King and Queen took the names of Joao and Leonora after the king and queen of portugal, the Kongo nobility followed suit with other Portuguese names, and it became the fashion to preface them by 'Dom'. The capital itself was renamed San Salvador. Later the portuguese trader Lopez reported that since the country had become Christian the court nobility had adopted portuguese dress; the men wore capes, cloaks, leather slippers, and rapiers at their sides, while the women had adopted veils and jewelled black velvet caps. The court was regulated exactly on the pattern of the portuguese court, even to the service at table, declared Lopez. King Joao himself relapsed into pagan practices before his death in 1506, but the Reign of his son Dom Affonso seemed to crown the portuguese policy with success. Affonso was a devout Christian, a catechist and a preacher as well as a King. He sent his son Henry to portugal for fifteen years so that the young Kongo Prince might study the humanities and theology there; later Henry was to become the first Kongo Bishop. In all Affonso sent more than twenty of his children, nephews and grandchildren to portugal to study, but he was also anxious to make provision for the children who remained in Africa, building schools and pleading for Portuguese missionaries and teachers. In 1515 a newly arrived missionary reported enthusiastically on the school at Mbanza Kongo, where over a thousand sons of the Kongo nobility were learning to read and write, and were studying grammar, the humanities, and the Christian faith. King Manuel of portugal sent both secular priests and Canons of St. John the Evangelist to the Kongo, although he was not able to send as many missionaries as Dom Affonso would have liked; clearly, however, the king of portugal was thinking not only in terms of an African clergy but also of the establishment of an African hierarchy, for it was he who first suggested that Dom Henry might well be consecrated Bishop. It appears that the relationships between portuguese and Kongo People in the Reign of Dom Affonso usually continued to be those of mutual respect. When Simon da Silva went to the Kongo as portuguese Ambassador in 1513, he was ordered to treat Dom Affonso as a King, not as a tributary of the portuguese crown; he was not to govern but to aid and advise the King of Kongo; he was to model the Kongo court on the pattern of Lisbon but always at the wish and with the consent of Dom Affonso, for the King of Portugal did not wish to occupy and conquer the Kongo, but only to open the way for Portuguese trade and for Christian missionaries.' Europeans followed the same etiquette at the court of the King of Kongo as they would have done at Lisbon. Dom Affonso wrote to Manuel as to his 'muito amado irmao' - his beloved brother; as an independent monarch, he sent ambassadors from among the Kongo evolues to Lisbon and to Rome; as a Christian Prince, he made his act of obedience to the Pope like the rest. There was also a darker side to the picture. Of some seventy Portuguese in the Kongo in the Reign of Affonso quite a number were lawless adventurers of whose behaviour the King of Kongo complained bitterly, as he did of that of some of the portuguese priests, those 'unworthy preachers of the Holy Catholic Faith', whose desire for power was causing scandal in the country. The Portuguese trade in slaves had already begun to cause havoc. But on the whole the Reign of Affonso had shown both achievement and promise. The King of Kongo willingly learned much from the portuguese but he also learned to discriminate; he could judge between Portuguese and Portuguese, and came to see that a mere slavish imitation of the laws and customs of Portugal was not the way forward for the Kingdom of Kongo. This kingdom did not become dependent upon portugal; portuguese interest shifted southwards and there were never any Portuguese Governors in the Kongo, as there were in Loanda and Benguela. The Kongo Nation and Kingdom always preserved a strong sense of independence; when in 1561 the portuguese imprudently tried to influence the succession to the throne, there was a public uproar in which many portuguese were killed. Again, the 1649 peace treaty, made after the Kongo had supported the Dutch against portugal, declared that if the conditions of peace were not observed - and only then - the portuguese would have the right to depose the King of Kongo and to replace him by their own nominee who would then be a portuguese vassal." It was not, in fact, until the middle of the nineteenth century that a portuguese nominee became King at San Salvador. In 1607 the Bishop of Kongo was firmly ordered not to mix himself in the government of the kingdom, nor to usurp jurisdiction, but always to address the King of Kongo with respect and to gain his affection. It was always the custom of the Holy See to use the title of 'Your Majesty' in communications with the King of Kongo, following the portuguese tradition, although for many other African Kings 'Your Highness' was regarded as sufficient. So the Kongo never became a colony of portugal but remained an independent kingdom; it was bound to portugal by ties of interest and friendship, but it never became a tributary state. Christian Missionaries in the Kongo The portuguese sent Christian missionaries to the Kingdom of Kongo, but they were not the only Europeans to set out to evangelise the Kongo. In the middle of the seventeenth century (during a period of Dutch presence) a first party of Capuchins arrived as missionaries; other groups of Capuchins (mainly Italians) followed. They were men full of zeal, given to asceticism and ready for martyrdom, but their missionary methods seem strange to a later age. Although there were only eight secular priests and two Jesuits in the whole of the kingdom of Kongo in 1645, the new arrivals treated the Kongo as a Christian kingdom. One Capuchin wrote of the many priests needed 'to maintain this country in its due obedience to the Christian faith'.' Given their premisses, they were no doubt justified in thinking in terms of preservation rather than of conversion, for they were assuming the right of the ruler to command the religious faith of his subjects. It had been the King of Kongo himself who had earlier forbidden the worship of idols and ordered his people to embrace the Christian faith; thus the missionaries were relying upon the civil power in their attempts to seize and burn all the fetishes and idols, which they could find. But their attitude must have seemed extraordinarily unreasonable to the Kongo Authorities, and must have increased the difficulties of their contact with the people. Missionaries of a later day would not have proved so implacable as Jerome de Montesarchio:On my way I found numbers of idols, which I threw into the fire. The owner of these idols, a Nganga Ngombo or sorcerer, seemed very annoyed. To calm him down by humiliating him, I let him know that if he persisted in his anger, I should see that he himself was burned with his idols. Nor did later missionaries make so gloomy an estimate of the people to whom they came as did the Capuchin Antonio de Gaeta: ... Devils by the deformation of their features, devils by the blackness of their bodies, devils in their souls because their wills are always fixed on evil; devils in their thinking, by continually having in mind superstition, witchcraft and sorcery; devils in their speaking, by the great lies they utter; devils in their actions, by so many grave sins which they commit; and finally, devils and more than devils, damned and more than damned, by that bestial pride, that inhuman and barbarous cruelty, which they display all the time and in every action. The Capuchin Missionary Practice of 1747 gives an indication of the behaviour required of Capuchin missionaries. It was customary for them to appoint an officer, a meijrinho, who would periodically round up the population and secure their attendance at church by force. In their dealings with the Kongo Authorities the Capuchins were never to ask a service politely, but must give abrupt orders; for fear that the Kongo Authorities would take advantage of gentle treatment. They were not to speak of them selves in terms of humility nor to refer to themselves as sinners, and there was to be solidarity among the Europeans – a superior was never to rebuke his companion in the presence of Africans nor to allow him to kneel to receive his blessing, but always to give him honour. The language requirements were not high; the Capuchins were to know portuguese well, and just enough of the local language to be able to catch out unfaithful interpreters and to teach the essentials of Christianity. All too often it seems that for the Capuchins the Kongo Authorities represented souls to be saved, passive recipients of the sacraments; possibly, too, they might be the instruments of a much-coveted martyrdom. They were not usually regarded as the men on whom would depend the future of the Church in the Kongo. The French missionaries who worked north of the Kongo River between 1766 and 1776 had a different attitude from that of the Capuchins to the south. They were well liked by the people, and took care to learn the local language well, convinced that without this their work would lack stability. Often, indeed, Africans who on first meeting were frightened by the white faces and strange dress of the French were quickly won over by their knowledge of Kikongo. One missionary won such favour, indeed, that in spite of his protests he was promised a funeral similar to that given to the local Chiefs. The French were concerned to establish a local clergy and planned to open a seminary where African priests could be trained; their mission was short-lived, however, and all too soon illness and death forced them to abandon their work. In the Kongo Kingdom itself Christianity failed to become truly indigenous, and gradually died out there after portuguese interest shifted southwards to Loanda; in the later nineteenth century there survived only the ruins of a cathedral at San Salvador, and a crucifix among the other fetishes of the King of Kongo. This lack of success was partly due to a failure in human relationships. Some of the portuguese priests who found their way to the Kongo were forced to flee from Portugal because of their misdemeanours and discharged their duties in the Kongo as mercenaries rather than as pastors. A rising against the portuguese was defended on the grounds of the vices and abuses practised by the clergy.' These were not the men to win the confidence of Africans. Often portuguese priests were unable to speak Kikongo and so lacked real contact with the people, while mulatto priests who knew the local language had been given an insufficient theological grounding. In any case, the missionary force was too small. Christianity never took on African dress because the missionaries, too few in number, were unable to give intensive instruction to the large numbers of converts they baptised, let alone help them to work out for themselves an expression of Christianity which would be thoroughly African. Too little was done towards the establishment of a native clergy, although in 1625 the Propaganda urged the portuguese Augustinian Canons to accept young Kongo citizens into their novitiate so that after their education they could return to the Kongo to exercise their ministry, and a little later a Jesuit seminary was established at San Salvador and a certain number of Africans were ordained. Not enough was done in this direction, however, and without native Kongo leadership the Church of necessity remained too closely tied to its European origins. The Jesuits always took the education of the Kongo native youth seriously, and in 1624 a Jesuit produced a Catechism in Kikongo, but on the whole insufficient instruction was given to Africans in the vernacular, and a Latin liturgy remained foreign and only half understood. Even the Jesuits did not experiment, as they did in China and in India, with an interpretation of Christianity in native dress. It never seemed to occur to the early missionaries that this was desirable or even possible, and certainly not that it was essential, were African Christianity to survive if the Europeans left the Kongo. African values were never taken seriously; missionaries attempted to impose the European standards and forms with which they were familiar. And no women missionaries took part in the evangelisation of the Kongo before the late nineteenth century; these alone could have had real contact with African women and thus have influenced the building up of Christian homes. The Slave Trade Side by side with the missionaries, the slave traders also represented Europeans in the Kongo. For the portuguese, one of the main attractions of the African coast lay in the cheap labour, which it furnished for the plantations of the New World. Lisbon became a great slave market; at the beginning of the sixteenth century it was receiving African slaves at the rate of between ten and twenty thousand every year, and in the seventeenth century the Kingdom of Kongo alone was sending 15,000 slaves annually.' There was a constant stream of slave caravans between San Salvador and Loanda or Cabinda. If the missionaries did not always carry out in practice the implications of their proclamation that Africans, like themselves, were the children of God, the slave traders simply regarded the Kongo Authorities as units in a slave gang. Not that the missionaries were unduly troubled by the contradiction, since they shared the current European conviction that it was better for an African to be a slave and a Christian than to be a free man and an infidel. They themselves kept slaves and were even in some cases responsible for their sale, for although the king of kortugal equipped and sent out missionaries to the Kongo, their upkeep sometimes depended upon the sale of slaves. There were differences of practice among the missionaries; the Capuchins kept slaves but never bought or sold them, and complained to Rome of other religious who carried on the slave trade. Slavery was not, of course, introduced into the Kongo by Europeans, and although there were some cases of Europeans seizing free men, in general they respected the Kongo hierarchy and took only such slaves as were offered by the Africans themselves. It is estimated that in the middle of the seventeenth century, each of the hundred or so Europeans in San Salvador may have possessed anything between fifty and a thousand slaves." The slaves owned by the Europeans in the Kongo were not usually ill-treated; the 'slaves of the Church' received a certain instruction, learned to speak portuguese, and were nearer to Europeans in their style of living than were most Kongo natives,' while 'confidential slaves' or pombeiros were allowed a large amount of freedom and entrusted with distant trading missions. But the Europeans regarded slaves destined for the trade almost as animals many were prisoners of war and it was taken for granted that the more intelligent Africans would either have fled or have been redeemed by relatives. As early as the reign of Affonso the King found it necessary to denounce the slave trade carried on from San Tome as cruel and inhuman; like all his contemporaries, Affonso was convinced that one man could be the property of another, and was therefore transferable, but in the Kongo domestic slaves were treated almost as members of the family, and the King was therefore shocked at the callous treatment received by the Africans shipped off to Lisbon and Brazil. But for nearly four centuries the west coast slave trade dominated relations between Europeans and the Kongo Authorities. One estimate of the total number of slaves exported from the Kongo is given as thirteen and a quarter millions, and when this figure is translated in terms of human suffering it is not hard to see why the Kongo natives came to hate the portuguese slave traders, why they referred to the arrival of Europeans on their shores as 'that bitter event', or why they divided men into four classes white, black, Ba Ngandu (crocodiles classified as man because of a widespread belief that sorcerers disguised themselves as crocodiles for the sake of harming their fellows) and fourth and lowest, because of the slave trade, the Portuguese. Indirectly, too, the slave trade was to lead to the break-up of the kingdom of Kongo, for in their own interests traders who installed themselves in the interior were liable to encourage vassals to revolt. Slowly the European slave traders destroyed the prestige of the King of Kongo, the cohesion of the African tribes under his rule, and the peace, which had extended throughout his domains. Through contact with Europeans the royal authority, which had been strong and respected in the sixteenth century, diminished until it became almost nominal; the armed interventions of the Portuguese Governors of Angola contributed to the decadence of the great Kingdom of Kongo and by the nineteenth century the King's dominion was restricted to the neighbourhood of San Salvador. Europeans and Africans The pre-nineteenth century contacts between Europeans and the Kongo Authorities raised some of the questions, which remain important today in relationships between black and white. The Portuguese seemed to have no colour prejudice but the question of colour interested them; since the children of portuguese fathers and Kongo mothers were fairer than the Africans, they realised that a black skin was not due to the heat of the sun in the tropics, but was an inherited characteristic.' An English trader who visited the Kongo in the seventeenth century noted that the Portuguese were pleased to have mulatto children; a Portuguese would be distressed if a child he had claimed as his own because of his white skin during the first two days of life then became black and proved himself the child of African parents. At a period when any man with a white skin was ipso facto a Christian in the eyes of the Kongo citizens, the large number of Portuguese traders who kept African women slaves caused great annoyance to the missionaries; when the Africans were reproached for practising polygamy they had merely to point to the behaviour of the Portuguese. There were other abuses; European slave traders even toured African villages with the object of revisiting them a few years later to claim the children they had fathered to sell into slavery. The presence of single European men in the Kongo caused so much trouble that at the beginning of the seventeenth century Alvare II, eighth Christian King of Kongo, asked that a number of Portuguese women should be sent out to marry in the Kongo. In spite of all the difficulties it brought, however, European settlement had obviously been appreciated, for Alvare also asked that more Portuguese should come to settle in the Kongo with their wives, and thus should propagate the Christian faith there. But the Portuguese Council objected to the suggestion, on the grounds that if the King of Kongo had numbers of white subjects in his realms he would become over powerful.' The Kingdom of Kongo was not, it should be remembered, a colony of Portugal. The Council evidently feared the establishment of too many settlers in the Kongo, for the artisans that Alvare II also requested had been refused. The Council was anxious to establish some kind of separation between Portuguese and the Kongo Authorities, and was concerned because some Portuguese were living in native fashion, wearing loincloths and eating African food. A royal official was therefore to go out to establish a Portuguese quarter in San Salvador, and to group the Portuguese around him. Except for this, there seems to have been no trace of apartheid in the Kongo. Portuguese and Kongo worshipped together in the churches, and both Africans and mulattos were raised to the priesthood, although in insufficient numbers. Portuguese and African priests worked together at San Salvador cathedral at the end of the sixteenth century and twenty years later the Kongo Authorities and the portuguese were cooperating in the administration of a pious society, the Misericordia, attached to the cathedral. In Loanda, on the other hand, there were two Confraternities of the Holy Rosary, one for Europeans and the other for Africans. This is perhaps explained by the fact that there were far more Europeans living at Loanda than at San Salvador; it was natural that in an area of European settlement there should be greater racial segregation. Relations between black and white were not always smooth, and it was easy enough for misunderstandings to occur. The missionary insistence upon monogamy at times gave rise to the suspicion that it was European policy to depopulate the Kingdom of Kongo in order to be able to suppress it the more easily; this doctrine was proclaimed with fervour in the seventeenth century by an African preacher.' Sometimes the Kongo citizens feared deportation to Brazil as slaves because they were convinced that Europeans were taking them away only to use their fat in the preparation of butter and cheese; a similar kind of fear has arisen in recent years. Europeans made the same kind of generalisations about the Kongo natives as they make today; Africans were described as vain, lazy, ungrateful, envious, untrustworthy. They were ridiculed as 'ignorant and stupid' because they had interpreted Western technical devices in terms of supernatural forces. Sometimes, on the other hand, a good quality such as their generosity was recognised and praised. To a certain extent good relations between black and white were aided by the divisions among Europeans in the Kongo, since the various groups vied with each other for African favour. Both English and Dutch traders were in competition with the Portuguese. After the Dutch had captured Loanda in 1641 they sent an ambassador to San Salvador, and in return a Kongo embassy visited The Hague. The King of Kongo even sent a mission to Rome via Holland; this was an assertion of independence, for the portuguese had long insisted that any embassy to the Holy See should travel via Lisbon. The portuguese disliked having Italian Capuchins in the Kongo; since they were the official missionaries of the propaganda in the seventeenth century they could not be kept out, but Portuguese passport regulations involved them in endless delays and difficulties. In the eighteenth century the Italian missionaries worked hard to secure the Kongo trade to French merchants rather than to the English, in order that baptised slaves should not be sold to heretics. The arrival of the Calvinist Dutch on the Kongo coast introduced the Africans to the fact that European Christians were divided amongst themselves. Again, the behaviour of many of the Portuguese traders was a practical contradiction of missionary teaching, and traders and missionaries were often on bad terms with one another. Thus, with so many white groups all struggling for their own advantage and seeking to turn the Kongo Authorities against their competitors, there was no question of a common European front against the Africans. Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 to Divide Africa VIDEOS Federation of the Free States of Africa MENU - INDEX Email: [email protected]

http://www.africafederation.net/Kongo_History.htm

Culture

en

Fish, especially small fish, is an important animal food source among vulnerable populations and increases the nutritional quality of their diets. Dried small fish has been found to significantly enhance nutrient deficiencies in the diets of pregnant or lactating women and young children. A recent study carried out by a group of researchers, including IITA’s Senior Scientist and gender focal point, Steven Cole, assessed the nutrient content of two locally developed fish‐based recipes, fish powder and fish chutney, and calculated the contribution of calcium, zinc, iron, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to the diets of pregnant and lactating women and children between 6 and 24 months. The study found that processing small fish into powder achieved the optimum nutrient density of iron, zinc, and calcium for the diets of children between 6 and 11 months old, a stage when adequate nutrient intake is highly critical. The fish powder is primarily essential fatty acids; one serving contains 50 mg of omega‐6 fatty acids and 121 mg of omega‐3 fatty acids. The diet of infants and young children can be improved by adding small amounts of fish powder, which provides additional iron, zinc, calcium, and DHA to a meal. A single 10 g serving of fish powder provides 12% of the iron recommendation for infants 6–11 months and 19% for children 12–24 months. Furthermore, micronutrient deficiencies (also known as ‘hidden hunger’) can be combatted by consuming small dried fish as part of a daily meal in the first critical 1000 days of life. The study also showed that the diets of pregnant and lactating women could be improved by the addition of fish chutney, which provides calcium and some iron and zinc. The fish chutney contains 1.9 mg of iron, 2.2 mg of zinc, and 510 mg of calcium per 30 g serving. Fish chutney also boosts women’s calcium intake and provides almost 2 g of fat. Adequate nutrients help pregnant and lactating women increase their energy and support the development of a healthy fetus, and compensate for the increased demand for milk production. In line with IITA’s missions to enhance food security and reduce hidden hunger, small fish, which are culturally acceptable, can be considered as one of the foods to eradicate malnutrition when designing programs in low- and middle-income countries for nutritionally vulnerable populations.

https://brandspurng.com/2021/05/29/nutritional-deficiencies-dried-fish/

Food

en

Welcome to this post I have titled, What is a Noun Clause? Types, Functions and Examples. To understand what noun clause is, you must first ask yourself, ‘what is a noun?’ The understanding of that will help you identify a clause that behaves like a noun. So let us get on with it… Table of Contents What is a Noun Clause? Types, Functions and Examples In examining this post, we shall begin with a definition or description of a noun clause which we also refer to as a nominal clause. What is a Noun Clause? A noun clause has to do with the Beta Clause, which we also call a dependent or subordinate clause which performs the function of a noun in a sentence or functions like the nominal group. A noun serves as the subject of the verb in a sentence or it serves as the complement of the verb in a sentence; so does a noun clause and even a nominal or noun phrase. For grammatical classifications that use ‘object’ instead of ‘complement’, noun clauses can equally stand as indirect or direct objects, nominatives (a grammatical form case of nouns and pronouns that identifies the subject of a sentence or clause), objects of a preposition. The following words can introduce a noun clause: what, that, where, why, when, which, whoever, whomever, and other such words. Let us illustrate what we have explained consider some examples: Examples of Noun Clauses - What the man said is not clear (‘What the man said’ serves as the subject of the verb ‘is not’) - Where he went remains unknown. - Why he came here is not clear. - Which way to turn is a bit confusing. - Whoever wins the race goes home with fantastic prizes. - When he left the house was not recorded. - We will accept whomsoever she brings home. - They told the politician what he loved to hear. - You can pay her whatever you deem fit. The noun/nominal clause usually answers the question ‘who’ or ‘what’. For instance: - We have been told that the examination starts this week. (We have been told what) - Who wins the tournament remains unknown. (What remains unknown?) - Leaving the school without permission could earn a student suspension. (What could earn a student suspension?) - Whoever arrives first is the winner. (Who is the winner?) - Whomsoever we vote for becomes our governor. (Who is our governor?) As mentioned earlier, noun clause performs the same functions as a noun in different ways. Let us examine the broad functions of noun clauses… Functions of Noun Clauses The following are various functions of noun clauses with examples to illustrate them. A subject of a Sentence or a Verb When a noun clause begins a sentence, it functions as the subject of a sentence or the verb that comes after it. - Whatever happens to her is none of my business. - When you choose to start the job will determine your salary. - How you choose to settle the dispute is entirely your responsibility - Wherever we decide to buy the car must have a discount facility. - Where we choose to reside must have uninterrupted electricity. Try to generate more sentences on your own to test whether your understanding. An object of a Sentence or Verb A noun clause performs this function comes after the verb or when it is the recipient of the action the subject initiates. - I like what you do. - She dislikes where her parents live. - We prefer what we agreed on initially. - Nobody knows what the principal is up to. - He promised to do whatever his father says. - We do not know when the examination will begin. The complement of the Subject A noun clause also serves as the complement of the subject when it comes after an intensive or copular verb, which we also refer to as a linking verb; that is, when the complement refers to the subject or when it is the same as the subject. - We are what our thinking makes us. - Your disposition on the case is what you allow it to be. - The girl became what her parents never believed. - He is the genius we have always known him to be. - His whereabouts remains a mystery that baffles everyone. The Complement of the Object Noun clauses serve as the complement of the object when it follows the direct object and refers to the same entity as that object. - She can present the thesis that she had completed. - The teacher gave the instruction that we must not come late. - He bought a book he had always desired to buy. - The chef ate the chicken which he had roasted. - I gave her the yellow mug which my sister brought from London. - He could not find the pen that he used in the examination hall. - You can eat any food that she chooses to cook. - We paid the money that he demanded. - The boy inherited the goods which his father left behind. - The children caught the fish which had been playing in the pond. Prepositional Complement or Object of a Preposition - The players deliberated on who should lead the team. - Children sometimes quarrel about what is flimsy and unnecessary. - The students agreed on the best route to follow to the school. - The desperate staff signed for a loan he might not be able to repay in a year. - We cannot say particularly under which condition the authorities permitted him to participate in the bid. Now that we have seen the functions of noun clauses with illustrative examples, let us look at manifestations or types of noun or nominal clauses… Types of Noun/Nominal Clause The nominal clause has different types or manifestations and it will be beneficial for us to consider the various types. They include the following: “That –” Clause This usually begins with ‘that’. For example: - It is clear that you are up to the job. - That you are hungry is obvious. - He said that he was there. - That you have been there before gives you an advantage. - That he speaks flawless English does not mean he is educated. In instances where the ‘that-clause’ serves as the object of the complement, the conjunction ‘that’ might be omitted. For instance: - It is clear you are up to the job. - He said he was there. - It was obvious he could not continue the game. - The magazine stated women were more than men. - She admitted she did not attempt all the questions. Nominal –ing Clause This is a noun clause that begins with a gerund or verbal noun. Examples include: - Going home at this time is not advisable. - She loves baking cake. - Sleeping at work is a dereliction of duty. - The children love playing in the rain. - Watching action movies is his pastime. This is noun clause begins with a to-infinitive. See these examples below: - To go out like this is not good. - Her problem is to trek a long distance. - To go to school is a worthy pursuit. - To behave like that is barbaric. - He loves to travel. This clause derives its name because it begins with the ‘wh-‘ words. Examples include: - What he said was bad. - I want to know why she is here. - Nobody knows where they went. - I cannot hear what the man said. - She does not know what to wear. - Where to sleep is their concern. - What to do after school is not clear. - When to move is not currently clear to the soldiers. - I prefer what she cooks to the food she buys - He does not know what to eat for dinner. We usually form the yes/no interrogative with the use of ‘if’ or ‘whether’. Let us see some examples: - Do you know if the banks are open? - Can you ask if she will come visiting? - Should we ask whether we could sit down? - Will they know if there is free transportation? - Would you ask if that was her husband? - Could they check whether the goods are safe? - Do you mind if I borrow your laptop? This post has considered one of the major sub-types of the subordinate clause or the dependent clause, the noun clause with its types, functions and examples. Ensure you check the two other sub-types, the adverbial clause and the relative clause. Do not forget to check the post, what is a clause as it would help you put all the sub-types in perspective. Remember to share this post and others with your friends by using our Social Media share buttons. 27 thoughts on “What is a Noun Clause? Types, Functions and Examples” Thank you so much for this great work this is great job but I think you should also do well to analyse or explain their functions too. Check the video lecture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsHC69epafA Hi. Great job. I don’t think the ones starting with infinitives and gerunds are clause in the first place since clauses have subjects and verbs. “Going home at this time” for instance, has no subject or verb. I believe they are noun phrases. I’ll appreciate some clearance. Thank you, Ahmad. At the secondary school level, they could be referred to as phrases; but at the higher level of learning, THEY ARE ACTUALLY CLAUSES – INFINITIVAL CLAUSES! They contain a non-finite verb. It is not all clauses that have verbs. Imperative sentences do not have subjects. Watch our lecture on TYPES OF VERBS and you will understand more. Kindly subscribe to our Channel. An interesting piece What a nice writeup, thanks for sharing your knowledge for all English learner Noun clause answers the question: who,where,what and which Materials are clearly understood I think I’m good with noun but after reading this I feel better. Thanks along for the information… We really appreciate this wonderful write up… This is a very expository article. I would love to have more of this. Thanks a lot for the Information This is a comprehensive note on Noun I really appreciate u ,thanks so much ur explanation is very correct and I also understand it Thank you so much guys I appriate Thank u so much Please I may be wrong but if not then kindly reexamine the last two sentences under the object complement function. I believe those clauses are indirect objects to the verbs TOLD and PAY respectively Thank you, Stephen. Your observation is appreciated. You were actually right. The sentences have been moved under the general examples of noun clauses while appropriate and more examples have been provided under Noun Clause as Complement of the Object. Thank so much for sharing your knowledge that is important for all English learners. Please try to share anymore. This is quite enlightening good job, appreciate With thanks! Valuable information! What a nice writeup.I love this,thanks for sharing Very nice one

https://akademia.com.ng/what-is-a-noun-clause-types-functions-and-examples/

Education

en

All across the western United States, the forests are burning. In normal times, wildfires can be a good thing, clearing out dead material and making room for new growth. These are not normal times. The forests are burning, and in some cases they're not coming back. We are in the middle of this 30,000-acre, near-treeless hole," said Craig D. Allen, a research ecologist with the United States Geological Survey. If historical patterns had held, the remaining pines would by now be preparing seeds to drop and start the cycle of regrowth. "But the mother pines are nowhere in sight. Nature's script has been disrupted by a series of unusually intense, unusually large fires -- a product of many factors that include government firefighting policies, climate change and bad luck. That means forest recovery can be slow, or worse, said Donald A. Falk, a fire expert at the University of Arizona. "That's a recovery process that could take centuries -- and given where climate is going, it might never recover," he said. This wildfire season is smashing records, driving people from their homes and swallowing whole communities. The Valley and Butte fires in California are among the worst ever in state history, between them killing at least 5 people and destroying 1,400 homes. When you look at the overall numbers for this year to date from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the scope of this year's wildfire season is staggering. - In August, fires burned 2,475,720 -- the fourth most on record. Last month saw each wildfire, on average, burn 327.7 acres, the third most on record. The NOAA statistics currently available may actually be low-balling the devastation somewhat. Estimates released yesterday from the National Interagency Fire Center actually put the year-to-date total at more than nine million acres burned. That extent of burnt acreage has only been reached four times in recorded U.S. history, and all four times have occurred since the year 2000. In fact, we're within 10 percent of this being the worst year on record, ever...and we still have more than a month to go before the fire season for this year is over. This wildfire season has been absolutely incredible, and not only because of the extent of the fires. The location is important, as well. More than half of the acreage burned was in the U.S. was in Alaska, and Canada and Russia are also struggling with their on blazes. Fires in these areas are especially dangerous to the climate, because they ignite the long-buried or frozen organic matter, releasing a long-sequestered store of carbon. Intense drought conditions and record heat along the western half of the U.S. has led to an apocalyptic wildfire scenario for North America -- but try to wrap your head around the future: next year is expected to be even hotter than this year, and over the next few decades, the wildfire risk is expected to multiply six-fold and the area of land cleared by fires is expected to double. As world leaders prepare for the Paris climate summit at the end of the year, they need to realize that the nightmare scenarios scientists have warned about are not in the far-off future. They are right here, right now, and if we cannot rise to the occasion, then our future is going to burn. Actually...it's burning now. Go see the western forests while you can, friends. They may be going away.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/derrick-crowe/the-western-forests-may-b_b_8199110.html?utm_hp_ref=science&ir=Science

Religion

en

Delegated legislation is defined as the act of transferring powers and functions through the Acts of parliament to other organisations such as ministries, local governments, public corporations (PHCN, Water Board) etc. Laws made by these bodies are referred to as bye – laws. Parliament finds it more convenient to lay down the general principles of laws and then leave the administrative and technical aspects to these other bodies, whose powers are delegated by the parliament. Delegated legislation is a special feature of modern government. TYPES OF DELEGATED LEGISLATION - Bye – Laws: These are laws made by local governments, public corporations, ministries. These powers are conferred on them through the Acts of Parliament. - Orders in Council: In Britain, for example these orders or proclamations are for the Queen or King to give orders on some matters having the backing of the law These orders are mostly ratified by the privy Council (highest Court of Appeal in the United Kingdom) which is a body that advises the crown on political and governmental issues of the state. - Provisional Orders: A minister could be given the power to run an undertaking, e.g. a transport corporation, but at this stage, it is provisional or temporary until confirmed by parliament. - Special procedure orders: The minister makes the order and presents it to the parliament. The order comes into force after 14 days, unless petitions of a general objection have been lodged against it. - Statutory instrument: Ministerial regulation is governed by Statutory Instrument Acts. These instruments are mainly directed to rules applicable to the country. For example, no-smoking in public institutions (schools, health institutions etc as directed by the ministry of health). - Rules of professional bodies: There are rules and ethics guiding the activities of every member of a professional body e.g. NMA and NBA. This rules are constitutionally legal and must be adhered to. - Warrants: For example, search and bench warrants. This is legal document that is signed by a Judge and gives the Police authority to do something e.g. a warrant to search or arrest someone. THE IMPORTANCE OR MERITS OF DELEGATED LEGISLATION TO MODERN GOVERNMENTS - Reduction of work load: Delegated legislation has succeeded in reducing the pressure of work on parliament. - Useful for emergencies: In case of an external attack, the executive can take quick decisions. - It saves time: Delegated legislation saves parliament enough time, whose legislative machinery could break down if it were to enact all laws. - Technical languages: It is useful where technical languages are involved in government policies. - Efficiency: Delegated legislation makes for efficiency and precision. - Experiment: It is useful where experiment is desired. Most local governments have achieved something realistic through this experiment. - Adjusting to changing situation: With this development modern governments can adjust to changing situation and easily take care of contingencies. REASONS WHY DELEGATED LEGISLATION IS OFTEN CRITICISED OR DEMERITS OF DELEGATED LEGISLATION - It violates the principle of the rule of law: Delegated legislation violates the principle of the rule of law which lays emphasis on the freedom of citizens. - Lack of publicity: The numerous bye-laws, rules and regulations are not known to the common citizen because they are not well publicised. - It violates the principle of separation of powers: Delegated legislation also violates the principle of separation of powers and the sovereignty of the legislature. - The executive: The executive may tend to grow more powerful than the legislature. - Too many law – making bodies: Delegated legislation involves too many law-making bodies. The power of the judiciary to review the activities of the legislature is made difficult. - Abuse of power: This can manifest itself. The departments involved in this exercise can easily abuse such powers delegated to them. - It is undemocratic: Most of the laws made by some of these bodies are draconian, and undemocratic and do not have the support of the people. - The executive could become dictatorial: The executive arm seems to have too much powers at its disposal. It could make it become dictatorial. - It violates the principle of parliamentary supremacy: This is because other bodies or organisations are equally involved in performing legislative functions, - Legislative functions could be eroded: Laws made by these bodies may have a negative effect on legislative functions of parliament. - It may not be acceptable: Most of the laws and rules enacted, may not be widely accepted because enough consultation was not made before their formulation and implementation. - Parliamentary Control: The laws made by some of these bodies and their activities may lack effective parliamentary control. CONTROL OF DELEGATED LEGISLATION There are various methods in which the exercise of delegated legislation is controlled and these methods are: - Parliamentary control: The parliament has the power to control the bills of these various bodies before such bills become laws. It can equally reject laws made by these bodies. Infact there are standing committees in parliament that examine most of the statutory instruments of these bodies laid before the parliament. - Judicial Control: The law courts exercise control overrules and regulations made by these organizations. This is to make sure that these rules are made according to the provisions of the constitution. Similarly, the judiciary can declare unconstitutional some of the laws made by these organizations. - Ministerial control: Activities of public corporations are under the control of the minister. Most of the bye – laws, rules and regulations made always receive his attention. Also, the minister has the power to dissolve the board of directors of most of these corporations. - Auditing or financial control: The finances of most public corporations are audited to enhance efficient financial management. The government may send a team of auditors to perform this function. - Public Opinion: The opinions of the public towards most of these organisations could be negative or positive. For example, the opinion of the public towards PHCN is negative. Therefore, with this negative impression of the public, government can respond positively through the restructuring of the entire corporation. Equally, people are encouraged to let their grievances or problems known to the appropriate bodies e.g. OMBUSDMAN (Public complaints commission) or any other body with similar expression. - Petitions: This is also a way of controlling delegated legislation, people can write petitions against an organisation on issues affecting them e.g. corruption. Also, people are encouraged to write letters to some government agencies about: events unfolding itself in some of these bodies or organisations. - Accountability of ministers: Ministers are in most cases summoned in parliament to account for the rules and regulations, bye-laws made in their various ministries. - Finance: Most of these bodies or organizations depend to a large extent on government for allocations to meet their running cost. Government may withhold allocation to any of these organisations, as a way of checking their activities. - The Press: The press can act as a control of delegated legislation through their criticisms over rules and regulations governing the activities of these organisations. Some of these rules are antagonistic to the rights of the citizens and the operation of the rule of law. - Unnecessary Duplication: It will help to prevent unnecessary duplication or contradiction of laws, rules and regulations. - Obnoxious Law: The control of delegated legislation will help to safeguard citizen’s liberties from obnoxious laws. - Accountability: It will make officials accountable for their actions. - Autocracy: It will help to prevent bodies with powers of delegated legislation from being autocratic. - Usurpation of power: Control of delegated legislation will help to prevent undue usurpation of the powers of legislature.

https://www.austintommy.com.ng/2022/03/16/delegated-legislation/

Education

en

Bees pollinate a third of everything we eat and play a vital role in sustaining the planet’s ecosystems. Some 84% of the crops grown for human consumption – around 400 different types of plants – need bees and other insects to pollinate them to increase their yields and quality. These include most fruits and vegetables, many nuts, and plants such as rapeseed and sunflowers that are turned into oil, as well as cocoa beans, coffee and tea. Crops grown as fodder for dairy cows and other livestock are also pollinated by bees. And it’s not only food crops that rely on bee pollination, cotton does as well. As a result, annual global crop pollination by bees is estimated to be worth $170bn. But beyond their monetary value for maintaining our fragile food supply, bees also make an invaluable contribution to ecosystems around the world. Seeds, fruits and berries eaten by birds and small mammals are all from plants that are pollinated by bees, making them guardians of the food chain and the biodiversity of our species. Bees are industrious pollinators because they have co-evolved with flowering plants over millions of years. The bees need the flowers for food, while the flower needs the bee to reproduce. Unlike other insects, nectar and pollen from flowering plants are bees’ only food source; the sweet nectar drink gives adult bees energy. Pollen is protein-rich baby food. As the poet Kahlil Gibran beautifully put it: “To the bee, a flower is the fountain of life, and to the flower, the bee is a messenger of love.” In the process of foraging for food, bees are designed to pollinate. If you watch a female honeybee or bumblebee on a flower, you will see she has balls of pollen on her back legs. These are collected in her pollen baskets which she takes back to the nest to feed the young after fertilising the flowers. For solitary bees, the pollen collects on the hairs on their abdomen. So how do the bees pollinate? Quite simply, the bee gets covered in pollen, from the male part of the flower (the stamen), and deposit the grains on the female part (the stigma) of the next flower that they visit. Luckily for the plant, bees tend to visit flowers from the same plant when they are flowering rather than flit from one plant to another, so the plant is able to have sex. Once the pollen is on the stigma it moves down into the ovary where it fertilises and forms a seed. A few months later the seed grows into a fruit or vegetable. Think of an apple tree; it blossoms, is visited by bees, produces apples later in the summer containing pips (the seeds), which if planted could slowly grow into a new apple tree. There is an apocalyptic quote attributed to Albert Einstein (although there is no proof he actually said it): “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years left to live.” It resonates with people as a plausible consequence of the bee’s demise. While the timescale is wildly exaggerated and fails to take into account man’s ingenuity, it highlights how mankind’s survival has been inextricably linked to bees. Cave drawings dating back 20,000 years depict images of honey hunting. The ancient Egyptians transported their hives along the Nile to pollinate crops and buried their pharaohs with containers full of honey to sweeten the afterlife. The antibacterial and antiseptic properties of honey have made it as important to the apothecary as the chef over the centuries, while beeswax embalmed the dead and created artificial light. In the 15th century, the pilgrim fathers took their honeybees with them to spread their farming practices and colonise the new world. The native Americans called the honeybee the “white man’s fly”. The continent had wild bees, but no honeybees, as was the case in Australasia before western settlers arrived. There are 25,000 different bee species around the world. Only four of these species are honeybees, of which the western honeybee (Apis mellifera) is the one we took to the US and then on to Australasia. Honeybees make honey. It’s their winter food, for feeding the 10,000-strong colony in the hive when it’s too cold to fly. Bumblebees don’t make honey we can harvest but they are important pollinators, too. Around 250 species of bees are different types of bumblebees. Their hairier coats can attract more pollen and they can fly at colder temperatures than honeybees. Some species are long-tongued so are better at pollinating plants with long, tubular flowers. And they are capable of “buzz pollination” – by shaking the pollen from the anthers of a flower on to the stigma of another – which is how some crops, notably tomatoes, are pollinated. While most bumblebees are wild, some species are increasingly used commercially to buzz pollinate. Research shows that under the same conditions, bumbles can actually pollinate more flowers per bee than honeybees, though a honeybee colony (50,000 bees in the summer) is much larger than a colony of bumblebees (only 250). The vast majority of the world’s bee species are solitary bees. As their name suggests they live alone. Many are adapted to pollinate one type of plant and their life cycle is synced with the plant so they are able to pollinate it and feed their young at the same time. There’s been little research on solitary bees, but in March, the first ever assessment of all 1,965 bee species across Europe by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) found that almost one in 10 of Europe’s wild bee species – most of which are solitary bees – face extinction as a result of intensive farming, insecticide use and climate change. Most people have heard about colony collapse disorder, which wiped out a third of all honeybee colonies in the US when it first struck back in 2007. The disorder is still not fully understood, but a combination of parasites, viruses, poor nutrition and pesticides are thought to be behind the widespread death of honeybees in the US, where 40% of colonies are still dying each year. In the UK, honeybee winter losses have ranged from 10% to 33% since annual surveys began eight years ago. When inclement weather confines bees to the hive during the spring and summer they become weak and easy prey for the parasitic varroa mite to spread viruses that kill off its host. But in many ways, the uncertain future of wild bumblebees and solitary bees is even more alarming than the honeybee death toll, since beekeepers are able to restock their hives each year. The habitat that wild bees depend on to nest and forage is increasingly disappearing due to modern farming practices and urbanisation. Since 1945, 97% of wildflower meadows in the UK have vanished. During that time two bumblebee species have become extinct, and of the 24 species left only eight are commonly found. Globally, a quarter of the world’s 250 bumblebee species are thought to be facing some degree of extinction risk, according to the IUCN. John Muir, a giant of the conservation movement, summed up the importance of bees to the human race when he said: “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” We harm them at our peril.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/17/why-are-bees-important

Education

en

Before we go into redlining of car engines, we need to know what a tachometer is. The image above is called Tachometer. The tachometer shows the rotation speed of the engine crankshaft. It is measured in Revolution per Minute (RPM). If the gauge reaches the Red Zone, it means that the engine is spinning at an abnormally high velocity which can cause complications to your vehicle. Redlining the engine is not a safe practice for your car. it’s advised you don’t REDLINE your car. Redlining your car can cause: - Overheating of the engine - Inadequate lubrication in the engine compartment - Excessive wear on the engine - Excess fuel consumption – the higher the RPM, the higher the fuel consumption. All these mentioned above shortens the lifespan of a vehicle; it can easily cause an engine to fail. Don’t drive with the gauge pointing to the red zone. Always shift to a higher gear. You may also like to read our post on Detailed Explanation On All You Should Know About Blown Head Gasket

https://autojosh.com/redlining-your-car-engine/

Car Talk

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6 Types of Basic Emotions and Their Effect on Human Behavior How we respond to stimuli determines our daily experiences and overall quality of life. These responses are emotions that influence our actions, behavior, and decision-making. Researchers have long been curious about why human beings react the way they do to stimuli. In the process, various theories about emotional psychology have emerged. Understanding what basic emotions are is essential for improving one’s reactions and perceptions. What are emotions in psychology? An emotion is a complex psychological state triggered by stimuli. It is how one reacts to significant or impactful situations. A smiling face is interpreted to mean happiness; a crying one may very well signal sadness. Many cultures rely on recognizable facial expressions to tell how someone is feeling. Behind every emotion is a process that starts with a stimulus, initiates an internal reaction, and results in a visible expression. Emotions are instinctual, involuntary because they get triggered by specific events that are beyond human control. That’s why the way we respond also becomes involuntary. Our emotional experiences can alter our thoughts and perceptions that are associated with a particular event, so they influence behavior. Emotion vs. feeling vs. mood People often use the words “emotion”, “mood”, and “feeling” interchangeably, but psychologists say they are different things: - Emotions are short-lived and intense, and they commonly have a definite and identifiable cause. - A mood is long-lasting, but it is usually milder, and often, it’s not easy to identify a specific cause of a mood. Besides, moods have no clear starting point. - And feelings are the results of specific emotions, and they can be influenced by many factors, for example, beliefs, and memories. Although psychologists and researchers continue to seek a clear understanding of emotions, here is what is known so far. What are the key elements of emotions? Emotions are about how people deal with situations that they consider personally significant. Emotional experiences have 3 key elements – the subjective experience, the physiological response, and the behavioral response. Let’s take a look at each part. The subjective experience Also referred to as stimulus, the subjective experience is what triggers an emotion. It may be seeing or losing a loved one, getting married, getting a compliment, and so on. The subjective experience evokes different emotions in different people. However, it is the starting point of all emotions. Although basic emotions are expressed by people regardless of upbringing or culture, experiences that trigger them can be highly subjective. The physiological response When we experience an emotion, we simultaneously experience a physiological reaction. Many physiological responses are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, for example, an increased heart rate. It is a typical physiological response that is a part of the fight or flight response, which is triggered to protect you from perceived threats. Psychologists think that physiological responses may have helped humans evolve and survive throughout history. The behavioral response In this stage, the actual expression of emotion occurs. One may smile, frown, laugh, or cry in response to a situation. The exact reaction to stimuli varies from one person to the next and from one culture to another, although research suggests that many expressions are universal. Social norms and individual upbringing may also influence the behavioral response. Behavioral responses are important because they signal to other people how we are feeling. Our ability to understand behavioral responses is tied to our emotional intelligence, and the actual expressions of emotions play a huge role in our overall body language. But research also suggests that behavioral responses are vital for our well-being. Expressing behavioral responses, both positive and negative, is better for our overall health than suppressing emotions. How many types of human emotions are there? The number of human emotions that exist is a subject that intrigues researchers and psychologists to date. What is apparent is that there are basic and complex emotions. The former developed as a survival mechanism in response to the ecological challenges faced by our remote ancestors, while the latter has evolved to meet today’s sociocultural expectations. Basic emotions like happiness or fear tend to happen automatically and are associated with certain facial expressions. They are wired into our brain, so they are innate, universal, fast, and automatic. Each basic emotion triggers a behavior with a high survival value. But complex emotions like grief, regret, or jealousy are not as easily recognizable because they may differ in appearance in different cultures. There is a hypothesis that complex emotions consist of two or more basic ones. For example, hate can be described as a fusion of anger, fear, and disgust. Many theories of emotions have developed over the years regarding basic emotions. They also differ in approaches to how to classify emotions. Robert Plutchik’s wheel of emotions According to Robert Plutchick, professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, there are eight primary emotional dimensions. He developed a classification system known as the “wheel of emotions” that demonstrated how different emotions could occur concurrently. Plutchik’s theory groups emotions into four pairs of opposites: - Happiness vs. sadness - Anger vs. fear - Trust vs. disgust - Surprise vs. anticipation His theory proposes that emotions overlap, just like colors on a color wheel, and can be combined to form different feelings, like different colors can be mixed to create other shades. For example, primary emotions, such as happiness and anticipation, combine to form secondary emotions, such as excitement. And basic emotions such as trust and joy can be combined to create love. Paul Ekman’s 6 basic emotions Psychologist Paul Eckman created a classification model to identify emotions that are universally experienced. The facial action coding system (FACS) evaluates the movements of the eyes, head, and facial muscles. Based on FACS, Ekman proposed that there are six basic emotions: 4 Basic emotions identified by researchers at the University of Glasgow Based on Ekman’s work, researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Glasgow identified four basic emotions. Their research was based on universal body language and facial expressions that transcend sociocultural influences. According to the findings, certain emotions engaged the same facial muscles and could be seen as one. For example, disgust and anger share similar wrinkled noses, and fear and surprise share raised eyebrows. The differences between disgust and anger and fear and surprise are thought to have developed later for social functions and not survival. Therefore, the researchers reduced the number of basic emotions to include: What are the 6 basic emotions? Although there are several theories of emotions in psychology, psychologist Paul Eckman’s facial action coding system (FACS) remains the most widely accepted. So let’s talk about 6 basic emotions that are universally experienced by people irrespective of their cultures. Happiness is more than the experience of a positive mood. It’s a pleasant emotion that is characterized by feelings of joy, contentment, satisfaction, gratification, and well-being. Happiness is about enjoying life and living it to the fullest. Many definitions of happiness exist under one of three categories: - Short-term – your current experience, often triggered by temporary stimuli - Medium-term – overall sense of well-being and feeling that your life is well-lived - Long-term – a conscious approach to flourishing as a human being Most human beings are engaged, consciously or unconsciously, in actions that will improve their happiness levels. Sometimes, these actions can have an opposite or short-lived effect. It’s why you might feel unsure of what to answer when asked, “Are you happy?” A smile is the most common facial expression of happiness. According to Ekman’s research, a genuine smile is called a Duchenne smile and can be identified using “crow’s feet” or wrinkles in the corner of the eye. Other ways of expressing happiness include: - Sigh of content - Squeal of joy - Excited exclamation Happiness plays a critical, societal role by signaling friendliness and assuring that one is not a threat. It motivates one to do good for themselves and the survival of others. Sadness can be defined as a temporary emotional state characterized by feelings of disinterest, hopelessness, grief, disappointment, and low mood. Although many believe sadness is a negative emotion, it plays a vital role in signaling one’s need for help or comfort. All people can experience this emotion from time to time, but if you feel sad for longer periods, it may be a sign of depression. The most reliable sign of sadness on the face is the angling of the inner corners of the eyebrows. Other facial changes include drooping upper eyelids, a lowered gaze, and downward lip corners. People can also express sadness through a dampened mood, crying, withdrawal from other people, or lethargy. Persistent sadness can be a sign of a mood disorder, so it requires assessment by an experienced mental health professional. Fear is triggered by a real or imagined threat or danger. Although it is considered a negative emotion, it serves a vital role by activating the fight-or-flight response and keeping us safe. The facial expression of fear can be confused with surprise. A person may raise their eyebrows, lift their upper lids, pull back the chin, and tense their lips. A high-pitched scream is a vocal expression of this emotion. Persistent, intense fear caused by anticipated threats or even our thoughts about potential dangers can be a sign of anxiety disorder. It is especially problematic if it interferes with basic life tasks and can only be diagnosed by a mental health professional. Disgust is an emotion triggered by something unpleasant we see, smell, or taste. Scientists suggest that this emotion evolved as a reaction to harmful or fatal foods. Disgust response can be triggered by such things as blood, infection, poor hygiene, rot, and death. The most easily recognizable sign of disgust is the wrinkling of the nose. Raising the upper lip to the sneer is also a sign. Disgust can also be displayed by such physical reactions as retching or vomiting. People can also experience moral disgust when they see that others do something they consider immoral, distasteful, or evil. Disgust signals us to get away from or eliminate something offensive, toxic, or contaminating. Anger is a very powerful emotion that is characterized by feelings of agitation, hostility, antagonism towards other people, and frustration. It can be triggered due to stress, unmet needs, financial problems, family issues, etc. It may also be a part of our body’s flight or fight response and motivate us to protect ourselves and fend off danger. Common expressions of anger include: - Pulled eyebrows - Glaring eyes - Tightly pressed lips - Yelling or high tone of voice Anger can be helpful when it is expressed constructively, and it can lead to actions that can help you find solutions to problems that are bothering you. However, if it is excessive or expressed in unhealthy ways, it can easily result in harmful behavior towards oneself and others. If anger is uncontrolled, it can turn into aggression, abuse, and violence. Surprise is a very brief emotion and is characterized by a physiological reaction to something unexpected. It can be positive, neutral, and negative, or it can also trigger a fight or flight response. Of all types of emotions, surprise is the briefest. Depending on the trigger, this emotion quickly gives way to anger, happiness, fear, or disgust. Raised eyebrows, eyes opened wide, and a dropped jaw are common facial expressions of this emotion. What are the benefits of understanding emotions? Emotions are very important because they have helped humans evolve and survive, and they play a critical role in how we behave. They guide our behavior to help us achieve a positive outcome in everything we do. But they can be destructive if they don’t fit the situation or if they cause a reaction that we can’t understand. Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate our emotions and those of others. It is beneficial because it: - Gives clarity of mind - Builds resilience - Helps develop healthy and satisfying relationships - Improves work performance Emotionally intelligent people often possess qualities that make them effective therapists, able to resonate with and support their clients on a deep level. Leveraging their keen awareness, a therapist with high emotional intelligence can navigate complex emotional terrains, fostering healing and understanding. Get help from a therapist online You may struggle to develop emotional awareness, which helps us have more choices about our emotional reactions and shape them in thoughtful and constructive ways. As a result, you may feel overwhelmed by certain negative emotions.

https://us.calmerry.com/blog/psychology/6-types-of-basic-emotion/

Health

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WASHINGTON, February 6, 2020 — Long believed to be a problem exclusive to high-income countries, evidence shows that over 70 percent of the world's 2 billion overweight and obese individuals live in low- or middle-income countries. Faced with increasing disability, mortality, health care costs, and lower productivity, obesity is a growing concern for all countries regardless of income level, says a new World Bank report launched here today. Obesity has a major impact on national economies and on human capital by reducing productivity and life expectancy and increasing disability and health care costs. It is projected that in the next 15 years, the costs of obesity will total more than US$7 trillion in developing countries. The report Obesity: Health and Economic Consequences of an impending global challenge states that obesity-related diseases are now among the top three killers across the globe, except in Sub-Saharan Africa. Recent data show that since 1975 obesity has nearly tripled and now accounts for 4 million deaths worldwide every year. Factors escalating the obesity epidemic include ultra-processed and sugary foods, reduced physical activity, and higher incomes, which often go hand-in-hand with a higher consumption of unhealthy foods. “As countries grow economically and per capita income rise, the devastating impacts and burden of obesity will continue to shift toward the poor,” says Dr. Meera Shekar, Global Lead for Nutrition at the World Bank and co-author of the report along with Dr. Barry Popkin from the University of North Carolina. In China between 2000 and 2009, health care costs associated with obesity grew from half a percent to more than 3 percent of China’s annual health care expenditure. In Brazil, obesity-related health care costs are expected to double, from less than US$6 billion in 2010 to more than US$10 billion in 2050. In addition to directly increased health care costs, there are also indirect costs associated with, for example, reduced work productivity, absenteeism, and early retirement, which affect individuals and societies. Many countries across the globe are also suffering from what is referred to as the “double burden of malnutrition”—high stunting and increasing obesity rates, further compromising their human capital. “One of the most effective ways to address obesity and other non-communicable diseases is by ramping up investments in affordable, quality primary health care”, says Dr. Muhammad Pate, Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank. “This makes sense both from a health and an economic perspective. Putting more resources on the frontlines to detect and treat conditions early, before they become more serious, saves lives, improves health outcomes, reduces health care costs and strengthens preparedness.” The report stresses that in order to avoid the rise of obesity in future generations, governments and development partners must adopt a comprehensive approach. Effective primary health systems will be crucial together with a strong focus on preventative measures such as mandating the labeling of processed foods; increasing consumer education; reducing salt and sugar-sweetened beverages; and investing in early childhood nutrition programs. The report also highlights the importance of strong fiscal policies, such as taxation of unhealthy foods; and enhancing urban design, such as playgrounds in schools and walking and bicycle paths. Financial support for the preparation of the report was provided by the Government of Japan through the Japan Trust Fund for Scaling Up Nutrition.

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/02/05/obesity-related-diseases-among-top-three-killers-in-most-countries-world-bank-says

Health

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Satan’s fall from heaven is symbolically described in Isaiah 14:12–14 and Ezekiel 28:12–18. While these two passages are referring specifically to the kings of Babylon and Tyre, we believe they also reference the spiritual power behind those kings, namely, Satan. These passages describe why Satan fell, but they do not say when the fall occurred. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, witnessed Satan’s fall, and He mentions it in Luke 10:18: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” We know that the angels were created before the earth (Job 38:4–7). Satan fell before he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3:1–14). Satan’s fall, therefore, must have occurred somewhere after the time the angels were created and before he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Whether Satan’s fall occurred hours, days, or years before he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden, Scripture does not say. The book of Job tells us, at least in Job’s time, Satan still had access to heaven and to the throne of God. “One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, ’Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the LORD, ‘From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it’” (Job 1:6-7). Apparently at that time, Satan was still moving freely between heaven and earth, speaking to God directly and answering for his activities. Whether God has discontinued this access is a matter of debate. Some say Satan’s access to heaven was ended at the death of Christ. Others believe Satan’s access to heaven will be ended at the end-times war in heaven (Revelation 12:7–12). Why did Satan fall from heaven? Satan fell because of pride. He desired to be God, not to be a servant of God. Notice the many “I will...” statements in Isaiah 14:12-15. Ezekiel 28:12-15 describes Satan as an exceedingly beautiful angel. Satan was likely the highest of all angels, the anointed cherub, the most beautiful of all of God’s creations, but he was not content in his position. Instead, Satan desired to be God, to essentially “kick God off His throne” and take over the rule of the universe. Satan wanted to be God, and interestingly enough, that desire is what Satan tempted Adam and Eve with in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-5). How did Satan fall from heaven? Because of Satan’s sin, God cast him out of heaven (Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:16–17). Heaven is no place for the wicked one. Satan fell from heaven because he was pushed.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Satan-fall.html

Religion

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As the coronavirus assumes pandemic proportion globally, the World Health Organisation has warned that banknotes could aid the transmission of the infectious disease. The United Nations body, therefore, counselled people to rather go cashless when making purchases. In the event where they handle money, people should make it a regular habit to wash their hands immediately, the global health body added. The WHO warned that coronavirus could be on the surface of banknotes for several days, hence the need for people to refrain from using money for transactions as much as possible. “We know that money changes hands frequently and can pick up all sorts of bacteria and viruses. “We would advise people to wash their hands after handling banknotes, and avoid touching their face. “When possible, it would also be advisable to use contactless payments to reduce the risk of transmission,” WHO said. The Telegraph said the Bank of England also recognised that banknotes “can carry bacteria or viruses” and therefore encouraged frequent hand washing. It may be recalled that, in February, Chinese and Korean banks embarked on the disinfection and isolation of used banknotes as part of efforts to stem the spread of the virus. “Ultraviolet light or high temperature is being used to disinfect and sterilise banknotes, before the cash is sealed and stored for up to 14 days before being recirculated,” China’s central bank disclosed at a Press conference. “Like any other surface that large numbers of people come into contact with, notes can carry bacteria or viruses. “However, the risk posed by handling a polymer note is no greater than touching any other common surface, such as handrails, doorknobs or credit cards,” the Bank of England said. The WHO has warned that coronavirus can be spread through contaminated objects, droplets and direct contact with infected patients.

https://punchng.com/banknotes-can-spread-coronavirus-who-warns/amp/

Health

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Taiwan, or Republic of China (ROC) as it officially calls itself has been in the news for the past week over then proposed, and now the visit of Nancy Pelosi to the Island. Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the third citizen in the country, behind the U.S President Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, The Vice President and The President of the Senate. The tension between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan, which the PRC claims to be a part of China has never been this high, and so has the tension between China and the United States. Both the PRC and USA has deployed Navy carrier groups to the region. Is Taiwan an independent country or a part of China, or is the PRC a part of the ROC? After all, Taiwan never declared independence from China. Here is a history of Taiwan, as written by the Government of Taiwan, or speaking in official terms, the Government of the Republic of China. The ROC was founded in 1912 in China. At that time, Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule as a result of the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, by which the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan. The ROC government began exercising jurisdiction over Taiwan in 1945 after Japan surrendered at the end of World War II. The ROC government relocated to Taiwan in 1949 while fighting a civil war with the Chinese Communist Party. Since then, the ROC has continued to exercise effective jurisdiction over the main island of Taiwan and a number of outlying islands, leaving Taiwan and China each under the rule of a different government. The authorities in Beijing have never exercised sovereignty over Taiwan or other islands administered by the ROC. The following timeline focuses on Taiwan’s recorded history dating from about 400 years ago, although it has been home to Malayo-Polynesian peoples for many millenniums. 1500s: It is commonly believed that European sailors passing Taiwan record the island’s name as Ilha Formosa, or beautiful island. Taiwan continues to experience visits by small numbers of Chinese merchants, fishermen and pirates. 1624: The Dutch East India Company establishes a base in southwestern Taiwan, initiating a transformation in aboriginal grain production practices and employing Chinese laborers to work on its rice and sugar plantations. 1626: Spanish adventurers establish bases in northern Taiwan but are ousted by the Dutch in 1642. 1662: Fleeing the Manchurian conquest of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Ming loyalists under Zheng Cheng-gong, or Koxinga, drive out the Dutch from Taiwan and establish authority over the island. 1683: Qing dynasty (1644-1912) forces take control of Taiwan’s western and northern coastal areas. 1885: Taiwan is declared a province of the Qing Empire. 1895: Following defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), the Qing government signs the Treaty of Shimonoseki, by which it cedes sovereignty over Taiwan to Japan, which rules the island until 1945. 1911~1912: Chinese revolutionaries overthrow the Qing Empire and establish the ROC. 1943: During World War II, ROC leader Chiang Kai-shek meets with U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Cairo. After the conclusion of the conference, the Cairo Declaration is released, stating that “…Formosa [Taiwan], and the Pescadores [the Penghu Islands], shall be restored to the Republic of China…” 1945: The ROC, U.K. and U.S. jointly issue the Potsdam Declaration, calling for Japan’s unconditional surrender and the carrying-out of the Cairo Declaration. After World War II, ROC government representatives accept the surrender of Japanese forces in Taiwan. The Chief Executive of Taiwan Province Chen Yi sends a memorandum to the Japanese governor-general of Taiwan, stating that “As the Chief Executive of Taiwan Province of the ROC,…I restore all legal territory, people, administration, political, economic, and cultural facilities and assets of Taiwan [including the Penghu Islands].” 1947: The ROC Constitution is promulgated Jan. 1 and is scheduled to take effect Dec. 25. In March and the following months, ROC troops dispatched from China suppress a large-scale uprising of Taiwan residents sparked by the February 28 Incident. 1948: As full-scale civil war rages in China between the Kuomintang-led ROC government and CCP, the Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion are enacted, overriding the ROC Constitution and greatly expanding presidential powers. This begins the period of White Terror that lasts until 1991 when the Temporary Provisions are lifted. 1949: The ROC government relocates to Taiwan, followed by 1.2 million people from China. Oct. 25 sees the Battle of Kuningtou on Kinmen, in which the ROC armed forces defeat the CCP on the northwestern coast of the island. Martial law is declared in Taiwan and continues to be in force until 1987. 1952: Following the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty with Japan signed by 48 Allied nations on behalf of the United Nations, the Treaty of Peace is signed between the ROC and Japan at Taipei Guest House, formally ending the state of war between the two parties. It is recognized that under Article 2 of the San Francisco Treaty, Japan has renounced all right, title, and claim to Taiwan (Formosa) and Penghu (the Pescadores) as well as the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. All treaties, conventions and agreements concluded before Dec. 9, 1941, between China and Japan become null and void as a consequence of the war. 1954: The ROC-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty is signed in Washington. 1958: Aug. 23 sees the start of an artillery duel between the ROC garrison on Kinmen and Chinese forces that lasts more than 40 days. 1966: The first Export Processing Zone is established in Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan. The creation of such zones propels Taiwan toward becoming a developed nation, setting a paradigm for other countries to follow. 1968: The nine-year compulsory education system is launched at a time when fewer than nine countries globally have compulsory education systems of this length or more. 1971: On Oct. 25, the United Nations General Assembly passes U.N. Resolution 2758 recognizing the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the only legitimate representative of China to the global body. The ROC withdraws from the U.N. 1979: Democracy activists demonstrating in Kaohsiung are arrested and imprisoned following what is known as the Kaohsiung Incident, which eventually leads to the formation and development of the Democratic Progressive Party in 1986. 1987: Martial law, in effect since 1949, ends and bans on the formation of new political parties and news publications are lifted. Democratization goes into high gear. Cross-strait people-to-people exchanges begin. 1991: The Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion are abolished. A complete re-election of all Congressional representatives, including members of the Legislature and National Assembly, takes place from 1991 to 1992, giving the people of Taiwan full representation. From 1991 through 2005, the ROC Constitution undergoes seven rounds of revision. Taiwan becomes a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. 1992: Government-authorized representatives from across the Taiwan Strait meet for the first time in Hong Kong, and via subsequent communication and negotiations, arrive at various joint acknowledgements and understandings. 1995: The National Health Insurance program begins. 1996: The ROC holds its first-ever direct presidential election, with the KMT’s Lee Teng-hui and running mate Lien Chan garnering 54 percent of the vote. 2000: Chen Shui-bian and Annette Hsiu-lien Lu of the DPP are elected president and vice president, ending the KMT’s more than 50-year rule and marking the first transfer of ROC government executive power in Taiwan between political parties. 2002: Taiwan becomes a member of the World Trade Organization. Two national defense laws based upon the principle of unifying military policymaking and command are officially enforced on March 1. New subordinates of the Ministry of National Defense are established and organized with regulations to carry out the task of “nationalization of the armed forces.” 2003: The Legislative Yuan passes the Referendum Act, providing a legal basis for citizens to vote directly on issues of local or national importance. 2004: The first national referendum is held in conjunction with the third direct presidential election, in which Chen and Lu are re-elected with a slight majority. 2005: The Legislative Yuan passes a constitutional amendment package, halving the number of its seats from 225 to 113 and introducing the single district, two-votes system for legislative elections. 2008: Ma Ying-jeou and Vincent C. Siew of the KMT are elected president and vice president of the ROC, garnering 58 percent of the vote and marking the second transfer of ROC government executive power in Taiwan between political parties. 2009: Taiwan attends the World Health Assembly as an observer, marking its first participation in an activity of the U.N. since its withdrawal in 1971. President Ma signs the instruments of ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 2010: The ROC inks the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with China to institutionalize economic and trade relations across the Taiwan Strait. 2011: The centennial of the ROC is celebrated in Taiwan. 2012: Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou and his new running mate Wu Den-yih, representing the KMT, win the election for president and vice president with 51.6 percent of the vote. 2013: Taiwan signs an agreement on economic cooperation with New Zealand and an agreement on economic partnership with Singapore. Taiwan attends the 38th session of the International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly as the guest of the council’s president. 2014: Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi holds a formal meeting with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office director Zhang Zhijun in Nanjing in February, marking the first official contact between the heads of the respective government agencies responsible for cross-strait relations. Sunflower Movement protesters occupy the Legislature to oppose the passing of the Cross- Strait Service Trade Agreement, preventing its passage. A record 11,130 candidates are elected nationwide for nine categories of local government representatives in what are known as the “nine-inone” local elections. 2015: President Ma and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet in Singapore in November, marking the first toplevel meeting between the two sides in 66 years. Taiwan signs the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement and submits its instrument of acceptance to the organization. 2016: DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen and academic Chen Chien-jen are elected president and vice president of the ROC. The DPP gains its first legislative majority after securing 68 of the 113 seats. President Tsai Ing-wen officially apologizes on behalf of the government to the nation’s indigenous peoples for the pain and mistreatment they endured for centuries. 2017: The Indigenous Languages Development Act is enacted to preserve and promote the native tongues of Taiwan’s 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes. Taiwan hosts the Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade. FORMOSAT-5, the nation’s first homegrown ultra-high resolution Earth observation satellite, is launched. 2018: Taiwan’s Transitional Justice Commission is inaugurated May 31. President Tsai issues an apology to victims of political persecution during the country’s White Terror period from 1949 to 1991 following the commission’s decision to expunge their criminal records. 2019: A special law legalizing same-sex marriage is passed, making Taiwan the first country in Asia to allow LGBT unions. 2020: Tsai Ing-wen and running mate Lai Ching-te of the ruling DPP party win the 2020 presidential election with 57.1 percent of the vote. The DPP retains its legislative majority. Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur

https://investogist.com/fg-survival-fund-for-msmes-step-by-step-registration-process/Is

Business

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Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you've had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. Shingles isn't life-threatening. But it can be very painful. Vaccines can help lower the risk of shingles. Early treatment may shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia. This is a painful condition that causes shingles pain for a long time after your blisters have cleared. Shingles symptoms usually affect only a small section on one side of your body. These symptoms may include: - Pain, burning or tingling - Sensitivity to touch - A red rash that begins a few days after the pain - Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over Some people also experience: - Sensitivity to light Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some people, the pain can be intense. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for problems with the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash. Most commonly, the shingles rash develops as a stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or right side of the torso. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face. When to see a doctor Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if you suspect shingles, especially in the following situations: - The pain and rash occur near an eye. If left untreated, this infection may lead to permanent eye damage. - You're 50 or older. Age increases your risk of complications. - You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system. This may be due to cancer, medications or chronic illness. - The rash is widespread and painful. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus enters your nervous system and stays inactive for years. Sometimes the virus reactivates and travels along nerve pathways to your skin — producing shingles. But not everyone who's had chickenpox will develop shingles. The reason for shingles is unclear. It may be due to lowered immunity to infections as people get older. Shingles is more common in older adults and in people who have weakened immune systems. Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses. This is the same group that includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. As a result, shingles is also known as herpes zoster. But the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles isn't the same virus that causes cold sores or genital herpes, which is a sexually transmitted infection. Shingles affects the nerves Are you contagious? A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who isn't immune to chickenpox. This usually occurs through direct contact with the open sores of the shingles rash. Once infected, though, the person will develop chickenpox rather than shingles. Chickenpox can be dangerous for some people. Until your shingles blisters scab over, you are contagious. Avoid physical contact with anyone who hasn't yet had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. That includes people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns. Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can develop shingles. Most adults in the United States had chickenpox when they were children. That was before the availability of the routine childhood vaccination that now protects against chickenpox. Factors that may increase your risk of developing shingles include: - Age. The risk of developing shingles increases with age. Shingles typically occurs in people older than 50. And people over the age of 60 are more likely to experience more-severe complications. - Some diseases. Diseases that weaken your immune system, such as HIV/AIDS and cancer, can increase your risk of shingles. - Cancer treatments. Radiation or chemotherapy can lower your resistance to diseases and may trigger shingles. - Some medications. Drugs that prevent rejection of transplanted organs can increase your risk of shingles. Long-term use of steroids, such as prednisone, may also increase your risk of developing shingles. Complications from shingles can include: - Postherpetic neuralgia. For some people, shingles pain continues long after the blisters have cleared. This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia. It occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain. - Vision loss. Shingles in or around an eye (ophthalmic shingles) can cause painful eye infections that may result in vision loss. - Neurological problems. Shingles may cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), facial paralysis, or problems with hearing or balance. - Skin infections. If shingles blisters aren't properly treated, bacterial skin infections may develop. A shingles vaccine may help prevent shingles. People who are eligible should get the Shingrix vaccine, which has been available in the United States since its approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017. The Zostavax vaccine is no longer available in the U.S., but other countries may still use it. Shingrix is approved and recommended for people age 50 and older, whether they've had shingles or not. People who've had the Zostavax vaccine in the past or don't know whether they've had chickenpox may also receive the Shingrix vaccine. Shingrix is also recommended for people who are 19 years of age and older who have weakened immune systems due to disease or medication. Shingrix is a nonliving vaccine made of a virus component. It's given in two doses, with 2 to 6 months between doses. The most common side effects of the shingles vaccine are redness, pain and swelling at the injection site. Some people also experience fatigue, headache and other side effects. The shingles vaccine doesn't guarantee that you won't get shingles. But this vaccine will likely reduce the course and severity of the disease. And it will likely lower your risk of postherpetic neuralgia. Studies suggest that Shingrix offers protection against shingles for more than five years. Talk to your health care provider about your vaccination options if you: - Have had an allergic reaction to any component of the shingles vaccine - Have a weakened immune system due to a condition or medication - Have had a stem cell transplant - Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant The shingles vaccine is used only as a way to prevent shingles. It's not intended to treat people who currently have the disease. Aug 20, 2022

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054

Health

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Born In: Ogidi, Nigeria Protectorate Recommended For You Died At Age: 82 father: Isaiah Okafo Achebe mother: Janet Anaenechi Iloegbunam siblings: John taught, Zinobia Uzoma children: Chidi, Chinelo, Ikechukwu place of death: Boston, Massachusetts, United States education: University of Ibadan, University of London awards: 2007 - Man Booker International Prize 1982 - Commonwealth Poetry Prize 2007- Peace Prize of the German Book Trade - St. Louis Literary Award Recommended For You Achebe's writing style, characterized by a blend of English and Igbo language, helped to create a unique voice for African literature. His use of proverbs, folklore, and oral storytelling techniques added depth and authenticity to his works, shaping the trajectory of post-colonial literature. Achebe's works often delve into themes such as colonialism, cultural identity, tradition vs. modernity, the impact of colonization on African societies, and the struggles of individuals caught between conflicting cultural forces. These themes reflect his commitment to portraying the complexities of African experiences. Achebe's activism, particularly his advocacy for African independence and cultural sovereignty, deeply informed his writing. He used his platform as a writer to challenge colonial narratives, promote African perspectives, and champion social justice and equality, making his works powerful tools for change. Achebe is considered a pioneer of Nigerian literature for his contributions to shaping the country's literary heritage. By highlighting the richness and complexity of Nigerian culture and history in his works, he inspired a new generation of writers and encouraged a reclamation of indigenous storytelling traditions. Chinua Achebe was a talented musician and played the flute, which he enjoyed as a hobby outside of his writing. Achebe was known for his love of traditional Igbo proverbs and often incorporated them into his works, showcasing his deep connection to his Nigerian heritage. Despite his literary success, Achebe was also a humble and down-to-earth individual, known for his kindness and approachable demeanor. Achebe was a vocal advocate for African literature and worked to promote the voices of other African writers, helping to elevate the visibility of the continent's literary talent. How To Cite People Also Viewed

http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/chinua-achebe-1044.phpCalled

Politics

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The meaningful participation of women in national, local, and community leadership roles has become an important focus of global development policy. Yet, many people ask why it matters if women become political leaders, elected policymakers, or civil society activists. Why does the world need more women involved in all aspects of the political process? Women’s political participation results in tangible gains for democracy, including greater responsiveness to citizen needs, increased cooperation across party and ethnic lines, and a more sustainable future. The likes of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, and Ezekwesili defined the importance of women in Politics. Here in Ikwuano, the likes of Ezinne Ngozi Orji made changed the narratives about women’s participation in politics. Women’s participation in politics helps advance gender equality and affects both the range of policy issues that get considered and the types of solutions that are proposed. Research indicates that women legislators make a more distinct impact on policy priorities than their male counterparts. There is also strong evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is a corollary increase in policymaking that emphasizes quality of life and family improvement. According to the World Economic Forum, “Rwanda is a surprise leader in female political participation. It ranks at the top of the list of countries with the most female MPs: 49 out of 80.” In the UK, the Youth Parliament is open to teenagers who want to use their voices creatively for social change. Kosovo celebrated its first female president in 2011, with former president Atifete Jahjaga. Female authority became the voice of those who did not have it. Jahjaga helped young women dream big in their country and inspired them to think that the sky is the limit, if you are committed, you work hard and you put your heart into it. In the United States, younger women have been elected to Congress like Tulsi Gabbard and Kyrsten Sinema. Both arrived at their position at the age of 30. Women are closing the gender gap in health and education around the world, but significant gender inequality persists in politics. Democracy is not democratic without equality, while women in politics suffer violence and intimidation. It’s therefore time to change the narratives for our Good people of Ikwuano, as the first female aspirant for Ikwuano State Constituency presents herself to Serve her people. Maryann Uzoma Osuh is the answer to good leadership, transparency, and emancipation of Ikwuano. She is pragmatic, energetic, young, and talented. UMUNWAYI NDE IKWUANO, Bikonu take this advantage and show your worth, You people can do better

https://cdanewsonline.com/consolidate-for-greater-ikwuano-hon-maryann-uzoma-osuh/

Politics

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What you'll learn Principles and physiology of mechanical ventilation Initial ventilator settings and adjusments Troubleshooting the ventilator Ventilating patients in special circumstances including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Obstructive Lung Disease How to evaluate a patient for extubation readiness and conduct the extubation procedure How standard ventilation practices are different in COVID-19 patients This course will help prepare licensed non-ICU hospital clinicians to assist in the operation of a ventilator. Given the increasing number of patients contracting COVID-19 and developing pneumonia, the medical system is, and will continue to be, in dire need of licensed medical professionals who can assist in the operation of mechanical ventilators. This course provides general information about mechanical ventilation. It is intended for licensed medical professionals. Patient needs and clinical care settings vary, and the information provided is not intended as medical, diagnostic or treatment advice. Ventilators should be used under the supervision of a qualified licensed medical professional. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for the particular device you are using and the product information sheet for any drug administered. This subject is complex and evolving. The authors and providers of this course do not warrant that the information provided is accurate in every respect or complete, and disclaim responsibility for your use and application of the information.

https://online-learning.harvard.edu/course/mechanical-ventilation-covid-19?delta=0

Health

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What is CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access)? CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) refers to any of several protocols used in second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) wireless communications. As the term implies, CDMA is a form of multiplexing, which allows numerous signals to occupy a single transmission channel, optimizing the use of available bandwidth. The technology is used in ultra-high-frequency (UHF) cellular phone systems in the 800 megahertz (MHz) and 1.9 gigahertz (GHz) bands. CDMA employs analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) in combination with spread spectrum technology. Audio input is first digitized into binary elements. The frequency of the transmitted signal is then made to vary according to a defined pattern code. This enables the signal to be intercepted only by a receiver whose frequency response is programmed with the same code, following along with the transmitter frequency. There are trillions of possible frequency sequencing codes, which enhances privacy and makes cloning difficult. How does CDMA work? Cell clusters form the cellular structure of wireless CDMA networks. Each cell in a cell cluster has a transceiver with the necessary transmitting power and mobile units distributed around the cell's coverage area. Every mobile unit runs a transceiver, which consists of a low-power transmitter and a sensitive receiver operating with a wireless cellular environment. The characteristics of the cellular environment include multipath propagation, access interference and fading. The near-far (N-F) effect plays a significant role in the quality of service (QoS) for CDMA systems. It refers to a phenomenon that occurs when a user near the base station sends out a transmission that interferes with and overpowers a weaker transmission signal coming from a user further away. To this end, CDMA network providers use receivers that are resistant to the N-F effect; they also use tight power control schemes. The CDMA channel is nominally 1.23 MHz wide. CDMA networks use a scheme called soft handoff, which minimizes signal breakup as a handset passes from one cell to another. The combination of digital and spread spectrum modes supports several times as many signals per unit of bandwidth as analog modes. CDMA is compatible with other cellular technologies; this enables nationwide roaming. The original CDMA standard, also known as CDMA One, offers a transmission speed of only up to 14.4 kilobits per second in its single channel form and up to 115 Kbps in an eight-channel form. CDMA2000 and Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) deliver data many times faster. The CDMA2000 family of standards includes single-carrier Radio Transmission Technology (1xRTT), Evolution-Data Optimized Release 0, EVDO Revision A and EVDO Rev. B. People often confuse CDMA2000, which is a family of standards supported by Verizon and Sprint, with CDMA, which is the physical layer multiplexing scheme. What is the difference between GSM and CDMA? Most people often get caught up in the CDMA vs. Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) divide when trying to transfer their phones from one cellular network provider to another. Some carriers' phones are designed to operate only on their radio network, and they're incompatible with other networks' cellular communications technologies. This was especially rife some years back. In recent years, device manufacturers have been designing phones that users can operate on both CDMA and GSM networks. GSM and CDMA are multiple-access technologies that enable numerous data connections and multiple calls on a single radio channel. CDMA cellular systems use a unique code to encode every call's data and then transmit all those calls at once. On the other end, the receivers divide the combined signal into their individual calls before channeling them to the intended recipient. GSM transforms every call into digital data, transmits it via a shared channel at a specific time and then puts each call back together at the other end of the line for the intended recipient. Which carriers are CDMA? Which are GSM? GSM is available in more than 200 countries. CDMA is most widely used in the U.S. by carriers such as U.S. Cellular and Verizon. GSM carriers in the U.S. include T-Mobile and AT&T. Which is better: CDMA or GSM? With GSM networks, users can transmit data and make voice calls at the same time, an impossible feat for CDMA networks. But this is hardly the reason behind GSM's popularity. A big driver was Europe's 1987 law that required the use of GSM. Another reason was that GSM resulted from an industry consortium, while CDMA was, for the most part, owned by Qualcomm, making GSM-powered devices cheaper to make and use. CDMA and GSM standards apply only to 2G and 3G connectivity. As the switch to fourth-generation wireless began in earnest in 2010, carriers adopted Long-Term Evolution (LTE), the global standard for 4G networks. Consequently, the distinction between CDMA and GSM is becoming less important as CDMA phones and devices powered by GSM networks vanish into history. But, for now, 2G and 3G networks still serve as backups for areas with weak 4G LTE signals. 5G cellular technology will replace old protocols CDMA will become even less relevant with the advance of fifth-generation (5G) wireless systems. 5G promises to drastically improve the data transfer speeds possible on cellular networks to rival fiber-optic networks. The technology offers better broadband capacity, reliability and bandwidth, far beyond what's possible on 4G. Primarily, 5G is powered by millimeter wave (MM wave) bands in 26, 28, 38 and 60 GHz. At these frequency bands, data transfer speeds can rise as high as 20 gigabits per second (Gbps). Using massive multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) 64-256 antennas, 5G offers speeds at least 10 times greater than what's currently possible on 4G networks. 5G cellular technologies in the low-band and midband range use frequencies between 600 MHz and 6 GHz, with most occupying the 3.5 to 4.2 GHz range. In the U.S., the 5G wireless frequency bands already in use are 3,100 to 3,550 MHz and 3,700 to 4,200 MHz. Europe is deploying 3,400 to 3,800 MHz frequency bands, while Asia is using 3,300 to 3,600 MHz; 4,400 to 4,500 MHz; and 4,800 to 4,990 MHz bands.

https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/CDMA-Code-Division-Multiple-Access

Phones

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What is the big bang? Did God use the big bang to create the universe? Discover the history of big bang thought and scientific problems with the big bang. The big bang is a naturalistic story about the origin and development of the universe (e.g. a cosmology), beginning with a “singularity” when all mass, energy, and space was contained in a much smaller volume than the universe today. It is riddled with problems, supported by numerous unobserved assumptions, and, most importantly, contradicts the biblical teaching of creation. How did our universe come into existence? Did it come about entirely by natural means? Was it created by God, and if so, how did he do it? Did God start the clock ticking and then use natural methods to allow the universe to mature over billions of years, or did he create everything supernaturally finishing the heavens and celestial objects by the first four days of creation week? These questions are central to our understanding of the purpose of the universe and our significance within it. Some Christians accept the claim that God used naturalistic processes, including the big bang, to create the universe. They would agree with secular (and mostly atheistic) astronomers that the stars and planets formed by slow natural processes over billions of years—with only one exception, that God’s hand directed these processes. Unfortunately, such views deny what the Creator Himself has said about the creation of the universe. The big bang is diametrically opposed to the supernatural creation described in the Bible. Furthermore, there are many other differences between the big bang and the biblical account of origins. For example, How did the big bang become the dominant secular model of cosmology? The big bang model predicted that the universe ought to be filled with radiation in the microwave part of the spectrum having a temperature of only a few Kelvin (K). This radiation, referred to as the Cosmic Microwave Background, supposedly comes from a time a few hundred thousand years after the big bang. When the Cosmic Microwave Background (often abbreviated CMB or CBR) was then discovered in 1964, and which was now a successful prediction of the big bang. Other cosmologies like the steady state model fell out of favor and the big bang assumed the position as the most popular of the naturalistic cosmologies. Ironically, it was a staunch opponent (and steady state proponent) of the Cosmic Egg hypothesis, who gave it the name we use today. Sir Frederick Hoyle mockingly nicknamed it the big bang and the name stuck. As it turns out the CMB was the one successful prediction of the big bang model, but there are many problems with it. But for every problem that crops up, a new addition to the model is proposed which rescues the paradigm. But there is no proof for any of these rescuing devices; and no real empirical data to refute the following problems with the big bang. There are several scientific problems with the big bang theory. For one, we are missing monopoles. A “monopole” is a hypothetical massive particle that is just like a magnet but with only one pole. So a monopole would have either a “north” pole or a “south” pole, but not both. Particle physicists claim that the high temperature conditions of the big bang should have created magnetic monopoles. Since monopoles are predicted to be stable, they should have lasted to this day. Yet, despite considerable searching, monopoles have not been found. The fact that we don’t find any monopoles strongly suggests that the universe never was that hot. This indicates that there never was a big bang. But the lack of monopoles is not problematic for the Bible’s account of creation because the universe did not start at extremely high temperatures. A second scientific problem with the big bang is there is too little antimatter. The big bang model proposes that matter (hydrogen and helium gas) was created from energy as the universe expanded. However, experimental physics tells us that whenever matter is created from energy, such a reaction also produces antimatter. Antimatter has similar properties to matter, except the charges of the particles are reversed. The big bang should have produced equal amounts of matter and antimatter. Thus, if the big bang were true, there should be an equal amount of matter and antimatter in the universe today. But there is not. The visible universe is comprised almost entirely of matter—with only trace amounts of antimatter. A third scientific problem with big bang cosmology is there are no ‘population III’ stars. The big bang model by itself can account for the existence of only the three lightest elements (hydrogen, helium, and trace amounts of lithium). This leaves the other naturally occurring elements unexplained. Since the conditions in the big bang model are not right to form these heavier elements, secular astronomers believe that stars have produced the remaining elements by nuclear fusion in their cores, which then distribute the heavier elements into space when they exploded (went supernovae). Second- and third-generation stars are thus “contaminated” with small amounts of these heavier elements. If this were true, then the first stars would be comprised of only the three lightest elements (since these would have been the only elements in existence initially). Some such stars should still be around today since their lifespans are supposed to exceed the 13.8 billion years that has elapsed since the big bang. Such stars would be called “population III” stars. Amazingly population III stars have not been found anywhere. All known stars have at least trace amounts of heavy elements in them. A fourth scientific problem with the big bang is there is no evidence for cosmic inflation. According to the big bang model, the universe suddenly appeared 13.8 billion years ago in a very dense, hot state that expanded into the universe that we see today. But cosmologists realized that there were problems with the CMB. One of these was the horizon problem: the CMB observed from opposite parts of the sky had precisely the same temperature. But how could that be? Those positions opposite one another had never had a chance to exchange heat, so how could they have come into thermal equilibrium. A theoretical physicist named Alan Guth suggested cosmic inflation to solve the horizon problem. According to the theory of cosmic inflation, 10-34 seconds after the big bang the universe briefly and rapidly expanded, or inflated, to a much larger size with a velocity far faster than the speed of light. This would allow the entire universe initially to be in thermal contact so that it could come into the thermal equilibrium before being pulled out of thermal equilibrium by inflation. The only problem with inflation? There’s absolutely no evidence for it, and attempted “proofs” have been proposed and then bit the dust. A fifth scientific problem with the big bang is the twofold “hot and cold problem” with certain regions of the CMB. The Axis of Evil is a large region of the mapped CMB that has hotter than expected temperatures (below the ecliptic plane) than the Big Bang would allow for. The Cold Spot is a smaller circular region which has colder than expected temperatures. Both were first detected by the WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe) launched in 2001. Rather than confront the problems, scientists ascribed it to lack of precise data and hoped they would go away. But in 2009 the Planck probe was launched and has provided the most detailed data on the CMB to date. Both the Axis of Evil and the Cold Spot were still there in the data. There are two major problems with the axis of evil. The axis of evil extends over too large an area to be due to primordial density differences. There are many properties of the CMB that the big bang model can account for, such as a slightly warmer and cooler directions in space that are diametrically opposite. However, there is no known effect that can explain the axis of evil. Second, the axis of evil aligns with the plane in which the earth and the other planets orbit the sun. If the CMB truly is cosmological, this makes no sense—why would some huge structure in the universe align with the plane of the solar system? This alignment to the plane of the solar system suggests that the axis of evil is locally generated rather than cosmically generated. The cold spot is about 10 degrees in diameter, and it has an average temperature of 70 μK (0.00007 K). In contrast, the temperature fluctuations attributed to density variations in the early universe extend over much smaller parts of the sky and typically differ by only 18 μK from the average CMB temperature. Furthermore, some portions of the cold spot are 140 μK cooler than the average CMB temperature. Not only that, but the Cold Spot is below the ecliptic plane, which typically has higher temperatures than areas above the ecliptic plane. This result is puzzling to cosmologists. There have been several proposed explanations for the cold spot. One suggestion is that it is the result of a supervoid in direction of the cold spot. A more fanciful proposal is that this is the signature of another universe that left its imprint on our universe during cosmic inflation that hypothetically happened shortly after the big bang. But most cosmologists seem to be content to ignore the cold spot too. The above examples are just a few of the many problems with the big bang model. There simply isn’t any good reason to believe in the big bang. It is not compatible with the Bible, and it’s not good science. Any scientific model which must be propped up continually with unverifiable hypotheses is not falsifiable and therefore not science—in fact it’s blind faith. We have a reasoned faith which is based on a trustworthy and reliable Witness, who has told us the origins of the universe in his revealed Word of the Bible. How did the universe begin? The explanation of a new hypothesis of “two Big Bangs” reads exactly like fiction—because it is! It’s the biblical worldview that explains what we see around us, not the big bang or evolution. The “big bang” story aims to explain the universe’s origin without God and simultaneously fails to align with either the Bible & established scientific findings. The big bang has been the dominant cosmogony for more than a half century, but the lithium measurements in the universe do not match the model. It’s ironic that the very thing that supposedly is the proof of the big bang model may turn out to be its undoing. Will studies revealing a quasar with a much-too-massive black hole and a galaxy with young space dust lead to the downfall of the big bang model? A study suggests the universe had neither a beginning nor a big bang, but if the universe is eternal, then there is no need of God. Are the chemical signatures in a faint galaxy the fossil remnants of our universe’s birth? How did this universe come into existence? Did God use “natural” methods to create the universe, or did He create everything supernaturally? News flash: nothing has been found in the universe, reports a University of Minnesota team of astronomers—or, at least, that they have found an “enormous void” in space with nothing in it. As the press extensively reported last spring, evidence for inflation in the universe has been found, supposedly providing a firmer foundation for the big bang theory A few scientists, most prominently Cambridge’s Neil Turok and Princeton’s Paul Steinhardt, have proposed a “revolutionary model of how the universe began,” which is angering traditional advocates of big bang model. It appears that the claim that we have found evidence of inflation is overstated. At best, the evidence is very indirect and to the point of being premature. The news media has been abuzz recently about supposed evidence that the universe expanded rapidly, growing to billions of light years across—all within the first trillionth of a second after its birth Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.

https://answersingenesis.org/big-bang/

Religion

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Let’s a look at “corn nutrition” Corn is a starchy vegetable that is used in many different dishes. It is also a common food for animals. Corn is yellow, white, or red in color and is kernels that are surrounded by a husk. The kernels can be eaten whole, or they can be ground into cornmeal or flour. Nutritional value of corn Corn is a versatile and nutrient-rich food that provides a range of health benefits. It is a good source of fiber and vitamins, and it also contains a variety of phytonutrients that can promote health. Corn is particularly rich in fiber, which can help to promote digestive health and prevent constipation. The soluble fiber in corn can also help to lower cholesterol levels and keep the heart healthy. The vitamins and minerals in corn include thiamin, niacin, folate, and vitamin C. These nutrients are essential for good health, and they can help to boost the immune system, increase energy levels, and protect against disease. The phytonutrients in corn include lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene. These substances have antioxidant properties that can help to protect the body against cell damage. They may also help to reduce the risk of some chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. The health benefits of corn Corn is a versatile and nutritious food that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It is a good source of fiber and vitamins, and it can be a healthy addition to any diet. Corn is also low in fat and calories, making it a great choice for those who are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. There are many different types of corn, and each type has its own unique nutritional benefits. For example, yellow corn is a good source of beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant that can help protect the body against disease. White corn is a good source of folate, which is important for pregnant women and helps to prevent birth defects. - Corn can be eaten fresh, frozen, or canned. It can be used in recipes or simply enjoyed on its own. When shopping for corn, look for ears that are fresh and have bright green husks. Avoid ears that are dried out or have brown spots. - Fresh corn is best when it is cooked soon after it is picked. To cook corn, simply remove the husks and silks and then boil or grill the ears until they are tender. Frozen corn can also be added to soups and stews, or used in casseroles and salads. - Canned corn is a convenient option that can be used in recipes or simply enjoyed as a side dish. - Corn is a healthy food that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It is a good source of fiber and vitamins, and it can help to protect the body against disease. What are the disadvantages of eating corn? There are a few disadvantages to eating corn. One is that it is a high glycemic food, which means it can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. This can be especially problematic for people with diabetes or who are trying to control their weight. Another potential downside of eating corn is that it may contain unhealthy fats and chemicals. Some brands of popcorn, for example, are high in trans fats. Finally, like any food, eating too much corn can lead to weight gain. The different types of corn There are many different types of corn, each with its own set of nutritional benefits. For example, yellow corn is a good source of carotenoids, while white corn is rich in antioxidants. Blue and purple corn varieties are especially high in anthocyanins, which have been shown to have numerous health benefits. Is corn a vegetable or fruit? Corn is a cereal grain that is classified as a fruit. It is the fruit of the grass species Zea mays. Corn is a popular food all over the world and it has many nutritional benefits. Corn is a good source of fiber and it also contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, thiamin, niacin, and folate. It is a low-fat food and it is also a good source of carbohydrates. Corn can be eaten fresh, frozen, or canned. It can be used to make cornmeal, corn flour, cornstarch, corn syrup, and ethanol. Corn is a versatile food that can be used in many different recipes. It can be used as a side dish or as an ingredient in main dishes, soups, stews, and casseroles. Corn can also be popped and made into popcorn. Is corn good for blood pressure? When it comes to blood pressure, corn is a nutritional powerhouse. One cup of cooked corn provides about 27% of the recommended daily intake of fiber. That’s good news because fiber can help lower blood pressure by keeping cholesterol levels in check and promoting healthy digestion. Furthermore, the magnesium and potassium in corn can also help regulate blood pressure. So if you’re looking to keep your blood pressure in check, include corn in your diet. There are many nutritional benefits to corn, including being a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also low in fat and calories, making it a healthy food choice for those watching their weight. Whether you enjoy it on its own or as part of a dish, corn is a nutritious food that can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet.

https://coza24.com/health/corn-nutrition/

Education

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Choosing the right project topic is essential when studying History and International Studies. It allows you to delve into intriguing subjects, conduct thorough research, and gain a deeper understanding of various historical events, cultures, and international relations. In this article, we present a comprehensive list of 30 captivating project topics for your consideration. 1. The Impact of the French Revolution on Europe’s Political Landscape 2. The Role of Religion in Shaping Ancient Civilizations 3. Analyzing the Causes and Consequences of World War I 4. The Influence of Gandhi’s Nonviolent Resistance on the Indian Independence Movement 5. Exploring the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire 6. The Significance of the Berlin Conference in Shaping Africa’s Colonial Legacy 7. Examining the Effects of the Cold War on International Relations 8. The Role of Women in the American Civil Rights Movement 9. Understanding the Origins and Impact of Apartheid in South Africa 10. The Cultural Exchange between East and West along the Silk Road 11. Investigating the Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Social and Economic Structures 12. Analyzing the Factors that Led to the Rise of Fascism in Europe 13. The Influence of Nelson Mandela on Reconciliation in Post-Apartheid South Africa 14. Exploring the Roots and Consequences of the Arab-Israeli Conflict 15. The Implications of Colonialism in Southeast Asia 16. Examining the Role of Media in Shaping Public Opinion during the Vietnam War 17. The Influence of Ancient Greek Philosophy on Modern Political Thought 18. Analyzing the Role of United Nations in International Conflict Resolution 19. The Impact of the European Renaissance on Art and Culture 20. Understanding the Causes and Consequences of the Russian Revolution 21. Exploring the Impact of the Civil Rights Movement on U.S. Society 22. The Role of Globalization in Shaping Contemporary International Relations 23. Investigating the Origins and Effects of the Transatlantic Slave Trade 24. The Significance of the American Revolution in Shaping Modern Democracy 25. Understanding the Historical and Cultural Significance of the Great Wall of China 26. Analyzing the Role of International Organizations in Addressing Climate Change 27. The Impact of Colonialism on Indigenous Cultures in Latin America 28. The Influence of Ancient Egyptian Civilization on Modern Society 29. Examining the Role of Propaganda during World War II 30. The Origins and Development of Human Rights in the International Arena Necessary Requirements for Project Execution 1. Thorough research: Use credible sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites. 2. Clear research question: Define a focused and specific research question to guide your project. 3. Proper citation: Use the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA) to acknowledge your sources accurately. 4. Critical analysis: Analyze and evaluate the information gathered to develop a well-rounded perspective. How can I find reliable sources for my history project? To find reliable sources, utilize academic databases, library resources, and reputable online platforms such as JSTOR, Google Scholar, and official government archives. How can I make my history project stand out? To make your project stand out, consider approaching your topic from a unique angle, incorporating primary sources, and presenting your findings in a visually appealing and engaging manner. Can I use documentaries or films as references for my history project? While documentaries and films can provide valuable insights, it is advisable to supplement them with scholarly sources to ensure accuracy and academic rigor in your research. How can I effectively organize my history project? Start by outlining your project, creating sections based on themes or chronological order. Introduce your topic, provide background information, present your research findings, and conclude with a concise summary and analysis.

http://mycollege.com.ng/unesco-international-essay-contest/

Education

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HIV can be flushed out of its hiding places in the body using a cancer drug, researchers show. The cornerstone of treatment, anti-retroviral therapy, kills the virus in the bloodstream but leaves "HIV reservoirs" untouched. The study, published in PLoS Pathogens, showed the drug was "highly potent" at reactivating hidden HIV. Experts said the findings were interesting, but it was important to know if the drug was safe in patients. The power of the HIV reservoir was shown with the case of the Mississippi baby. She was given antiretroviral drugs at birth. Despite appearing to be free of HIV for nearly two years after stopping treatment, she was found to be harbouring the virus. 'Kick and kill' A strategy known as "kick and kill" is thought to be key to curing HIV - the kick would wake up the dormant HIV allowing the drugs to kill it. The team at the UC Davis School of Medicine investigated PEP005 - one of the ingredients in a treatment to prevent cancer, external in sun-damaged skin. They tested the drug in cells grown in the laboratory and in parts of the immune system taken from 13 people with HIV. The report said "PEP005 is highly potent in reactivating latent HIV" and that the chemical represents "a new group of lead compounds for combating HIV". One of the researchers, Dr Satya Dandekar, said: "We are excited to have identified an outstanding candidate for HIV reactivation and eradication that is already approved and is being used in patients. "This molecule has great potential to advance into translational and clinical studies." However, the drug has still not been tested in people who are HIV-positive. Prof Sharon Lewin, from the University of Melbourne, said the results were "interesting" and marked an "important advance in finding new compounds that can activate latent HIV". She told the BBC: "This study adds another family of drugs to test to potentially eliminate long-lived forms of HIV although much more work needs to be done to see if this works in patients. "Although PEP005 is part of an FDA approved drug, it will first take some time to work out if it is safe to use in the setting of HIV."

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-33720325

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Recently, Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala gave a speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies outlining the steps that need to be taken to improve economic development in Africa by creating jobs and reducing unemployment. Here are the five steps Okonjo-Iweala outlined for creating economic growth in Africa and developing jobs for young people across the continent. - Develop a critical infrastructure. The lack of modern infrastructure in Africa costs the continent “at least 2% in GDP growth annually.” Among the systems that Africa needs to develop are an expansive electrical grid, roads, railways, and communications. These systems allow for more efficient production and transportation of goods, allowing for increased economic output. Additionally, the continent needs to work on establishing clean water and sanitation systems, which will result in improved public health. - Develop human capital. Africa must invest in the skills of its people in order to advance their standard of living. Currently, “33 million primary school-aged children in Sub Saharan Africa do not go to school,” and “40% of Africans over the age of 15 and 50% of women above the age of 25 are illiterate.” Africans need improved access to education in order to work in skilled trades and earn higher wages. - Build safety nets. Throughout Africa, there are few systems that are established to help citizens who are living in poverty or have been negatively impacted by natural disasters. Okonio-Iweala states that Africa must work to establish tax systems to collect revenue for providing assistance to those in need throughout the continent. - Address a growing population. In 2010, Africa was home to more than 1 billion people. The population of Africa is expected to double to 2 billion people by the year 2050. In order to help alleviate poverty in the continent, a focus should be placed on family planning. By reducing the number of births per woman in Africa, the overall GDP per capita will increase, resulting in a higher standard of living for Africans. - Embrace Africa’s youthful population. Africa’s youth represents the future of the continent. By establishing programs that focus on the intellectual development and health improvement of young Africans, the continent will make an investment in its future. Africa has true potential for future economic growth if the continent’s nations invest in its young population, providing them with the tools they need to be successful in a global economy. – Jordan Kline Sources: Visualizing, The Guardian, Achieve in Africa

http://borgenproject.org/5-steps-to-increased-economic-development-in-africa/

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Data Science: Machine Learning Add a Verified Certificate for $149 The basics of machine learning How to perform cross-validation to avoid overtraining Several popular machine learning algorithms How to build a recommendation system What is regularization and why it is useful Perhaps the most popular data science methodologies come from machine learning. What distinguishes machine learning from other computer guided decision processes is that it builds prediction algorithms using data. Some of the most popular products that use machine learning include the handwriting readers implemented by the postal service, speech recognition, movie recommendation systems, and spam detectors. In this course, part of our Professional Certificate Program in Data Science, you will learn popular machine learning algorithms, principal component analysis, and regularization by building a movie recommendation system. You will learn about training data, and how to use a set of data to discover potentially predictive relationships. As you build the movie recommendation system, you will learn how to train algorithms using training data so you can predict the outcome for future datasets. You will also learn about overtraining and techniques to avoid it such as cross-validation. All of these skills are fundamental to machine learning.

https://online-learning.harvard.edu/course/data-science-machine-learning?delta=2Source:

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Social media has become a powerful tool for propaganda, enabling the dissemination of information and manipulation of public opinion on a global scale. Various contemporary techniques are employed to influence and shape people’s beliefs through platforms like Facebook, X, and others. Social Media have been this tagged due to the following inferences: - Political Propaganda: Social media platforms have been utilized for political propaganda, with the internet providing unprecedented accessibility for spreading information and influencing opinions. - Russia-Ukraine Conflict: In the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, social media has been a significant tool for generating propaganda and disinformation, shaping narratives surrounding the war and influencing public perceptions. - Fake News and Cyber Propaganda: Research explores the use and abuse of social media for spreading fake news and manipulating public opinion, highlighting the tools, methods, and services that enable such practices. - Disinformation on Social Media: Social media sites have been identified as facilitators for spreading disinformation and propaganda, leading to efforts by companies to implement new guidelines and fact-checking systems to ensure the accuracy of information presented to users. These examples underscore the pervasive influence of social media in modern propaganda efforts, emphasizing the need for critical evaluation of information consumed online to combat misinformation and manipulation. Social Media Companies Response to this Tag Social media companies respond to the use of their platforms for propaganda by implementing various measures to address misinformation and manipulation. Here are some ways they respond, as highlighted in the search results: - New Guidelines and Fact-Checking Systems: Social media companies are striving to implement new guidelines and fact-checking systems to ensure that the information presented to users is accurate and reliable. These measures aim to combat the spread of disinformation and propaganda on their platforms. - Combatting Fake news: Companies like Facebook, X, and others are actively working to combat fake news and cyber propaganda by identifying and removing misleading content. Efforts are made to prevent the misuse of social media for spreading false information and manipulating public opinion. - Removing Pro-US Influence Campaigns: Social media giants have taken down pro-US influence campaigns that were spreading propaganda on their platforms. This action reflects a commitment to addressing manipulative content and ensuring the integrity of information shared on social media. By implementing these strategies, social media companies aim to create a more trustworthy online environment, combat misinformation, and protect users from being manipulated by propaganda spread through their platforms. Top 5 Propaganda Techniques Irrespective of the medium used by propagandists, the following techniques have been primarily identified or tagged with propaganda since the term became popular: - Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD): This technique aims to create a sense of fear, uncertainty, and doubt to manipulate public opinion by discrediting opponents or spreading false information. - Glittering Generalities: Propagandists use emotionally charged words lacking specific details to evoke positive emotions without providing evidence, aiming to manipulate the audience’s emotions and create a favorable opinion. This technique incites fears and prejudices by using negative words or labels to provoke conclusions without factual arguments, aiming to influence opinions based on emotions rather than facts. - Loaded Language: Specific words with strong emotional implications are used to influence the audience, such as using emotionally charged terms like “reforms” instead of neutral words like “changes”. - 5. Lying and Deception: Propagandists may use lies or deception as the basis for various techniques, including ad hominem arguments, defamation, or other dishonest tactics to manipulate opinions. These techniques are designed to sway public opinion, shape perceptions, and influence behaviors by appealing to emotions, distorting reality, and manipulating information in a way that serves the propagandist’s agenda. Keywords: propaganda, social media, cyberspace, information,news, idealism, idealogy , propagandists

https://hoperite.com/social-media-exploring-contemporary-tools-for-propaganda/

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For patients with the worst effects of the infection, a ventilator offers the best chance of survival. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some 80% of people with Covid-19 – the disease caused by coronavirus – recover without needing hospital treatment. But one person in six becomes seriously ill and can develop breathing difficulties. In these severe cases, the virus causes damage to the lungs. The body’s immune system detects this and expands blood vessels so more immune cells enter. But this can cause fluid to enter the lungs, making it harder to breathe, and causing the body’s oxygen levels to drop. To alleviate this, a machine ventilator is used to push air, with increased levels of oxygen, into the lungs. The ventilator also has a humidifier, which modifies adds heat and moisture to the medical air so it matches the patient’s body temperature. Patients are given medication to relax the respiratory muscles so their breathing can be fully regulated by the machine. People with milder symptoms may be given ventilation using facemasks, nasal masks or mouthpieces which allow pressurised air or mixtures of gases to be pushed into the lungs. University College London engineers have worked with clinicians at UCLH and Mercedes Formula One to build what is known as the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device. It is being trialled at several London hospitals and if all goes well, the Mercedes-AMG-HPP group can begin building up to 1,000 of the machines per day from next week (6 April). The CPAP device has already got approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Early reports from Lombardy in northern Italy suggest about 50% of patients given CPAP have avoided the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. However, the use of CPAP machines in patients with contagious respiratory infections has raised some concern, as any small leaks around the mask could spray droplets on medical staff. Hoods, where pressurised oxygen is pumped in via a valve, are also being commonly used to treat Covid-19 patients, partly because they reduce the risk of airborne transmission of the virus from droplets in the breath. These are known as “non-invasive” ventilation, as no internal tubes are required. However, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) would generally put patients suffering acute respiratory distress on mechanical ventilation quickly, to ensure oxygen levels in the body stay normal. Dr Shondipon Laha, from the Intensive Care Society, told the BBC most patients with Covid-19 would not need a mechanical ventilator and could be treated at home or with supplementary oxygen. But although there were risks when using ventilators, such as not knowing who would suffer long-term effects, he said, sometimes a ventilator was “the only way of getting oxygen into the patient”. Another issue, Dr Laha explained, was having enough of the right staff in place to manage all the ventilators expected to be needed. “A ventilator is a complex beast – it can cause a patient trauma if not set up properly,” he said. “The technical aspects are challenging. People have knowledge on varying types of ventilator in other specialities, but may need support in using them in intensive care if they’re unfamiliar with this.” How many ventilators does the UK have – and how many might we need? The NHS is reported to have just 8,175 ventilators – and is urgently seeking to acquire more. The government believes up to 30,000 could be needed at the peak of the pandemic – and has placed an order for 10,000 newly-designed machines from technology firm Dyson. Dyson insiders have told the BBC they have a working prototype, designed and built from scratch, which has been tested on humans and is “ready to go”. A further order of 5,000 machines could come from Luton-based Smiths group, possibly its portable ParaPac model. Another British company, Gtech, has designed a prototype which can run entirely off the hospital oxygen supply without the need of a power source. A number of other companies – including a consortium of Airbus, Meggit and GKN – are also lining up to supply further ventilators based on existing designs. Meanwhile, a team of scientists and engineers from Oxford University and King’s College London has unveiled its own low-cost design, which it says could be quickly put into production. And researchers at the University of East Anglia are looking at using 3D printing to quickly produce ventilator parts, as well as masks and other essential equipment.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/what-are-ventilators-and-why-are-they-important.html

Health

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An instrument is a device that measures a physical quantity such as Flow, Temperature, Level, Pressure, Distance and Angle. Instruments may be as simple as direct reading thermometer or may be complex multi-variable process analyzers. Instruments are often part of a control system in refineries, factories, and vehicles. The control of processes is one of the main branches of applied instrumentation. Instrumentation can also refer to handheld devices that measure some desired variable. Diverse handheld instrumentation is common in laboratories, but can be found in the household as well. For example, a smoke detector is a common instrument found in most western homes. Instruments attached to a control system may provide signals used to operate solenoids, valves, regulators, circuit breakers or relays. These devices control a desired output variable, and provide either remote or automated control capabilities. These are often referred to as final control elements when controlled remotely or by a control systems. A Transmitter is a device that produces an output signal, often in the form of a 4 - 20 mA electrical current signal, although many other options using voltage, frequency, pressure are possible. This signal can be used for informational purposes, or it can be sent to a PLC, DCS, SCADA,ESD/SIS,FGS system, or other type of computerized controller, where it can be interpreted into readable values and used to control other devices and processes in the system. A valve is a device for Controlling the passage of fluid/Pressure/Level through a Pipe or duct/Tank,especially an automatic device allowing movement in one direction.Two type of valve's are used in industries, Control instrumentation plays a significant role in both gathering information from the field and changing the field parameters, and as such are a key part of control loops. - Field Instruments Introduction - Filed Instruments Overview - Field Instruments Types - Pressure Transmitters Configuration - Flow Transmitters Configuration - Temperature Transmitters Configuration - Level Transmitters Configuration - Control Valve Configuration - On/Off Valve Configuration - Conventional type Transmitter - Wireless Transmitters Overview - Field Instruments Selection - Wireless Transmitters Configuration - Filed Instruments Calibrations - Filed Instruments range changing - 375 Filed Communicator Overview - 375 Filed Communicator Configuration - I/O List generation from Field Instruments - Filed instruments integrated with DCS/PLC systems - Field Instruments identify from P&ID diagrams - HART Type Transmitters and Control Valves - Field bus type Transmitters and Control Valves - Filed Instruments calibration from DCS and Marshaling panel - 2-Wire / 3-Wire Transmitter overview and Configuration - ESD/SIS valve Overview

http://www.excelautomationsolutions.com/instruments-training

Education

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Nigeria has sponsored or co-sponsored six satellites, of which only two are currently operational. One of them is functioning even though it has passed its expiry date, according to the director general of the National Space Research and Development Agency. The Conversation’s West Africa regional editor, Adejuwon Soyinka, asks space policy researcher Samuel Oyewole to explain what this means for the country. What does it mean for a satellite to run out of fuel or expire? A satellite can be said to have expired by design or operation. Like every other machine, satellites are designed with a projected expiry date or calculated life expectancy. Beyond this period the operational survival is not guaranteed by the manufacturer. The ability to keep functioning beyond the set date is driven by a combination of factors. These include the quality of its design, development and maintenance as well as a favourable host environment. A satellite can survive as long as it is supported by its hardware and software, control system and hosting orbit. Operationally, a satellite expires when any of its critical components suffers enough damage or is degraded to the point of causing system or major sub-system failure. A satellite is made up of different components. These include a protective box, on-board computer for receiving, processing and transmitting signals, as well as solar array panels, batteries and fuel for energy. Any problem with any of these can translate to the operational end of a satellite. Unlike cars or aircraft, satellites don’t really need fuel for their daily orbital operation. They mostly rely on solar powered batteries. However, the fuel is relevant in supporting satellites to maintain orbital trajectory and conduct manoeuvres when required. Hence, when a satellite runs out of power it is usually switched off to avoid collision. Beyond these, an accident or an attack can end the operational life expectancy of a satellite. Space is a very harsh environment, which is becoming increasingly congested. For example, a satellite can be damaged or destroyed by: harsh space weather, including radiation and solar flare; collision with another satellite and space debris, such as natural meteoroids (rocks and metallic objects) and human-made junk in orbit; and attacks from anti-satellite weapons, including missiles, weaponised satellites, lasers and hacking. This means it’s important that satellites are designed to the highest engineering quality. What’s the status of the satellite? Nigeria currently has a communication satellite, NigComSat-1R, and an Earth observation satellite, NigeriaSat-2, in operation. The communication satellite was designed to last for 15 years (2011-2026) in orbit. The Earth observation satellite is surviving beyond projected life expectancy of seven years (2011-2018). This is a testament to the quality of its engineering, thanks to its manufacturer, the UK based Surrey Satellite Technology Limited. A favourable host environment would also be a factor. The director general of the National Space Research and Development Agency said recently that the satellite was surviving by grace. It’s possible he was referring to the operation endurance of NigeriaSat-2. Nevertheless, some of the critical components of the satellite may not endure much longer. This would mean it would stop operating. What are the implications if it stops operating? If NigeriaSat-2 goes down without replacement, it will affect Nigeria’s capacity to access space support for development and security. For example, the satellite provides information on security, agriculture and transportation. Aside from satellite generated data, the Nigerian government has limited capacity to determine things like agricultural and construction activities across the country in almost real time. In addition, information from satellite is vital for disaster management – it enables early warnings to be issued – and national security policy. By having its own satellite, Nigeria doesn’t need to rely on basic satellite data from other countries. Without this satellite – or a replacement – Nigeria would be forced to rely on its archive or foreign government and private companies to supply the relevant data. This isn’t optimal. Firstly, information from the archives would be old. Secondly, relying on foreign government or information from private companies carries risks. What can be done to manage the loss of the satellite? The loss of any satellite is inevitable. So timely investment in a replacement is critical. The government has started moving in this direction. The approved 2021 budget has limited provision for manufacturing and launching NigeriaSat-3 and NigeriaSar-1. It also includes plan for training 60 engineers, among other things. But this should have been done much earlier. What’s your assessment of Nigeria’s investment in satellite research and development? Nigeria has made huge investments in this area. More than $1 billion has been set aside for this purpose over the last two decades. This included about $450 million spent on two communication satellites and four Earth observatory or research satellites. But investment still falls short of what is required. For example, the available satellites aren’t enough to ensure a national constellation that can provide adequate and reliable coverage for communication or Earth observatory services. More importantly, Nigeria hasn’t invested in satellite manufacturing capability. It has trained many engineers. But it lacks required infrastructure to support building satellites. Existing satellites were designed and built in the UK, China and Japan. Nigeria has got considerable benefit from its satellites, which have produced thousands of relevant images for development and security. And it has developed centres across the country to process and convert satellite data to what is easily consumable. These have been used to support agriculture, disaster management, education and military campaigns. The communication satellite has also been useful in supporting civil, commercial and military demands. With the Earth observation satellite, it has contributed to the command and control via computers, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance of the Nigerian military. Some federal ministries and agencies, as well as government and private-owned corporations, have equally benefited from their partnership with the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited. But there are still concerns that Nigeria’s space capabilities are underutilised. For example, data that is available from the Nigerian Earth observation satellites isn’t used in town planning in most state and local governments. Similar concern is evident in the management of forest reserves. These have become sanctuaries for criminals. Benefits from investment in satellite R&D are closely connected to the capacity of public institutions and the private sector to access, adopt and use space technologies to advance development and security in the country.

https://theconversation.com/one-of-nigerias-satellites-is-on-its-last-legs-why-this-is-worrying-165068

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It is said that national hero, The Right Excellent Bussa, also known as Busso or Bussoe, commanded some 400 freedom fighters against troops of the First West India Regiment during the rebellion of 1816. He was killed in battle but his troops continued to fight until they were overcome by superior firepower. Bussa was born a free man in West Africa of possible Igbo descent and was captured by African merchants, sold to European slave traders, and transported to Barbados in the late 18th century as a slave. Not much is known about him and there are no earlier records of him, and virtually no biographical information about Bussa is available. Records show a slave named “Bussa” who worked as a ranger (a head officer among the slaves) on “Bayley’s Plantation” in the parish of Saint Philip around the time of the rebellion. This position would have given Bussa more freedom of movement than the average slave and would have made it easier for him to plan and coordinate the rebellion. Bussa’s rebellion was the largest slave revolt in Barbadian history and was the first of three mass slave rebellions in the British West Indies that shook public faith in slavery. The rebellion failed but its influence was significant to the future of Barbados and by extension the Caribbean. It was followed by the Demerara rebellion of 1823 and by the Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica in 1831–1832; these are often referred to as the “late slave rebellions”. Bussa remains a popular figure in Barbados. In 1985, 169 years after his rebellion, the Emancipation Statue, created by Karl Broodhagen, was unveiled in Haggatt Hall, in the parish of St. Michael. Many Barbadians attributed the statue to Bussa and nicknamed it “Bussa’s Statue”. In 1998, the Parliament of Barbados named Bussa as one of the eleven national heroes of Barbados.

https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/barbados-independence/bussa-leader-of-the-rebellion/

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Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful, burning skin rash. The rash can appear red, dark pink, dark brown, or purplish, depending on your skin tone and typically occurs on one side of the body. Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Even after the chickenpox infection is over, the virus remains dormant or inactive in your nervous system for years before reactivating as shingles. Shingles is also referred to as herpes zoster. This type of viral infection is characterized by a red skin rash that can cause pain and burning. Shingles usually appears as a stripe of blisters on one side of the body, typically on the torso, neck, or face. Most cases of shingles clear up within 3 to 5 weeks. According to the Keep reading to learn more about shingles, including symptoms, treatments, and complications. The first symptoms of shingles are usually pain and burning, according to the - rash that appears on one side of the body, such as on the chest, abdomen, back, or face - a rash on your face and ears - fluid-filled blisters that break easily - burning sensation Some people with shingles experience symptoms beyond pain and rash. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, these symptoms may include: - pain or rash that involves an eye, which should be treated immediately to avoid permanent eye damage - loss of hearing or intense pain in one ear, dizziness, or loss of taste on your tongue, which can be symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome and also require immediate treatment - bacterial infection characterized by skin that’s red, swollen, or warm to the touch Shingles on your face Shingles usually occurs on one side of your back or chest, but you can also get a rash on one side of your face. - loss of hearing - issues with your balance - weakness in your facial muscles Shingles inside your mouth can be very painful. It may be difficult to eat and may affect your sense of taste. A shingles rash on your scalp can cause sensitivity when you comb or brush your hair. Without treatment, shingles on the scalp can lead to permanent bald patches. Shingles of the eye For some people, shingles occurs in and around the eye. This is referred to as ophthalmic herpes zoster or herpes zoster ophthalmicus. A blistering rash may appear on your eyelids, forehead, and sometimes the tip or side of your nose. You may experience symptoms like: After the rash disappears, you may still have pain in your eye due to nerve damage. The pain eventually gets better for most people. Without treatment, shingles of the eye can lead to serious problems, including long-term vision loss and permanent scarring due to swelling of the cornea Seek urgent careIf you suspect you have shingles in and around your eye, contact a doctor right away. Shingles on your back While shingles rashes usually develop around one side of your waistline, a stripe of blisters may appear along one side of your back or lower back. Shingles on your buttocks You can get a shingles rash on your buttocks. Shingles usually only affects one side of your body, so you may have a rash on one buttock but not the other. As with other areas of the body, shingles on your buttocks may cause initial symptoms like tingling, itching, or pain. After a few days, a red rash or blisters may develop. Some people experience pain but don’t develop a rash. According to the NIA, most shingles cases last from - feel numb Shingles usually develops on one side of your body, often on your waist, back, or chest. Within about 5 days, you may see a red rash in that area. Small groups of oozing, fluid-filled blisters may appear a few days later in the same area. You may experience flu-like symptoms such as a fever, headache, or fatigue. During the next 10 days or so, the blisters will dry up and form scabs. The scabs will clear after a couple of weeks. After the scabs clear, some people continue to experience pain. This is called postherpetic neuralgia. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. If you’ve already had chickenpox, you can develop shingles when this virus reactivates in your body. The reason why shingles develop in some people but not others is unclear. It’s more common in older adults because of lower immunity to infections. One vaccine called Shingrix is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent shingles. The While side effects such as allergic reactions are possible from the vaccine, they are rare. And the CDC has no documented cases of the varicella-zoster virus being transmitted from people who were vaccinated. Shingles can occur in anyone who has had chickenpox. However, certain factors put people at an increased risk of developing shingles. According to the - being 60 years or older - having conditions that weaken your immune system, such as HIV or cancer - having had chemotherapy or radiation treatment - taking medications that weaken your immune system, such as steroids or medications given after an organ transplant - having had shingles before According to the National Health Service, shingles is not contagious. But the varicella-zoster virus that causes it can be spread to another person who hasn’t had chickenpox, and they could develop chickenpox. You can’t get shingles from someone with shingles, but you can get chickenpox. The varicella-zoster virus is spread when someone comes into contact with an oozing blister. It’s not contagious if the blisters are covered or have formed scabs. To prevent the varicella-zoster virus from spreading if you have shingles, be sure to keep the rash clean and covered. Do not touch the blisters, and make sure to wash your hands often. Avoid being around at-risk people, such as people who are pregnant or have weak immune systems. It’s important to visit your doctor as soon as possible if you suspect you have shingles, especially if you’re somebody at an increased risk of developing it. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends visiting a dermatologist or other healthcare professional within 3 days to prevent long-term complications. Shingles typically clears up within a few weeks and does not commonly recur. If your symptoms have not lessened within 10 days, contact a doctor for a follow-up and reevaluation. Doctors usually diagnose shingles by examining your rashes and blisters. They also ask questions about your medical history. In rare instances, your doctor may need to test a sample of your skin or the fluid from your blisters. This involves using a sterile swab to collect a sample of tissue or fluid. Samples are then sent to a medical laboratory to confirm the presence of the virus. There’s no cure for shingles, but treating it as soon as possible can help prevent complications and speed up your recovery. Ideally, you should receive treatment within 72 hours of developing symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe medications to ease symptoms and shorten the length of the infection. The medications prescribed to treat shingles vary, but may include the following: Type | Purpose | Drug frequency | Method | antiviral medications, including acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir | to reduce pain and speed recovery | 2 to 5 times daily, as prescribed by your doctor | oral | anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen | to ease pain and swelling | every 6 to 8 hours | oral | narcotic medications or pain relievers | to reduce pain | likely to be prescribed once or twice daily | oral | anticonvulsants or tricyclic antidepressants | to treat prolonged pain | once or twice daily | oral | antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) | to treat itching | every 8 hours | oral | numbing creams, gels, or patches, such as lidocaine | to reduce pain | applied as needed | topical | capsaicin (Zostrix) | to help reduce the risk of a nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia, which occurs after recovery from shingles | applied as needed | topical | - taking cool baths or showers to clean and soothe your skin - applying wet cold compresses to the rash to reduce pain and itching - applying calamine lotion or making a paste with water and baking soda or cornstarch to reduce itching - eating foods with vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and vitamin E - taking L-lysine supplements to strengthen your immune system The immunization doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t get chickenpox, but it does prevent it in 9 out of 10 people who get the vaccine. Adults who are There is one shingles vaccine available, Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine). The While shingles can be painful and bothersome on its own, it’s important to monitor your symptoms for potential complications: - Eye damage can occur if you have a rash or blister too close to your eye. The cornea is particularly vulnerable. - Bacterial skin infections can easily occur from open blisters and can be severe. - Pneumonia is possible. - Ramsay Hunt syndrome can occur if shingles affects the nerves in your head and can result in partial facial paralysis or hearing loss if untreated. If treated within 72 hours, most people make a full recovery. - Brain or spinal cord inflammation, such as encephalitis or meningitis, is possible. These complications are serious and life threatening. Shingles is particularly common in older adults. The NIA says that of the 1 in 3 people who get shingles in their lifetime, Older adults with shingles are more likely to experience complications than the general population, including more extensive rashes and bacterial infections from open blisters. They’re also more vulnerable to both pneumonia and brain inflammation, so it’s important to visit a doctor early on for antiviral treatment. While getting shingles during pregnancy is unusual, the NHS says it is possible. If you come into contact with someone who has chickenpox or an active shingles infection, you can develop chickenpox if you have not been vaccinated or if you have never had it before. Depending on what trimester you’re in, having chickenpox during pregnancy can result in congenital anomalies. Getting a chickenpox vaccine before pregnancy can be an important step in protecting your child. Shingles is unlikely to cause complications during pregnancy, but it can still be unpleasant. Contact your doctor right away if you develop a rash during pregnancy. Antiviral medications that treat shingles can be used safely during your pregnancy. Antihistamines can also help reduce itching, and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can reduce pain. Speak with your doctor before taking any medication to treat shingles during pregnancy. Here’s a look at some of the common questions people have about shingles. What usually triggers shingles? Shingles develop when something triggers the dormant varicella zoster. This is usually because something compromises your immune system. The trigger isn’t always known, but the virus is more common among elderly adults due to their decreased immunity. Other possible causes include stress, cancer treatment, viruses like HIV, organ transplants, taking immunosuppressive medications, or other medical reasons that reduce your immunity. What are the first signs of shingles? The first signs of shingles are usually pain and burning on one half of your body in the affected skin area. Is shingles airborne? The varicella-zoster virus that causes both chickenpox and shingles is airborne. It can spread if someone with shingles or chickenpox coughs or sneezes near you or shares your drinking glass or eating utensils. You can also get it if you come in contact with a chickenpox or shingles rash, by touching something in contact with contaminated hands, or by inhaling particles from the blisters. If you contract the virus and you haven’t had chickenpox, you will develop chickenpox. You can only get shingles if you’ve already had chickenpox and the virus is already inside your body. Is shingles painful? Some people with shingles only experience mild symptoms, such as tingling or itchy skin. For others, it can be very painful. Even a gentle breeze can cause pain. Some people experience intense pain without developing a rash. The pain from shingles usually occurs in the nerves of the: - lower back To help relieve the pain, a doctor may prescribe medications such as antivirals or anti-inflammatory medications. A 2017 animal study found that shingles pain may be due to our immune mechanisms changing how our sensory neurons work after being triggered by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. Can you get shingles more than once? Although possible, it’s rare to experience shingles more than once. In a The researchers found that experiencing shingles that lasted more than 30 days significantly increased the risk of reoccurrence. Other risk factors were: - being 51 to 70 years old - having shingles lasting longer than 90 days - being female - having a blood cancer, an autoimmune disease, high blood pressure, or dyslipidemia (high “bad” cholesterol or low “good” cholesterol) Can the Shingrix vaccine cause shingles? No, the Shingrix vaccine can’t cause shingles. According to the Immunization Action Coalition, the Shingrix vaccine only contains a small amount of the herpes zoster virus and doesn’t contain a live virus. The CDC says that about What is the difference between shingles and hives? If you have shingles, a condition that’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus, you will usually have an itchy or painful red rash with liquid-filled blisters on one side of your body. You can only develop shingles if you’ve previously had chickenpox. Shingles is an infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox: the varicella-zoster virus. Once this virus infects someone, it remains dormant in their nervous system for a long period of time before reactivating as shingles. This type of viral infection is referred to as herpes zoster or shingles. It is marked by a red, painful rash with burning sensations. The rash can often appear in stripes on either side of the body, usually on the torso, neck, or face.

https://www.healthline.com/health/shingles

Health

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Seat belt entanglement is one of the 5 Ways Kids Can Get Hurt When Inside A Car. As we’ve stated before, kids easily get bored and will always reach out to the nearest thing to them to play with. A child within reach of a seat belt may become entangled if he or she pulls the seat belt all the way out and wraps the belt around his or her head, neck, or waist. In some cases, this resulted to very serious injuries on kids. Seat belt entanglement can happen if you do not properly restrain your child, for example, if you let the child lie down or sleep on the vehicle seat instead of being properly restrained. Older children who are no longer in a car seat can become entangled by pulling a seat belt all the way out of the retractor or by playing with an unused seat belt. Below are ways to prevent kids from being entangled by seat belts 1. Do not let children play in or around cars. 2. Always ensure children are properly restrained. 3. Teach children that seat belts are not toys. 4. If a child has an unused seat belt within reach, buckle unused seat belts. 5. Never leave your children alone in or around a vehicle for any reason. Seat belt entanglement can happen in the blink of an eye.

https://autojosh.com/seat-belt-entanglement-kids-car/

Car Talk

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Unlike a plastic globe of Earth, the real planet Earth isn’t perfectly round and doesn’t spin smoothly. The imaginary line around which Earth spins – passing through the North and South Poles – is called its spin axis. Scientists have known for a long time that Earth’s spin axis drifts and wobbles. Measurements over the 20th century show that Earth’s spin axis drifts by about 4 inches (10 cm) per year. Over the course of a century, that’s more than 11 yards (10 meters). This week (September 19, 2018), NASA scientists announced they’ve used observational and model-based data spanning the 20th century in order to identify – for the first time – three processes primarily responsible for this drift. The three processes are mass loss due to melting ice (mostly in Greenland), the lifting of land masses as glaciers have melted since the last ice age (aka glacial rebound), and the slow creeping motion of rocky material in Earth’s interior mantle, caused by convection currents carrying heat from our planet’s interior to its surface (this third process is called mantle convection). Scientists call the drift of Earth’s spin-axis its polar motion. Surendra Adhikari of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California is first author on the new paper describing the causes for the drift. He said: The traditional explanation is that one process, glacial rebound, is responsible for this motion of Earth’s spin axis. But recently, many researchers have speculated that other processes could have potentially large effects on it as well. We assembled models for a suite of processes that are thought to be important for driving the motion of the spin axis. We identified not one but three sets of processes that are crucial – and melting of the global cryosphere (especially Greenland) over the course of the 20th century is one of them. His team’s statement said: In general, the redistribution of mass on and within Earth – like changes to land, ice sheets, oceans and mantle flow – affects the planet’s rotation. As temperatures increased throughout the 20th century, Greenland’s ice mass decreased. In fact, a total of about 7,500 gigatons – the weight of more than 20 million Empire State Buildings – of Greenland’s ice melted into the ocean during this time period. This makes Greenland one of the top contributors of mass being transferred to the oceans, causing sea level to rise and, consequently, a drift in Earth’s spin axis. While ice melt is occurring in other places (like Antarctica), Greenland’s location makes it a more significant contributor to polar motion. Coauthor Erik Ivins, also of JPL, explained: There is a geometrical effect that if you have a mass that is 45 degrees from the North Pole — which Greenland is — or from the South Pole (like Patagonian glaciers), it will have a bigger impact on shifting Earth’s spin axis than a mass that is right near the Pole. Previous studies identified glacial rebound as the key contributor to long-term polar motion. In the new study, which relied heavily on a statistical analysis of such rebound, scientists figured out that glacial rebound is likely to be responsible for only about a third of the polar drift in the 20th century. Bottom line: Scientists thought the drift in Earth’s spin axis was primarily due to the lifting of land masses as ice has melted since the last ice age. A new study shows this mechanism can account for only a third of Earth’s spin axis drift, and names two other causes as well.

http://earthsky.org/earth/earth-spin-axis-drift-polar-motion-3-processes

Politics

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We are thrilled to share the results of our latest research endeavor. The objective of this survey was to gauge users’ awareness … Privacy Among Children The Privacy of Children and the Laws That Apply Thereto The safety of one’s information and identity is becoming an increasingly pressing issue in today’s digital environment, particularly with reference to young people. This raises the question- What is Children’s Privacy Law? As a growing number of young people utilize digital technology and the internet, the significance of instituting stringent privacy measures is becoming increasingly important. In this research, we will investigate the significance of preserving the privacy of children, how the laws now operate, and the steps that may be taken to make them even more stringent. The Need That Children Have for Their Own Personal Space Children, in particular, stand to gain a great deal from having their right to privacy protected because of the positive effects it has on the development of their feeling of independence and sense of who they are. Developing a sense of identity, establishing boundaries, and making new acquaintances all need young people to spend time alone. They need settings that protect their privacy for reasons of safety both online and offline. Children gain from having more privacy because it inspires them to develop their independence, responsibility, and sense of safety as people. When children are allowed the freedom to be themselves, it fosters healthy relationships with their parents and other caregivers. Children want an environment in which they may freely express who they are without the fear of being mocked or punished. For this reason, it is of the utmost importance that parents and other caregivers protect and defend the right to privacy of their children. The Existing Private Information Act Children’s Garden as a Landscape In recent years, a number of countries have introduced legislation to protect the online privacy of children and young people. These laws intend to ensure that corporations and other organizations who collect data on kids do so in an honest and open manner by requiring them to comply with certain ethical standards. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is the primary piece of federal legislation in the United States that governs the collection of personally identifiable information from children who have not yet reached the age of 13. Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), businesses are required to obtain parental consent before collecting personally identifiable information from children, and they must also provide parents the option to review the information and delete it if necessary. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union lays out stringent criteria for safeguarding the private data of persons, particularly the data of children, and it does so in a comprehensive manner. According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), organizations are required to get the consent of the parents of anybody less than 16 years old before collecting data on that person. In addition, businesses are required to provide parents access to the information collected about their children and the opportunity to have such information deleted. Concerns Regarding the Children’s Right to Privacy Protection Honoring the developing sense of agency and sense of Privacy Among Children may be accomplished through the protection of their right to privacy. Child privacy laws are a useful beginning step in protecting the personal information of children when they are using the internet; nevertheless, these rules need to be periodically updated and improved in order to keep up with the rapid changes that are occurring in technology. Both children and their parents need to be made aware of the potential risks associated with disclosing personal information online, as well as the preventative steps that may be taken to maintain their privacy. This must be accomplished through increased educational and awareness-raising efforts. If everyone contributes a little bit, we can make the internet a safer and more kid-friendly place to be. Checkout Other Reports As the privacy landscape continues to evolve dynamically and the instances of non-compliance constantly increases, enterprises worldwide are witnessing record-breaking fines under …

https://tsaaro.com/reports/privacy-among-children/

Education

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What is a cerebrovascular accident? Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) commonly referred to as stroke occurs when blood flow to a section of your brain is stopped either by a blockage or the rupture of a blood vessel. There are important signs of a stroke that you have to be careful of and watch out for. Endeavour to seek medical attention immediately that you or anybody round you might be having a stroke. The more quickly you get treatment, the better the prognosis, as a stroke left untreated for too long can result in permanent brain damage. Types of cerebrovascular accident There are two major types of cerebrovascular accident, or stroke: an ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage while a hemorrhagic stroke is as a result of the rupture of a blood vessel. Both types of stroke deprive part of the brain of blood and oxygen, leading to brain cells death. An ischemic stroke is most common and happens when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel and stops blood and oxygen from reaching to a part of the brain. There are two ways this can occur. One is an embolic stroke, which takes place when a clot forms somewhere else in your body and gets lodged in a blood vessel in the brain. The other way is a thrombotic stroke, which happens when the clot forms in a blood vessel inside the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel ruptures, or hemorrhages, and then prevents blood from getting to a part of the brain. The hemorrhage can occur in any blood vessel in the brain, or it might also occur in the membrane surrounding the brain. Symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident The quicker you can get a diagnosis and medication for a stroke, the better your prognosis will be. For this reason, it’s vital to recognize and understand the symptoms of a stroke. Stroke symptoms include: loss of stability and coordination trouble with speaking or understanding others who are speaking numbness or paralysis in the face, leg, or arm, most likely on only one side of the body blurred or darkened vision an unexpected headache, especially when accompanied with nausea, vomiting, or dizziness The symptoms of a stroke can fluctuate depending on the person and where in the brain it has happened. Symptoms usually show up suddenly, even if they’re not very severe, and they can become worse with time. Remembering the acronym “FAST” helps individuals recognize the most regular symptoms of stroke: Face: Does one side of the face droop? Arm: If an individual holds each arm out, does one drift downward? Speech: Is their speech odd or slurred? Time: It’s time to call emergency number and get to the hospital if any of these signs are present. Diagnosis of a cerebrovascular accident Healthcare providers have a variety of tools to determine if you’ve had a stroke. Your healthcare provider will administer a full physical examination, where they’ll check your strength, reflexes, vision, speech, and senses. They’ll also check for a specific sound in the blood vessels of your neck. This sound, which is known as bruit, shows abnormal blood flow. Finally, your blood pressure will be checked, which may be high if you’ve had a stroke. Your doctor may also carry out diagnostic tests to find out the cause of the stroke and pinpoint its location. These assessments may also include one or more of the following: Blood Tests: Your doctor may want to test your blood for clotting time, blood sugar levels, or infection. These can all affect the possibility and progression of a stroke. Angiogram: An angiogram, that involves adding a dye to your blood and taking an X-ray of your head, can help your doctor discover the blocked or hemorrhaged blood vessel. Carotid Ultrasound: This test makes use of sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in your neck. This test can help your doctor determine if there’s unusual blood flow toward your brain. CT Scan: A CT scan is often performed immediately after symptoms of a stroke develop. The test can assist your provider find problem areas and other problems that may be associated with stroke. MRI Scan: An MRI can provide a more indepth picture of the brain compared to CT scan. It’s extra sensitive than a CT scan in being able to detect a stroke. Echocardiogram: This imaging approach uses sound waves to create a picture of your heart. It can assist your provider find the source of blood clots. Electrocardiogram (EKG): This is an electrical tracing of the heart. This will assist your healthcare provider determine if an abnormal heart rhythm is the reason of a stroke. Treatment for a cerebrovascular accident Treatment for stroke relies on the type of stroke you’ve had. The purpose of treatment for ischemic stroke, for instance, is to fix the blood flow. Treatments for hemorrhagic stroke are targeted at controlling the bleeding. Ischemic stroke treatment To treat an ischemic stroke, you would be given a clot-dissolving drug or a blood thinner. You may also be given aspirin to prevent another stroke. Emergency medication for this type of stroke may include injecting medicine into the brain or getting rid of a blockage with a procedure. Hemorrhagic stroke treatment For a hemorrhagic stroke, you may be given a drug that reduces pressure in your brain caused by the bleeding. If the bleeding is severe, you might also need surgical treatment to cast off extra blood. There’s also a possibility that you will need surgery to restore the ruptured blood vessel. Prevention of a cerebrovascular accident There are lots of risk factor for having a stroke, which includes diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension (high blood pressure). Correspondingly, there are many measures that can assist in preventing stroke. Preventive measures for stroke are close to the actions that you would take to assist prevent heart disease. Here are a few approaches to lower your risk: Maintain normal blood pressure. Reduce saturated fats and cholesterol intake. Refrain from smoking, and drink alcohol in proportion. Maintain a moderate weight. Get frequent exercise. Eat more of vegetables and fruits. Your healthcare provider may prescribe drugs for preventing stroke if they know you’re at risk. Possible preventive treatment for stroke includes drugs that thin the blood and stop clot formation. The information provided herein is for patient general knowledge only and should not be used during any medical emergency, for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Duplication for personal and commercial use must be authorized in writing by Surjen.com.

https://www.surjen.com/blog-details/stroke-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention

Health

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Head lice are common parasites, especially among school-aged children. These tiny insects can cause discomfort and itching as they move across the scalp. Understanding how fast can head lice crawl can help in preventing and managing lice infestations effectively. This article provides an overview of the crawling speed of lice, their movement patterns, and the factors that influence their mobility. What Are Lice? Lice are small, wingless insects that live on the human scalp. They feed on human blood and are known for causing itching and irritation. There are three stages in the life cycle of a louse: the egg (also known as a nit), the nymph, and the adult. Characteristics of Lice - Size: Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed. - Color: They are usually grayish-white or tan. - Life Span: Lice can live for about 30 days on a person’s head. How Fast Can Head Lice Crawl? Lice do not fly or jump; they only crawl. The speed at which lice crawl varies, but they are relatively fast, especially considering their small size. Speed of Lice Movement - Average Speed: Lice can crawl approximately 9 inches per minute. - Factors Influencing Speed: Their speed can be influenced by the warmth of the scalp and the presence of hair oils, which can make movement easier. Comparison with Other Insects Comparatively, lice crawl slower than some other common insects. For example, ants can travel much faster relative to their size. However, the speed of lice is sufficient for them to transfer between contacts quickly, especially in close conditions like school environments. How Do Lice Transfer Between People? Lice primarily move between hosts through direct head-to-head contact. They can also transfer indirectly through shared items like hats, brushes, and towels, although this is less common. - Primary Method: Direct head-to-head contact is the most common way lice spread from one person to another. - School Environment: Children playing, hugging, or participating in sports can lead to the spread of lice. - Sharing Personal Items: Items like combs, hats, and scarves can also be vehicles for lice transfer if used by multiple individuals. Preventing and Managing Lice Infestations Understanding the mobility of lice can aid in their prevention and management. Here are some tips: - Check Regularly: Regular checks using a fine-toothed comb can help detect lice early before they spread widely. Maintaining Personal Hygiene - Avoid Sharing: Teach children not to share personal items that touch the head. Treatment Options for Lice Treating lice promptly and effectively is crucial to prevent their spread and the discomfort they cause. Here are several common and effective treatment methods. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Treatments - Permethrin Lotion: This is a common first-line treatment. It’s applied to the scalp and left in place for a specified period before being washed off. - Pyrethrin-Based Products: These products, often combined with piperonyl butoxide, are used similarly to permethrin and are effective against live lice. - Ivermectin: This medication is taken orally and can kill lice at various stages of their life cycle. - Malathion Lotion: Applied to the hair, this strong medication is capable of killing lice and some eggs. Natural and Home Remedies While many parents are interested in natural remedies for lice, it’s important to note that their effectiveness can vary and isn’t always supported by scientific research. - Tea Tree Oil: Some studies suggest that tea tree oil can kill lice due to its natural pesticidal properties. - Lavender Oil: Often used in combination with tea tree oil, lavender may help to repel lice. - Manual Removal: Using a fine-toothed nit comb, lice and eggs can be manually removed by combing the hair while it is wet with conditioner. Tips for Lice Prevention Prevention is always better than treatment when it comes to lice. Here are several strategies to help prevent lice infestations. Avoid Head-to-Head Contact - Keep Distance: Teach children to avoid direct head-to-head contact during play and other activities. Do Not Share Personal Items - Personal Hygiene: Ensure that items such as hats, scarves, and hair brushes are not shared among friends or family members. Regular Hair Checks - Routine Screening: Conduct regular checks with a nit comb, especially after your child has interacted with others in close settings like school. - Understanding Lice: - Small, wingless insects that live on the human scalp. - Cause itching and discomfort by feeding on human blood. - Crawling Speed: - Lice can crawl approximately 9 inches per minute. - Speed influenced by scalp warmth and hair oils. - Transfer Methods: - Direct Contact: Most common method, through head-to-head contact, especially in schools. - Indirect Contact: Less common, through shared items like hats, brushes, and towels. - Prevention Tips: - Regularly check for lice using a fine-toothed comb. - Avoid sharing personal items that touch the head. - Teach children to avoid head-to-head contact during play. - Non-Effective Treatment Options: - Over-the-counter treatments: Permethrin lotion, pyrethrin-based products. - Prescription medications: Ivermectin, malathion lotion. - Natural remedies: Tea tree oil, lavender oil (effectiveness varies). Understanding how fast can head lice crawl and their movement patterns helps in preventing and managing infestations. Regular screenings, proper treatments, and preventive measures are key to maintaining a lice-free environment for your children while they are at school or camp. Understanding how fast lice crawl and the ways they can spread is essential for controlling and preventing infestations and making sure you don’t get lice. By combining regular screenings, appropriate treatments, and preventive measures, you can manage lice effectively and maintain a healthy, lice-free environment. Whether using OTC treatments, prescription options, or natural remedies, it’s important to follow directions carefully and check for lice regularly to prevent reinfestation.

https://licebusters.org/about-head-lice/debunking-the-myth-can-head-lice-go-to-your-brain/How

Health

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Are we the result of a genetic accident 600 million years ago or a creative act of God about 6,000 years ago? Has “molecular time travel” revealed the answer? Many people enjoy tracing their family tree. And while genealogy has been important to people throughout recorded history, the advent of modern genetics has added a new dimension to the pursuit of our roots. We know, for instance, that modern humans have a bit of Neanderthal floating about in their DNA! But do we have a single-celled creature at the deepest root of our family tree? Now a group of evolutionary scientists claims they have resurrected ancient proteins and revealed—through the marvels of molecular time travel—the happy accident that jump-started multicellular life 600 million years ago. Our bodies are made of trillions of cells. But what holds those cells together? What keeps them so nicely organized, preventing us from dissolving into a bucket of goo? An important part of that answer is a protein complex that, during cell division, acts like a scaffold to properly orient a cell’s internal components to its surroundings. During cell division, chromosomes are organized on a “mitotic spindle.” Part of the “spindle-scaffolding” complex, a protein called Dlg, like a tiny carabiner, links the mitotic spindle to a molecular marker near the cell’s surface. Thus this important protein enables new cells to be team players, cooperative parts of the tissues to which they belong.1 University of Oregon biochemist Ken Prehoda and colleagues wanted to discover how these scaffolding proteins, which are found in many different animals,2 evolved. He believes his team has, using ancestral protein reconstruction, traced this key component in evolution’s multicellular mystery back to its molecular mother. The evolutionary story that supposedly shows how different organisms are related to each other is called phylogeny. “Understanding the historical process of protein evolution begins with a phylogeny,” Prehoda’s team writes.3 With this end in mind, the biochemists first determined the amino acid sequence of scaffolding proteins from a variety of animals. After completing this bit of observational science, they moved into the realm of historical speculation based on their evolutionary presuppositions. They created a computer-generated genealogy to connect the evolutionary dots between scaffolding proteins from various animals on the evolutionary tree of life. Then they were able to simulate how the molecular mother of them all might have looked. To be sure their hypothetical ancestral protein would still function, they synthesized the DNA sequence corresponding to its amino acid sequence and used cultured cells from a fruit fly to manufacture the protein. Upon testing, they found that the synthetic “ancestral” protein functioned just like all the spindle-scaffolding proteins thought to have descended from it. Furthermore, they found, at the base of the flagellum in a unicellular organism, a protein with a very similar structure but a somewhat different function. “It's just coincidence that the two molecules look so similar,” says Joe Thornton, also a senior author of the project and the person who pioneered the techniques for reconstructing ancient proteins through hypothetical evolutionary pathways. “But that lucky resemblance is why a simple genetic event could cause the evolution of a molecular partnership that is now essential to the biology of complex animals.”4 Prehoda and colleagues believe a single ancient mutation got the animal side of multicellular life off the ground. That unicellular creature, a choanoflagellate, uses its version of the spindle- scaffolding protein to orient itself to other choanoflagellates when forming a sponge-like colony. And because many evolutionists believe sponges were the first multicellular animals to evolve, these scientists believe the basal body protein of the choanoflagellate was the evolutionary biochemical ancestor of the spindle-scaffolding proteins found in all multicellular animals. Molecules behave the way they do because of their structure. For instance, the properties of the amino acids in a protein cause it to fold into the shape required for it to work properly. On the surface of a spindle-scaffolding protein is an amino acid sequence that binds it to the marker molecule near a cell’s surface. Prehoda’s team noticed that the amino acid sequence in this region almost matches one on an energy-transferring enzyme common to all living cells.5 The simple substitution of just one of these amino acids deactivates the enzyme but gives the molecule a binding site like that on the spindle-scaffolding protein. Therefore, Prehoda and colleagues believe a single ancient mutation got the animal side of multicellular life off the ground. “How does a protein that performs one task evolve to perform another? And how do complex systems like those that allow cells to work together in an organized way, evolve the many different proteins they require? Our work suggests that new protein functions can evolve with a very small number of mutations. In this case, only one was required,” Prehoda explains. “This mutation is one small change that dramatically altered the protein's function, allowing it to perform a completely different task. You could say that animals really like these proteins because there are now over 70 of them inside of us.”6 Thus, in the supposed transformation of an ancient enzyme into a scaffolding protein, Prehoda believes his team has discovered “a striking model for the evolution of novel molecular functions.”7 The evolutionary scientists maintain that an ancient choanoflagellate’s enzyme-coding gene was first accidentally duplicated. Then they believe a substitution mutation in the spare copy changed the enzyme’s shape. Biochemically this structural change would inhibit the enzymatic function but lock open a hinge-like region to produce a spindle-scaffolding protein. This “historical hinge substitution,”8 presumably opened the door for all sorts of multicellular possibilities. Thus a fortuitous shape-shifting event, they write, “set the stage for the easy evolution of a novel molecular complex and, in turn, a cellular function that now plays an important role in the complex biology of multicellular animals.”9 Mutations are random changes in genetic material. They may be inconsequential, or they may radically alter the structure or function of a gene’s product. We see, for instance, in sickle-cell anemia that a single mutation causes hemoglobin molecules to twist the red blood cells that carry them into a sickle shape irritating to tiny blood vessels. Mutations may destroy existing genetic information. They may even alter the way existing genetic information is expressed, as we have discussed, for instance, in “De-Regulation of an Existing Trait” and “Evolution of Snake Venom: A New Use for Old Genes?” But mutations have not been shown to create new genetic information such as that needed to produce a new kind of organism. Mutations are not the agents or engines of molecules-to-man evolution. They are not the stepping-stones to “easy evolution.” They think mutations represent stepwise changes that add up to new, increasingly complex information. Nevertheless, evolutionists typically interpret small differences between the genes of very different sorts of organisms as mutations. They think mutations represent stepwise changes that add up to new, increasingly complex information. And they therefore believe genetic differences between different kinds of organisms enable them to map their ancestral evolutionary relationships. Thornton believes that because a computer simulation can trace a path for the evolution of complexity through a series of small steps, biological organisms actually are able to evolve that way. He says, “Our experiments show how biological complexity can evolve though simple, high-probability genetic paths. Before the last common ancestor of all animals, when only single-celled organisms existed on Earth, just one tiny change in DNA sequence caused a protein to switch from its primordial role as an enzyme to a new function that became essential to organize multicellular structures.”10 Believing that the biomolecular similarities and differences between organisms are signposts documenting an evolutionary past, Thornton adds, “We hope that the approach we used—reconstructing in detail the ancient history of protein functions—can be applied to the evolution of other key cellular processes, revealing the whole picture of multicellular life evolving from single-celled ancestors.”11 But genetic differences can only be the result of mutations if they occur in organisms that actually are related to each other. And since experimental biology has never shown the genetic mechanism for how one kind of organism can actually evolve into a completely different kind of organism but only vary within each created kind, differences between the genes or proteins of different kinds of organisms cannot be the result of mutations. Here a single, critically important difference between the two proteins in view is responsible for distinctly different functions, and, thanks to this difference, each performs its function very well. One of the proteins is an energy transfer enzyme common to almost all organisms, and the other is the scaffolding type of protein found in the basal body of single-celled colonial flagellates. Things that are different are not the same, and it is only an unverifiable evolutionary worldview that interprets their sequence similarity as evidence of an ancestral evolutionary relationship through a common ancestor. This small but significant difference in amino acid sequence is best understood, rather, as the result of God’s original design. What about what ScienceDaily calls “molecular time travel”?12 Has Prehoda’s computer taken us “back in time”13 to see what an ancestral molecule looked like? Evolutionary scientists wishfully call this process “ancestral protein reconstruction” But can “resurrected proteins” reveal life’s ancient mysteries? No, they cannot. All the computer did was simulate how a sequence of mutations might theoretically produce a series of similar molecules that are present in organisms at various points on the presumptive evolutionary tree of life. But the ability to simulate something on a computer—even using a straightforward series of genuine chemical reactions—is not evidence that the simulated sequence of mutations happened in real life, much less that it could fuel the upward evolution of complexity. The millions of years of evolution “observed” through “molecular time travel” are as fictional as time travel in the science fiction television programs and books many of us enjoy. If anything, this work has shed a bit of light on a common design that God used in many kinds of animals and in man to make our multicellular existence possible. Furthermore, in their effort to discover how multicellular animals, and ultimately people, came to exist, Prehoda and colleagues think they’ve learned information that might be helpful for cancer researchers. Why? Well, cancer cells cease to function as “team players” and embark on a road of unbridled individuality and unrestrained reproduction. Thus their behavior in some ways resembles unicellular organisms more than that of multicellular ones. Cancer cells are not, however, reverting to an evolutionary past, for there is no such past. It is simply that without a properly oriented spindle to align them with each other, dividing cells can form a misshapen tumor instead of the tissue they are supposed to form. Any discovery that sheds light on the molecular processes that distinguish multicellular from unicellular organisms and govern their behavior could be a useful tool in the hands of cancer researchers. But that usefulness has absolutely nothing to do with molecules-to-man evolution. Prehoda’s team has perhaps added to our understanding of how multicellular life is possible and how it differs from unicellular life, despite some biochemical similarities. But it has not revealed how multicellular life came to exist. If anything, this work has shed a bit of light on a common design that God used in many kinds of animals and in man to make our multicellular existence possible. Remember, if you see a news story that might merit some attention, let us know about it! (Note: if the story originates from the Associated Press, FOX News, MSNBC, the New York Times, or another major national media outlet, we will most likely have already heard about it.) And thanks to all of our readers who have submitted great news tips to us. If you didn’t catch all the latest News to Know, why not take a look to see what you’ve missed?

https://answersingenesis.org/origin-of-life/pinpointing-accident-let-multicellular-life-evolve/

Religion

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Some years ago, Richard Louv made the case in his book, Last Child in the Woods, that kids were spending so little time in nature that they had “nature deficit disorder.” The consequences they suffered were dire: more stress and anxiety, higher rates of obesity and ADHD, and more. Many parents probably recognize that being outside in nature is good for their children’s health. But they may also see a tradeoff: Encouraging their kids to get outside means less time hitting the books. And less time studying must mean less academic success, right? Wrong. Remarkably, it turns out that the opposite may be true. As research has grown in this area—including my own—we’ve discovered that nature is not just good for kids’ health; it improves their ability to learn, too. Even small doses of nature can have profound benefits. The evidence for this comes from hundreds of studies, including experimental research. In one study, fifth-grade students attended school regularly at a local prairie wetlands, where science, math, and writing were taught in an integrated, experiential way as students participated in onsite research. When compared to peers attending regular schools, those who’d attended school outside had significantly stronger reading and writing skills (as measured by standardized tests) and reported feeling more excited about school because of the experience. Students at the outdoor school who’d previously had low attendance rates ended up with higher attendance, too. Other studies echo these findings. One study found that students at schools with more tree cover performed better academically—especially if they came from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Still another compared students randomly assigned to take science lessons either in a classroom or in a school garden and found outdoor lessons more effective for learning—and the more time they spent in the garden, the greater their gains. How do green space and nature help kids learn? In a surprising variety of ways, we’re discovering. Nature improves children’s psychological and physical well-being, for sure—and that can impact learning. But it also seems to affect how they attend to and engage in the classroom, how much they can concentrate, and how well they get along with teachers and peers. Here is what we know so far. Nature restores children’s attention Attention is clearly important for learning, but many kids have trouble paying attention in the classroom, whether it be because of distractions, mental fatigue, or ADHD. Luckily, spending time in nature—talking a walk in a park and even having a view of nature out the window—helps restore kids’ attention, allowing them to concentrate and perform better on cognitive tests. Nature relieves children’s stress Just like adults, children are less stressed when they have green spaces to retreat to occasionally, helping them to be more resilient. Studies have found that holding a class outdoors one day a week can significantly improve the daily cortisol patterns of students—reflecting less stress and better adaptation to stress—when compared to kids with indoor-only instruction. Also, in a study looking at children in rural environments, those with more nature nearby recovered better from stressful life events in terms of their self-worth and distress. Nature helps children develop more self-discipline Many children—particularly those with ADHD—have trouble with impulse control, which can get in the way of school learning. My colleagues and I have found that green space near kids’ homes helps them to have more self-discipline and concentrate better—especially girls. Also, parents of kids with ADHD report that when their kids participate in activities outdoors versus indoors, it reduces their ADHD symptoms. Since self-discipline and impulse control are tied to academic success, it’s perhaps no surprise that… Outdoor instruction makes students more engaged and interested Kids seem to like classes outdoors. Unfortunately, many teachers fear bringing kids outside to learn, worrying that they’ll be “bouncing off the walls” afterward and less engaged in the next (indoor) lesson. Luckily, research seems to suggest that kids are more engaged in learning not only during outdoor classes but also upon returning to their classroom afterward—even if the subject they return to is not nature-related. Time outdoors may increase physical fitness While physical fitness is important for children for many reasons, one that may not immediately come to mind is the role it plays in learning. In particular, cardiorespiratory fitness seems to support efficient cognitive processing, and kids with higher fitness levels do better academically. Though it’s not clear that nature affects physical fitness directly, it is true that the more time kids spend in nature, the better their cardiorespiratory fitness. Having access to nature may encourage children to be more physically active and keep in shape longer as they age. Nature settings may promote social connection and creativity The social and physical environment in which children learn can make a difference in their academic success. Letting kids spend time in settings with natural elements or giving them structured nature experiences can make for a calmer, socially safe, and fun learning environment. And being outdoors can also enhance peer-to-peer relationships and student/teacher relationships needed for learning, even for students who otherwise feel marginalized socially. Some argue that nature provides a rich tapestry of “loose parts”—sticks, stones, mud—that encourage pretend play and exploration, creativity and problem solving. Indeed, teachers’ and principals’ observations suggest that children’s play becomes strikingly more creative, physically active, and social in the presence of loose parts. It’s clear to me that we need to do more to bring this important resource into our schools. Architects and city planners should keep trees and green areas in and near schoolyards. And teachers and principals should incorporate lessons outdoors and use recess not as a reward for good behavior, but as a way to rejuvenate students’ minds for the next lesson. By doing so, we won’t only be benefitting our kids’ psychological well-being—though that’s reason enough! We will likely help them perform better in school, too. And, as a connection to nature breeds more care for nature, we may also be inspiring the future stewards of our natural world. Humans evolved to grow and thrive in natural environments, and research is showing the costs of indoor childhoods. It’s time to cure “nature deficit disorder” in our kids by giving “nature time”—not just studying and extracurricular time—the importance it deserves.

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_nature_helps_children_learn

Family

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Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) are the digital equivalent of physical or paper certificates (that is in electronic format). Drivers’ licenses, passports or membership cards are just some examples of physical certificates. For a certain purpose, certificates serve as proof of an individual’s identity; a driver’s license, for example, identifies someone who can legally drive in a specific country. Similarly, to prove one’s identity, access information or services on the Internet or sign certain documents digitally, a digital certificate can be presented electronically. These digital signatures are stored in a special device known as a Digital Signature Certificate. Physical documents are manually signed, and electronic documents, such as e-forms, must be digitally signed using a Digital Signature Certificate. Digital Signature Certificates are accepted by various government agencies or DSC or Digital Signature and are now a statutory requirement in various applications. The digital signature is only issued by a licensed Certifying Authority (CA). A Certifying Authority (CA) is a person who has been granted a license under Section 24 of the Indian IT Act 2000 to issue a digital signature certificate. There are three types of classes in DSC i.e; Class I, Class II and Class III Class 1 DSC Both the individual and the company use a Class 1 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). This is a basic type of certificate that is also considered the lowest type of security and is used to provide basic assurance. This certificate confirms the email ID of the user name as described in the certification authority customer database. Class 2 DSC Both Indian and foreign individuals, this certificate is issued to both individuals and DSC organizations. This certificate’s primary objective is to authenticate the signer’s details. For the purpose of e-filing with the Registrar of Companies, the director or signatory authority of the organizations uses this to (ROC). It is used in various online filling forms, online registration, filing of income taxes, etc. For an individual who wants to file, a Class 2 digital signature certificate (DSC) is required for ROC returns. MCA e-filing, Income Tax e-filing, Company registration, GST filling, IE code registration, Form 16, etc are some of the uses of Class II. Class 3 DSC For both individuals and organizations, this certificate is issued, and this is the most secure among the three. In online trading and web-based business, where a huge amount of confidential information is involved, it is fundamentally used. It is a must to have a Class 3 certificate if an individual wants to be involved in online auctions and e-tenders. Class III certificates are used in E-tendering, Patent and trademark e-filing, MCA e-filing, Customs e-filing, E-procurement, E-bidding, E-auction, etc Types of Digital Signature Certificates Signing DSC can be used for signing documents only. The most common use of signing DSC is to sign the PDF file for Tax Returns, MCA and other websites. Signing via DSC guarantees not only the signer’s integrity but also the data. It is evidence of data that is untampered and unaltered. Encryption DSC can only be used to encrypt a document which is commonly used in the tender portal to help companies encrypt and upload documents. The certificate could also be used to encrypt and send classified information. DSC encryption is suitable for highly confidential e-commerce documents, legal documentation and document sharing, and contains information that needs to be protected. Signing and Encryption For both signing and encryption, the Signing & Encryption DSC can be used. For users who need to authenticate and maintain the confidentiality of the shared information, it is convenient. Its usage involves filing the form and application of the government. There are three types of validity for digital signature certificates: - 1 Year - 2 Years - 3 Years According to the law, you can neither buy certificates with a validity of less than one year nor buy certificates with a validity of more than 3 years. Apply for Digital Signature Certificate The applicant must submit the required documents to the service provider to obtain a digital signature certificate. Depending on the type of applicant, the types of documents required for the DSC differ. To apply for Digital Signature Certificate the DSC application form must be duly filled by the applicant. Any person applying for a Digital Signature Certificate is required to complete the Certifying Authority Application Form for online submission and verification of personal details. After completing the filling of the application form the individual has to submit photo ID proof and address proof for verification. After this process, you’ll go through a video verification process where the applicant has to say his name, application number, and date of birth and show his PAN card and Aadhar card or the proof that the applicant has submitted within a span of 30 seconds. If the applicant is applying for an organization then the documents of the organization have to be submitted as well. Once the application is submitted, the Certifying Authority will authenticate and verify all the information provided to them and approve the application if all the information is correct. After the application is approved the certificate will be downloaded and stored in a special USB device (DSC) for further use. Connect with an expert team from Taxxinn who helps you to prepare documents and get the DSC now!

https://taxxinn.com/blog/how-to-apply-digital-signature-certificate-online/

Business

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As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the ability to succeed academically. Developing good study habits lays the foundation for a lifetime of learning and achievement. By instilling effective study habits early on, you can empower your child to become confident, organized, and self-disciplined learner. In this article, we will explore practical strategies and tips to assist you in helping your child develop good study habits. - Establish a Consistent Study Routine To help your child develop good study habits, one of the fundamental steps is to establish a consistent study routine. Consistency plays a important role in effective studying as it trains the mind to be focused and disciplined. By allocating a specific time each day for studying, preferably in a quiet and distraction-free environment, you can create a conducive atmosphere for learning and concentration. When your child follows a regular study routine, it becomes a natural part of their daily life. They develop a sense of responsibility towards their studies and understand the importance of dedicating time to academic pursuits. By consistently setting aside time for studying, your child’s mind becomes accustomed to the routine, making it easier for them to concentrate and retain information. Creating a consistent study routine also helps in managing time effectively. When your child knows that there is a designated time for studying, they can plan their other activities accordingly. It reduces the chances of procrastination and last-minute cramming, allowing them to allocate sufficient time for each subject or topic. Furthermore, a consistent study routine helps establish a sense of discipline. It teaches your child the value of commitment and perseverance. Over time, they develop self-discipline and learn to prioritize their studies, even when faced with distractions or competing demands. To establish a consistent study routine, involve your child in the process. Discuss and agree upon a suitable time that aligns with their energy levels and other commitments. Ensure that the designated study time is free from distractions, such as television, video games, or social media. Create a study schedule or use a planner to help your child visualize their study routine and stay organized. Remember, consistency is not about cramming for hours on end. It’s about setting realistic goals and maintaining a regular study schedule that can be sustained in the long run. Encourage breaks during study sessions to prevent mental fatigue and promote better focus. By establishing a consistent study routine, you provide your child with a solid foundation for effective learning. It instills discipline, focus, and time management skills, which are essential for academic success. As they grow accustomed to the routine, studying becomes a habit that they carry forward into higher education and beyond. - Create a Well-Organized Study Space Creating a well-organized study space is important for promoting optimal learning and concentration in children. By setting up a dedicated area that is equipped with essential supplies, free from distractions, and designed for comfort, you can greatly enhance your child’s ability to retain information and excel academically. To begin with, it is important to ensure that the study area is well-stocked with necessary supplies. This includes having an ample supply of pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, and any other materials specific to your child’s educational needs. This will prevent interruptions during study sessions and enable your child to focus on their work without having to search for necessary items. In addition to having the right supplies, it is crucial to keep the study space tidy and organized. Clutter can be distracting and hinder productivity. Encourage your child to keep their study area clean by providing storage solutions such as shelves, drawers, or organizers to keep their materials neatly arranged. This will not only create a visually appealing environment but also promote a sense of order and discipline. Distractions can significantly impact your child’s ability to concentrate. Ensure that the study space is free from potential interruptions such as toys, video games, or other electronic devices. If possible, place the study area in a quiet part of the house, away from high-traffic areas or noisy environments. This will help minimize distractions and allow your child to focus solely on their studies. Good lighting is essential for creating an optimal study environment. Natural light is ideal, so try to position the study area near a window. If natural light is limited, provide a bright desk lamp that illuminates the workspace effectively. Dim lighting can strain the eyes and lead to fatigue, so ensuring proper lighting will help your child maintain focus and prevent unnecessary eye strain. Lastly, prioritize comfort in the study space. Provide a comfortable chair and an ergonomically designed desk that supports good posture. Physical discomfort can be a major distraction and hinder your child’s ability to concentrate for extended periods. By prioritizing comfort, you create a space that promotes both physical and mental well-being, enabling your child to study more effectively. - Teach Time Management Skills Teaching your child time management skills is a valuable investment in their academic success and overall personal development. By instilling the importance of prioritization, goal setting, and effective time management, you can equip them with essential tools to navigate their studies and responsibilities more efficiently. Start by explaining the concept of prioritization to your child. Help them understand that not all tasks hold the same level of importance or urgency. Encourage them to identify and prioritize tasks based on deadlines, importance, and their own goals. This will enable them to allocate their time and energy appropriately, tackling high-priority tasks first and avoiding unnecessary stress. Setting goals is another crucial aspect of time management. Teach your child the process of setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. By breaking down long-term goals into smaller, manageable tasks, they can work towards them systematically. This approach allows for a clearer focus and a sense of accomplishment as they complete each task, boosting motivation and confidence. Help your child learn to allocate their time effectively by breaking down study sessions into manageable chunks. Encourage them to create a schedule or use a planner to allocate dedicated time slots for different subjects or tasks. By breaking their workload into smaller portions, they can avoid feeling overwhelmed and maintain better focus and productivity. It is also important to emphasize the value of taking regular breaks. Teach your child the importance of balancing work and rest. Short breaks during study sessions can help them recharge and maintain concentration. Encourage them to engage in activities they enjoy during these breaks, such as taking a walk, listening to music, or engaging in a hobby. This will help them relax and return to their work with renewed energy. Lastly, emphasize the negative consequences of procrastination and the benefits of avoiding last-minute cramming. Teach your child the importance of planning ahead, meeting deadlines, and avoiding the stress and subpar performance associated with cramming. By developing a sense of responsibility and discipline in managing their time, they will be better equipped to stay on top of their academic commitments. - Encourage Active Learning Encouraging active learning techniques in your child’s study routine can have a profound impact on their understanding and retention of information. By actively engaging with the material, they can develop deeper comprehension, critical thinking skills, and a more meaningful approach to studying. One effective active learning strategy is to encourage your child to summarize concepts in their own words. This process requires them to internalize and process the information, enabling them to articulate it in a way that makes sense to them. Summarizing also helps identify any gaps in understanding and allows for effective revision. Creating flashcards is another valuable active learning technique. Flashcards serve as a tool for self-quizzing and reinforcement of key concepts. Encourage your child to create flashcards with questions on one side and corresponding answers on the other. This method promotes active recall, which has been shown to enhance long-term memory and retention of information. Engaging in discussions is an effective way to encourage active learning. Encourage your child to participate in group discussions or find a study partner to exchange ideas and perspectives on the material. Discussing concepts and challenging each other’s understanding can foster critical thinking, deepen comprehension, and provide alternative viewpoints that enrich the learning experience. Encouraging your child to teach the material to someone else is a powerful active learning technique. Research has shown that teaching others enhances understanding and retention of information. Encourage your child to explain concepts to a family member, a friend, or even a stuffed animal. This process requires them to organize their thoughts, articulate their understanding, and adapt their explanations to ensure clarity. Additionally, incorporating hands-on activities, such as experiments or simulations, can further promote active learning. These activities allow your child to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations, promoting a deeper understanding of the subject matter. By encouraging active learning techniques, you provide your child with the opportunity to actively engage with the material, promoting deeper comprehension, critical thinking, and a more enjoyable studying experience. These techniques foster a sense of ownership over their learning and empower them to become active participants in their educational journey. - Foster a Growth Mindset Fostering a growth mindset in your child is a powerful way to cultivate their resilience, motivation, and love for learning. By emphasizing that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort and perseverance, you empower them to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and focus on personal growth rather than solely on grades or outcomes. First and foremost, encourage your child to view challenges as opportunities for growth. Help them understand that facing and overcoming challenges is an essential part of the learning process. Emphasize that making mistakes and encountering difficulties are natural and necessary steps towards improvement. Encourage them to approach challenges with a positive attitude and the belief that they have the capacity to overcome them with effort and determination. Teach your child to reframe failures and mistakes as learning opportunities. Encourage them to analyze what went wrong, identify areas for improvement, and develop strategies to do better next time. Emphasize that setbacks and failures are not indications of their worth or intelligence but rather stepping stones toward growth and mastery. Celebrate your child’s efforts and perseverance rather than solely focusing on the end result. Help them understand that hard work, dedication, and the willingness to keep trying are more important than achieving immediate success. By acknowledging their efforts, you reinforce the idea that progress is made through persistence and that learning is a continuous journey. Encourage your child to adopt a love for learning by exploring their interests and pursuing knowledge outside of the classroom. Support their curiosity and provide opportunities for them to engage in activities that align with their passions. Encourage them to take on new hobbies, read books on various subjects, and engage in discussions that broaden their perspectives. By nurturing a love for learning, you instill a lifelong mindset of growth and personal development. Model a growth mindset yourself by demonstrating resilience, embracing challenges, and displaying a positive attitude towards learning and personal growth. Children often emulate their parents’ behaviors and attitudes, so by embodying a growth mindset, you create a supportive environment that encourages your child to do the same. - Limit Distractions Limiting distractions during study time is essential for maximizing your child’s focus and productivity. By creating a quiet and focused environment, you can help them concentrate better and improve their study efficiency. Here are some strategies to minimize distractions and create an optimal study environment. Encourage your child to turn off or keep electronic devices away during study sessions. Social media, online games, and notifications can be major distractions that disrupt concentration. Teach your child the importance of setting aside dedicated study time without the constant temptation of electronic distractions. If necessary, establish rules or boundaries regarding the use of electronic devices during study hours. Consider using website blockers or apps that limit access to distracting websites or apps. There are various tools available that allow you to temporarily block certain websites or apps on your child’s devices. This can help prevent them from being lured into time-wasting activities online and maintain a focused study environment. Assign a particular report region that is liberated from interruptions. Choose a quiet and well-lit space where your child can concentrate without interruptions. Ensure that the study area is organized, clean, and equipped with the necessary study materials and supplies. This helps create a conducive environment for focused learning. Establish clear boundaries with other family members or household members to minimize disruptions during study time. Communicate the importance of uninterrupted study sessions and request cooperation in maintaining a quiet environment. This may involve setting specific study hours or using visual cues, such as a “Do Not Disturb” sign, to indicate when your child is engaged in focused learning. Encourage your child to use time management techniques, such as the Pomodoro Technique, which involves studying for a set period of time (e.g., 25 minutes) followed by a short break (e.g., 5 minutes). This structured approach helps maintain focus and provides regular opportunities for rest and rejuvenation. - Be a Supportive Guide Being a supportive guide in your child’s academic journey is important for their growth and development. By actively engaging with their studies and providing guidance and support, you can foster a positive attitude towards learning and boost their confidence. Here are some ways you can be a supportive guide to your child: Show genuine interest in their studies and academic progress. Take the time to ask them about their schoolwork, assignments, and projects. Show curiosity and actively listen to their thoughts and ideas. This demonstrates that you value their education and encourages open communication about their academic experiences. Offer guidance and help them set realistic goals. Discuss their aspirations and help them break down long-term goals into smaller, achievable milestones. Guide them in creating a plan or schedule that outlines the steps needed to reach their objectives. By providing guidance, you can instill a sense of direction and purpose in their studies. Break down complex tasks or assignments into manageable parts. Help your child understand the requirements of a task and assist them in creating a plan to tackle it. Break it down into smaller steps, and provide support and encouragement along the way. Teaching them effective strategies for time management and organization can also be beneficial. Celebrate their accomplishments, regardless of size. Acknowledge their hard work, progress, and accomplishments. Celebrate their efforts and successes, as this reinforces a positive attitude towards learning and motivates them to continue striving for excellence. Lead by example. Set aside time to engage in your own learning and personal growth. Let your child see you reading, pursuing hobbies, or engaging in intellectual conversations. By demonstrating a commitment to lifelong learning, you inspire your child to develop similar habits and a love for knowledge. Be their advocate and support system. Attend parent-teacher conferences, stay informed about their academic progress, and communicate with their teachers when necessary. Advocate for their needs and provide any necessary support or resources to help them succeed academically. Developing good study habits is a process that requires patience, consistency, and guidance from parents. By establishing a consistent study routine, creating a conducive study environment, teaching time management skills, encouraging active learning, fostering a growth mindset, limiting distractions, providing support, and promoting healthy habits, you can equip your child with the tools they need to excel academically. Remember, each child is unique, so adapt these strategies to suit your child’s individual needs and learning style. With your guidance and support, your child will develop effective study habits that will serve them well throughout their educational journey and beyond.

https://childbehavior.com.ng/how-can-i-help-my-child-develop-good-study-habits/

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The baby pictured above contracted herpes after being kissed by a visitor according to First Doctor. This explains why healthcare experts and pediatricians advise first-time parents of newborns to exercise caution when it comes to letting people kiss their baby on the lips or face, even if it’s just a peck. The reasoning behind this precaution is based on the vulnerability of a baby’s immune system during the early stages of life. - Delicate immune system: A newborn’s immune system is still developing and is not as strong as that of adults. This makes them more susceptible to infections and illnesses. - Herpes risk: One of the primary concerns is the risk of herpes transmission. Herpes is a viral infection that can be contracted through direct contact with cold sores or oral herpes lesions. Babies can be infected with the herpes virus through a simple kiss, even if there are no visible symptoms on the kisser’s lips. - Asymptomatic carriers: It’s important to note that some people can carry the herpes virus without showing any symptoms. These individuals, known as asymptomatic carriers, may unknowingly spread the virus to others, including newborns. - Other infections: Aside from herpes, there are various other infections and illnesses that can be transmitted through close contact and kissing. These can range from the common cold and flu to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other contagious diseases. - Hand hygiene: In addition to discouraging kissing on the lips or face, it’s crucial for everyone handling the baby to maintain good hand hygiene. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using hand sanitizer before touching the baby can help reduce the risk of infection. - Boundaries and communication: As a new parent, it’s essential to set boundaries politely with family and friends to ensure they understand your wishes for the baby’s health and safety. Educating others about the reasons behind these precautions can foster a supportive environment. - Love and affection: While avoiding lip and face kisses, it’s important to remember that there are plenty of other ways to show love and affection to the baby. Gentle touches, cuddles, and hugs are all safe ways to bond with the newborn. Ultimately, taking these precautions helps protect the health and well-being of the baby during their vulnerable stage of development. As the baby grows and their immune system becomes stronger, the risk of infections will naturally decrease. Until then, being cautious and prioritizing the baby’s health is of utmost importance for new parents.

https://www.publichealth.com.ng/this-baby-contracted-herpes-after-being-kissed-by-a-visitor/

Health

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Bees have clear ecological and gardening advantages. Bees near your home, yet, might be a problem since persons who have severe allergies may get hurt by their stings. We're going to discuss natural bee removal methods in this article so you don't have to. Continue reading! The majority of people are aware of the critical function bees play in nature, pollinating crops and assisting in the production of food. More than simply soil, water, and sunlight are required for a green world. Ninety percent of plants require cross-pollination to thrive and In the natural world, bees are crucial to the conservation of biodiversity and the ecological balance. A single bee colony may pollinate 300 million flowers every day. Bees also serve as a gauge of the condition of the ecosystem. We can identify that there is an issue with the environment and that we need to take appropriate action when their presence, absence from work, or quantity changes. types of bees Over 250 different species of bees may be found in the UK, which may surprise you. The amazing bee family in Britain includes bumblebees, honey bees, and mason bees. This bee, more than any other, is the most deserving of the moniker "helpful workhorse" because it pollinates both plants and flowers. They nest in colonies that can contain a few to several hundred bees and are social in nature. The bumblebee emerges from the ground throughout the spring to forage for nectar and pollen and to create a new breeding spot. Only when threatened will bumblebees attack. They like to build their nests in airy, fluffy materials and even on the earth. The expression "busy as a bee" was likely coined by this species. Due to the domestication of honeybees in the past, it is now quite uncommon to encounter a wild colony of bees. Large colonies close to your home may still be a problem even if they have a useful purpose. This species is prone to become more aggressive and sting in self-defense if its hive is in danger. Their colonies can house up to 20,000 bees, and they mostly eat open flowers that are within reach of their short tongues. Even though they won't harm people unless threatened, honey bees. In addition, their nests can weigh a lot and produce thousands of workers. Probably the only species for which it is advised to leave the house is this one. These honey bees create their nests in natural openings or cavities. Mud or other "masonry" materials are used to build their nests. Mason bees are most likely present if you see bee clouds swarming about This species doesn't produce honey. However, they pack a powerful punch with their pollination abilities, helping seeds to germinate, fruit trees to produce more fruit, and flowering landscapes to become vibrant Removal May Be in Your Best Interest Even while bees need to be protected, you do not have to let them live in your house. Bees are often not seen as pests. However, their actions will reveal if you need to deal with them or not. Some species have the potential to harm your house or develop aggressive behavior. Additionally, some individuals have such severe bee allergies that even a single sting can be fatal. As a result, if you've determined that it's best to prevent bees from settling on your property, here are some bee-friendly ways to do so. Naturally Get Rid of Bees Stay calm and keep your distance if you discover a swarm of bees within your house. Do not try to move the hive! Otherwise, the bees will swarm out to guard it, stinging everyone in the vicinity. There are various natural alternatives to the toxic pesticides that are frequently associated with bee pest control. Bee removal can be done gently and will help you keep bees away. A few all-natural approaches to removing bees without injuring them are described below. Although many people are aware of the many uses for this ubiquitous pantry item, few are aware of its capacity to deter bees. A fantastic natural method to drive bees out of your yard is to sprinkle vinegar. It's not only a simple product to create, but since it doesn't use dangerous chemicals or insecticides, it's also environmentally beneficial. Spray the area around the hive with a solution made up of equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Don't forget to mist any flower arrangements on your doorstep or window sills. Bees won't like this and will seek out another location. Keep in mind that if you have a large number of bees, this technique might not work as well. The smell of mothballs is one of the odors that bees dislike. Use them as a barrier around your property to prevent bees from entering the yard or deck by hanging them there. As an alternative, you can hang mothballs next to bee nests to prevent the bees from returning due to the that keep bees away You might want to look at your landscaping if wasps and bees constantly invade your outdoor barbecues. You should reevaluate where and what you are planting in your yard because planting plants and flowers with delicious scents may be luring bees. Planting bee-repelling vegetation near your home is a terrific method to keep bees away from it without having to harm or remove The most popular and reliable methods for keeping bees away include neem, mint, citronella, eucalyptus, and cloves. They are simple to cultivate in containers and don't need much upkeep. Additionally, bees can be kept away by using repellents like germanium and marigold. Cinnamon is a natural bee repellent that works well. Spread cinnamon about the honey bees' colony for approximately a week if you want to help them locate a new home without hurting them. They will move because of the fragrance. Cinnamon also works exceptionally well to get rid of ground bees. with essential oils to repel bees. This spray guarantees total insect pest control, including wasp and bee removal. Bees will be kept away from the area you spray it on without being killed. You may make a natural insecticide by simply adding eucalyptus and cedarwood essential oils to a spray bottle. By spraying the mixture inside closets or around windows and doors, you may also use it to get rid of bees inside your house. Make sure not to spray this combination near your eyes or on food. Additionally, avoid applying raw essential oils to your Peppermint essential oil is another option to create a natural bee-repellent spray. Add a few drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle after mixing 2-3 tablespoons of liquid soap with water. You may spray it on most household things because the combination is soapy. Apply additional soap when using it outside so that it will remain in place through the rain. A natural bee deterrent is left behind as the water evaporates and leaves behind the peppermint smell. One can even spray plants with this Peels from cucumbers make an excellent natural insect repellent for getting rid of bee issues. It may seem too easy to be useful, but it really works. Slice a fresh cucumber, then arrange the skins in a single layer on a pie dish made of aluminum. Bees cannot abide by the chemical odor created when cucumber and aluminum mix. Hope these all-natural, homemade bee repellents helped you come up with some fantastic ideas for preventing bees from entering your house. Essential oils, botanicals, and herbs have been used extensively throughout history and are still useful today. But if your yard is overrun with bees or if you or a member of your family has a bee allergy, you could want a more robust treatment. Perhaps it's time to consult a professional. a healthy lifestyle is a wonderful idea. Remember to heed our recommendations if you want to be the healthiest and fittest person. We provide reliable, up-to-date assessments of your general health. Corporate leaders are creating a variety of instructional resources on many different health-related topics. Because of the arduous effort you put into your studies, you now live the richest life conceivably. Finding the most recent studies, suggestions, and advice regarding sleeping well is straightforward. PLEASE COMMENT BELOW IN THE "COMMENTS" SECTION ABOUT YOUR UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES. - How to make bees go away without killing them - How to remove bees from home - How to make bees go away - Home remedies to get rid of bees - How to prevent bees from coming back - How to repel bees naturally - How to get rid of bees naturally Post a Comment

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One of the deepest questions in computer science is called P vs. NP, and answering the question would earn you a million-dollar prize. P vs. NP is one of the Clay Mathematics Institute Millennium Prize Problems, seven problems judged to be among the most important open questions in mathematics. P vs. NP is about finding algorithms, or computer programs, to solve particular math problems, and whether or not "good" algorithms exist to solve these problems. Good algorithms allow a computer to come up with a solution to a problem relatively quickly, even if the size of the input to the problem is very large. Problems for which computer scientists have found good algorithms are said to be in the "complexity class" P. However, there are a large number of problems for which the best-known algorithms are not efficient, and can take an extremely long time to run on even the fastest computers. Some of these problems have very important applications to computer and industrial design, internet security, and resource allocation. Problems that have a good algorithm for checking a given possible solution but that don't necessarily have a good algorithm for finding solutions are in the complexity class NP. The million-dollar question is whether the two complexity classes P and NP equal each other. P is contained in NP: Any problem that can be solved quickly by a computer can also have a particular possible answer quickly checked by a computer. The reverse — whether NP is contained in P — is unknown: We don't know whether problems that have a good algorithm for checking answers also have good algorithms for finding answers. Most computer scientists and mathematicians think that the two classes are not equal: that there are some problems in NP that are not in P. Yet this has never been mathematically proven. Finding efficient algorithms for the hard problems in NP, and showing that P = NP, would dramatically change the world. On the other hand, finding a proof that no such algorithms exist, and that P ≠ NP, would likely involve a huge leap in our understanding of the nature and limitations of computers. There are many useful problems that are in P: We know how to solve them relatively quickly, even for large inputs. For example, every year the National Resident Matching Program assigns recent medical-school graduates to hospital-residency programs using an algorithm Business Insider has described in the past. Graduates and programs each make rankings of their preferences. The algorithm takes each unmatched graduate, and tentatively tries to match them with their highest-ranked program. If the program has space available, it tentatively accepts the graduate. If the program is full but prefers the current applicant to someone on its tentative acceptance list, the program kicks out the lowest-ranked tentative candidate and replaces him or her with the higher-ranked current applicant. The low-ranked candidate who got kicked out is added back to the unmatched graduate pool, where he or she will try to match with the next program on his or her ranking. In the absolute worst-case scenario, we would have to try matching every graduate with every program that they have on their ranking list. In this scenario, a computer running this algorithm would have to perform a tentative match for each possible pair of applicant and program. This means that the largest number of tentative matches the computer would have to perform would be the number of applicants times the number of residency programs. This gives us a more formal definition of P. P stands for "polynomial time": An algorithm like residency matching can be run in a number of steps based on a power of the size of the input. Algorithms like this can be run relatively quickly on a computer — while it will take longer for a computer to run the algorithm for a larger input, the number of operations the computer needs to execute grows in a reasonable way. These are our "good" algorithms. Not all problems have known good polynomial time algorithms. An example is the Traveling Salesman Problem. Here, we consider a set of cities that have some fixed distances between each other, and a salesman who starts in one city and needs to visit the other cities and then come home. The salesman's goal is to find the shortest such tour of the cities. Here's a simple example with four cities and their distances marked in blue (distances are clearly not to scale): Here's one possible tour our salesman could take through the four cities: Start at A, walk to B (which has a distance of 1), then across to D (distance 6), then to C (distance 3), then back to A (distance 5). Adding up the distances, the total length of this tour is 1 + 6 + 3 + 5 = 15 units. We're looking for the shortest path, however. At this point, we can frame this as a related yes-or-no question (formally, P and NP are defined in terms of yes-or-no questions, which are closely related to the kinds of problems we're looking at here): Is there a path shorter than the one above, a path with a total distance of less than 15? Notice that it's very easy to check any particular route to see if it satisfies our criteria. First, make sure we actually visit all our cities. Second, add up the city-to-city distances to get the total length of the tour, and see if it's less than 15. The fact that it's easy to check a given possible answer means that the Traveling Salesman Problem is in NP. Since checking a particular path is easy, one possible way to solve this problem is through brute force: Find the length of every possible route that starts and ends at A while visiting the three other cities. Here are all the possible routes in our simple example, with the loops indicated by the order in which we visit the cities (so that, for example, the route above is represented by ABDCA): The path around the outside of the square, either going ABCDA or ADCBA, is the shortest path with a total length of 10 units. For four cities, this approach is pretty easy: We had only six routes to consider. That number of routes is not an accident: We are starting at A, and from that point we have three cities to choose from for our first leg: B, C, or D. Once we've chosen the second city to visit, we have two cities left to choose from. After we've chosen a third city from those two, there's just one remaining city to visit. So our number of possible paths is 3 × 2 × 1 = 6. The same idea for counting paths works as we add more cities. If we have a Traveling Salesman Problem with five cities, we have 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 24 paths to look at. If we have six cities, we have 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120 paths. As we can already see with these small numbers of cities, the number of paths grows extremely quickly as we add more cities. While it's still easy to take a given path and find its length, the sheer number of possible paths makes our brute-force approach untenable. By the time we have 30 cities, the number of possible paths is about a 9 followed by 30 zeros. A computer that could check a trillion paths per second would take about 280 billion years to check every path, about 20 times the current age of the universe. There are algorithms for the Traveling Salesman Problem that are much more efficient than this brute-force approach, but they all either provide some kind of approximate "good enough" solution that might not be the actual shortest path, or still have the number of needed calculations grow exponentially with the number of cities, taking an unacceptably long time for large numbers of cities. There is no efficient, polynomial time algorithm known for the problem. It turns out that there are a large number of problems that are like this: It's easy to check whether a particular candidate solution works for us, but actually finding a solution is much more difficult. As mentioned above, problems for which it's easy to check whether a particular possible answer works are said to be in the class NP, for "nondeterministic polynomial time." That "nondeterministic" refers to a computer that, roughly speaking, could make as many copies of itself as needed to solve a given problem. If we had such a computer, we could just make as many copies of the computer as there are possible solutions, and check each one of them in parallel. P Versus NP And NP Completeness The big question is whether or not P = NP: do good, efficient, polynomial time algorithms exist to find solutions to problems that have good checking algorithms? Answering a question like this at first glance seems excessively broad. There are many NP problems, like the Traveling Salesman, for which no polynomial time algorithm is known. Fortunately, there is a special subset of NP problems with a very interesting property: Finding a polynomial time algorithm for one of these problems would lead to a similarly quick algorithm for any NP problem. These problems are called NP-complete. The basic idea is fairly straightforward. A problem is NP complete if it would be possible to make a good algorithm for any NP problem using a "black box" that could solve the NP complete problem quickly. That is, having an efficient algorithm for an NP complete problem automatically leads to an efficient algorithm for any NP problem. Many interesting problems, including the Traveling Salesman Problem, are NP complete. This makes answering the million-dollar question somewhat easier: You either need to find an efficient algorithm for one NP complete problem, or prove that no such algorithm exists for one particular such problem. Most computer scientists think that the latter is true: It's likely that there are no polynomial time algorithms for NP complete problems. But there is no formal proof of this yet, and any such proof would almost certainly involve radical new insights into the nature of computation and algorithms. The practical implications of this problem, however, could be even more extreme than these theoretical aspects. Many hard problems in NP for which we don't have a good polynomial time algorithm are very useful. The Traveling Salesman Problem from above, for example, has applications in logistics and manufacturing: finding efficient road paths for deliveries, or the most efficient way for a robotic arm to place components on a circuit board. Being able to quickly solve the Traveling Salesman Problem would be very useful in these areas. Prime Factors And Internet Security One of the biggest NP problems for which we don't yet know an efficient algorithm is factoring integers. One of the most basic facts in number theory is that any number can be broken down into a unique product of prime numbers: numbers that are not divisible by any number other than themselves and one. For small numbers, finding factorizations is easy: 15 is 5 × 3; 12 is 2 × 2 × 3; 70 is 2 × 5 × 7. For larger numbers, however, finding those prime factors can be much more difficult. To see why, consider the most naive possible way to go about factoring a number: Take every number between 2 and one less than the number, and divide the number we're interested in by the smaller number. If this division has no fractional part, or leaves no remainder, then the smaller number is a factor of our number. This naive brute-force approach works fine for small numbers, but quickly breaks down as we add more digits. For a two-digit number, we have fewer than a hundred possible candidate factors. But for a 10-digit number, we have billions of numbers we need to try out to see if they are factors. So, the number of possible factors increases exponentially with the number of digits. If we have a number that is the product of two prime numbers with around 100 digits each, the resulting number will have around 200 digits. Taking such a huge product and trying to find the two prime numbers going into that number using the naive brute-force approach would take a nearly unimaginable amount of computing power and time. As with the Traveling Salesman Problem, there are better algorithms than brute force for factoring extremely large integers. However, none of the currently known algorithms satisfy the gold standard of running in polynomial time. The integer-factoring problem is particularly important since almost all security on the internet depends on this problem not being easily solvable. The RSA encryption algorithm allows computers to securely communicate with each other over the open internet. A user randomly chooses two extremely large prime numbers and then multiplies them together. By publishing that product of the two primes along with another number of the user's choosing, other computers can encrypt messages for the user that can (probably) only be decrypted if someone knows the two prime numbers. As long as the user keeps those prime numbers secret, they will be the only person who can read messages encrypted with the publicly available product of the primes. The security of RSA, which is used in many secure online communications, would be completely broken with an efficient integer-factoring algorithm. A hacker with the ability to take the public composite number and quickly find the secret prime factors of that number would be able to decrypt any supposedly secure message sent to the user, such as encrypted emails, or credit-card numbers sent to an online vendor. Factoring is an NP problem, since a possible solution can be quickly checked: If I have some prime numbers that I think are the factors of a given number, I can just multiply those primes together and see if I actually get my number. This means that if there is an efficient polynomial time algorithm for NP complete problems, large numbers can be factored quickly, and internet security based on RSA or similar protocols would fall apart. Whether or not P = NP, the insights to be gained by answering this deep question would have tremendous theoretical and practical effects on our understanding of the abilities and limitations of computers, and an answer is certainly worth at least a million dollars.

http://www.businessinsider.com/p-vs-np-millennium-prize-problems-2014-9

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Archeologist Says A New Ocean Is Been Formed To Split Africa In Half A new ocean is being formed in Africa. Geologists have confirmed that a new ocean is being created as the African continent is split in half. An international effort has revealed that a 35 miles long rift appeared in the Ethiopian deserts of the Far region in 2005 and is probably the start of a brand-new sea. The recent study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, combines seismic data from the rift formation to demonstrate that it is driven by processes similar to those at the ocean’s bottom. The tectonic plates of Africa and Arabia collide in the desert and have been gradually separating for about 30 million years. The same motion has also split the Red Sea, but this is only happening at a rate of a fraction of an inch per year. Soon humanity might have two motherlands. Africa’s 54 nations are being divided according to geologists researching the continent’s plate tectonics. The East African Rift, which separates eastern coastal countries like Kenya and Tanzania from most of the continent, passes across Mozambique from the Afar area of northern Ethiopia. A new study in the journal Nature found that the two pieces of land are separating at a rate of 7 millimeters per year. Nations like Zambia and Uganda will have their own coastlines. Scientists claim that several currently active volcanoes along the river, including the Aloo Dalapila in Ethiopia and the Old wenyolangai in Tanzania, provide new insights into the process. In particular, the Erta Ale volcano in Ethiopia has been erupting nonstop for more than 50 years. The Victoria microplate, the biggest of its kind on Earth and tucked between each side of the rift, has been rotating against the clock for the past two years. Leave a Reply

https://featuredgist.com/archeologist-says-a-new-ocean-is-been-formed-to-split-africa-in-half/

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How many pears can a diabetic eat? One common myth about people with diabetes is that they can't eat fruit. Fruits do include a little amount of carbohydrates, which many people with diabetes may attempt to control. But they also contain a wealth of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that help support a balanced diet. It's vital to consider amounts, your overall carbohydrate intake, and the glycemic index of the meal when eating fruits because they have many health benefits for persons with diabetes. Pears are a fantastic fruit to eat if you have diabetes and can be extremely flavorful. Numerous studies show that the illness might potentially be managed thanks to its nutritional benefits. Pears also have a low glycemic index, which means they won't cause a significant spike in blood I eat pears? If you have diabetes, you can have pears as long as you watch your portions and combine them with other healthy foods. The nutritional advantages of pears may help you satisfy your craving for something sweet. ALSO READ: Can Type 1 Diabetes Cause Liver Damage Consider a pear while discussing healthy fruit choices! Green pears, which resemble bells, are a vitamin C-rich treat. Pear varieties come in a wide range and are widely accessible everywhere. This edible fruit is rich in fiber, magnesium, copper, folate, manganese, vitamin K, and other minerals in addition to vitamin C. Some of the key advantages of pears are a healthy heart, digestive system, and liver. In order to fully comprehend the calories, nutritional content, and advantages of eating pears, let's delve a little deeper. for diabetes patients Pears have been linked in numerous studies to health advantages, especially for people with or at risk for diabetes. In one study, which looked at thousands of people at risk for type 2 diabetes, anthocyanin-rich foods, such as pears, were found to reduce that risk. For people who are at risk for diabetes, eating entire fruits as opposed to other pear products may be crucial to optimizing their health advantages. According to, eating whole fruits—like pears—reduces your chances of developing type 2 diabetes more than drinking fruit juice. Eating apples and pears decreased the incidence of type 2 diabetes by 18%, according to research on pear intake among individuals at risk for the disease. Pear consumption and eating a healthy diet together may also help manage diabetes in its early stages. According to one investigation, eating whole Bartlett and Starkrimson pears can aid in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. In early diabetes and prediabetes, the study linked fruit eating to lowering the dosage or required ALSO READ: How to Cook Eggs for Diabetics Patients ent for diabetes drugs. Balsam pear and prickling pear These plants, which go by the name "pear" but aren't actually members of the pear genus, might be helpful for diabetics. Cacti like the prickly pear are regarded by some as superfoods. Although there isn't a lot of research on these advantages at the moment, it might lower blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes. Balsam pears may help people with diabetes lower their blood sugar levels, but further clinical research is required to substantiate these claims. Pears in a salad This salad has arugula, pears, walnuts, and pecorino cheese along with a balsamic olive oil dressing. For lunch or dinner, it would go great with a lean protein. A serving has 2 g of protein, 7 g of carbs, and 8 g of fat. In addition, it has 50 mg of phosphorus and 170 mg of potassium. pears as an appetizer For only 90 calories, 4 g of fat, 11 g of carbohydrates, and 3 g of protein, you can eat two of these small pear and goat cheese tarts. Those tarts would make a festive addition to a spread or make a tasty dish to bring to a party. As a dessert or a snack, pears Pears that have been cinnamon-roasted may be suitable as a winter or fall dessert or snack. A simple topping for halved pears can be made by combining walnuts, margarine, a brown sugar replacement, and cinnamon. After that, you bake these nicely prepared pears for 45 minutes. Amazing Pear Health Benefits Here are 10 other unforeseen benefits of pears: Pears are good for Smooth Digestion. Eating pears is best for your health because they promote easy digestion. Due to its high dietary fiber content, it supports better digestive system performance. Constipation and IBS symptoms can both be lessened by eating pears. ALSO READ: Does Apple Increase Blood Sugar An adequate intake of Vitamin C enhances immunity, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Thus, eating pears, which are rich in vitamin C, helps to enhance your immune system. Useful for Heart Health Potassium, a natural vasodilator, is abundant in pears and is known to lower blood pressure. Additionally, daily consumption of pears improves blood flow and lowers the risk of heart attacks. Pears support bone health by being a good source of calcium and other minerals. Daily consumption of pears helps to keep the body's pH levels balanced and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Circulation of the Blood Eat one pear each day to improve your body's blood circulation. Pears can help people with anemia and other deficiency illnesses by promoting blood circulation. A daily pear helps guard against cognitive decline, tiredness, and muscle wasting. Contains a Lot of Anti-Cancer Properties Anyone may be terrified by cancer because it is a fatal illness. Why not avoid it altogether by eating a fruit that is readily accessible in the market? Pears do help reduce your risk of developing cancer, so yes. Having pears reduces your risk of developing lung cancer and other malignancies since they are loaded with anti-cancer properties. Packed with antioxidants Pears are rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and both. The body benefits greatly from this lethal combination of necessary nutrients. Pears aid in the body's fight against free radicals because of their high 8. Promotes Weight Loss Do take into account pears' ability to aid in weight loss when tallying up the many advantages of eating them. Pears are a low-calorie fruit with a high fiber content that makes you feel satiated for longer. Only roughly 100 calories are present in a medium-sized pear. Helps Faster Wound Healing Eating pears also aids in rapid wound healing, a benefit that is less well-known. It is abundant in Vitamin C, an essential nutrient needed to hasten the healing process by synthesizing new tissues in various cellular structures and organs of the body. Pears Are Good for Your Skin and Hair The list of advantages of pears is not yet complete. This sweet, luscious fruit is healthy for your skin and hair. It has all the nutrients, including Vitamin A, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which aid to lessen wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. Consuming pears regularly also encourages Value of Pears We invite you to have a look at the nutrients found in this delectable fruit before reading the list of pears' health benefits: - Vitamins C and K - Antioxidants from polyphenol After studying so much about the advantages of a pear fruit, it makes sense to learn about its negative consequences. So let's look at the drawbacks of eating pears in excess: - Bloating in the stomach If you have diabetes, adding pears to your diet is a delightful and natural way to stay healthy. Thanks to their nutritious value, they might be able to stop diabetes from developing or even help you manage its early stages. To maintain healthy blood glucose levels, consume pears in moderation and combine them with other nutritious foods like lean meats and vegetables. Pears can be eaten as a whole fruit or added to dishes for meals and snacks. In a nutshell, pears are extraordinary at providing the body with vital nutrients and vitamins. One medium-sized pear aids in osteoporosis prevention, cancer prevention, and inflammation reduction. Additionally, the same fruit can help you lose weight and improve the health of your skin and hair. So why not swap out your pills for a daily pear? trying to keep up your good practices. Remember to pay attention to our recommendations if you want to be the healthiest and fittest version of yourself. We provide dependable, current assessments for your overall health. Corporate leaders are producing a range of educational resources on numerous health-related subjects. You can now lead the richest life imaginable as a result of the rigorous work we put into your education. Finding the latest recent information and recommendations on sound sleep is straightforward. PLEASE SHARE ANY UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES YOU MAY HAVE HAD IN THE "COMMENTS" SECTION DOWN BELOW. - Are pears good for you? - Benefits of pears - Pears and diabetes - What are the side effects of eating pears? - Eating a pear every day Post a Comment

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Food

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Have you pulled your car up to the gas pump lately and been shocked by the high price of gasoline? Maybe you've thought about trading in your car for something that gets better mileage — or maybe you're worried that your car is contributing to the greenhouse effect, but you're not ready to go fully electric. Enter the hybrid car. But how do hybrid electric vehicles work? What goes on under the hood to give you 20 or 30 more miles per gallon than the standard gas-powered automobile? And does it pollute less just because it gets better gas mileage? Also, where does the plug-in hybrid come in? In this article, we'll help you understand how this technology works, and we'll even give you some tips on how to drive a hybrid car for maximum efficiency. The gasoline-electric hybrid car is just what it sounds like — a cross between a gasoline-powered car and an electric car. Let's start with a few differences between a gasoline-powered car and a typical electric car. A gas-powered car has a fuel tank supplies gasoline to the internal combustion engine. The engine then turns a transmission, which turns the wheels. An electric car, on the other hand, has a set of batteries that provides electricity to an electric motor. The motor turns a transmission, and the transmission turns the wheels. The hybrid is a compromise. It attempts to significantly increase the mileage and reduce the emissions of a gas-powered car while providing the convenience of refueling at the gas station. Gasoline-electric Hybrid Structure Gasoline-electric hybrid cars contain the following parts: Gasoline engine: The hybrid car has a gasoline engine much like the one you will find on most cars. However, the engine on a hybrid is smaller and uses advanced technologies to reduce emissions and increase efficiency. Fuel tank: The fuel tank in a hybrid is the energy storage device for the gasoline engine. Gasoline has a much higher energy density than batteries do. For example, it takes about 1,000 pounds (454 kg) of batteries to store as much energy as 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of gasoline. Electric motor: The electric motors on hybrid cars are very sophisticated. Advanced electronics allow it to act as a motor as well as a generator. For example, when it needs to, it can draw energy from the batteries to accelerate the car. But acting as a generator, it can slow the car down and return energy to the batteries. Generator: The generator is similar to an electric motor, but it acts only to produce electrical power. It is used mostly on series hybrids. Batteries: The batteries in a hybrid car are the energy-storage device for the electric motor. Unlike the gasoline in the fuel tank, which can only power the gasoline engine, the electric motor on a hybrid car can put energy into the batteries as well as draw energy from them. Transmission: The transmission on a hybrid car performs the same basic function as the transmission on a conventional car. Some hybrids, like the Honda Insight, have conventional transmissions. Others, like the Toyota Prius, have radically different ones. You can combine the two power sources found in a hybrid car in different ways. One way, known as a parallel hybrid, has a fuel tank that supplies gasoline to the engine and a set of batteries that supplies power to the electric motor. Both the engine and the electric motor can turn the transmission at the same time, and the transmission then turns the wheels. In a series hybrid, the gasoline engine turns a generator, and the generator can either charge the batteries or power an electric motor that drives the transmission. Thus, the gasoline engine never directly powers the vehicle. Hybrid Car Performance The key to a hybrid car is that the gasoline engine can be much smaller than the one in a conventional car and therefore more efficient. Most cars require a relatively big engine to produce enough power to accelerate the car quickly. In a small engine, however, the efficiency can be improved by using smaller, lighter parts, by reducing the number of cylinders and by operating the engine closer to its maximum load. Why Are Smaller Engines More Efficient? There are several reasons why smaller engines are more efficient than bigger ones. The big engine is heavier than the small engine, so the car uses extra energy every time it accelerates or drives up a hill. The pistons and other internal components are heavier, requiring more energy each time they go up and down in the cylinder. The displacement of the cylinders is larger, so more fuel is required by each cylinder. Bigger engines usually have more cylinders, and each cylinder uses fuel every time the engine fires, even if the car isn't moving. This explains why two of the same model cars with different engines can get different mileage. If both cars are driving along the freeway at the same speed, the one with the smaller engine uses less energy. Both engines have to output the same amount of power to drive the car, but the small engine uses less power to drive itself. Getting Enough Power How can this smaller engine provide the power your car needs to keep up with the more powerful cars on the road? Let's compare a car like the Chevy Camaro, with its big V-8 engine, to our hybrid car with its small gas engine and electric motor. The engine in the Camaro has more than enough power to handle any driving situation. The engine in the hybrid car is powerful enough to move the car along on the freeway, but when it needs to get the car moving in a hurry, or go up a steep hill, it needs help. That "help" comes from the electric motor and battery — and this system steps in to provide the necessary extra power. The gas engine on a conventional car is sized for the peak power requirement (those few times when you floor the accelerator pedal). In fact, most drivers use the peak power of their engines less than 1 percent of the time. The hybrid car uses a much smaller engine, one that is sized closer to the average power requirement than to the peak power. Improving Fuel Economy in 5 Different Ways Besides a smaller, more efficient engine, today's hybrids use many other tricks to increase fuel efficiency. Some of those tricks will help any type of car get improved fuel economy, and some only apply to a hybrid. 1. Recovering Energy and Storing It in the Battery Whenever you step on the brake pedal in your car, you are removing energy from the car. The faster a car is going, the more kinetic energy it has. The brakes of a car remove this energy and dissipate it in the form of heat. A hybrid car can capture some of this energy and store it in the battery to use later. It does this by using a "regenerative braking" system. That is, instead of just using the brakes to stop the car, the electric motor that drives the hybrid can also slow the car. In this mode, the electric motor acts as a generator and charges the batteries while the car is slowing down. 2. Sometimes Shutting Off the Engine A hybrid car does not need to rely on the gasoline engine all of the time because it has an alternate power source: the electric motor and batteries. So the hybrid car can sometimes turn off the gasoline engine — for example when the vehicle is stopped at a red light. 3. Using Advanced Aerodynamics to Reduce Drag When you are driving on the freeway, most of the work your engine does goes into pushing the car through the air. This force is known as aerodynamic drag. This drag force can be reduced in a variety of ways. One sure way is to reduce the frontal area of the car. Think of how a big SUV has to push a much greater area through the air than a tiny sports car. Reducing disturbances around objects that stick out from the car or eliminating them altogether can also help to improve the aerodynamics. For example, covers over the wheel housings smooth the airflow and reduce drag. 4. Using Low-rolling Resistance Tires The tires on most cars are optimized to give a smooth ride, minimize noise, and provide good traction in a variety of weather conditions. But they are rarely optimized for efficiency. In fact, the tires cause a surprising amount of drag while you are driving. Hybrid cars use special tires that are both stiffer and inflated to a higher pressure than conventional tires. The result is that they cause less drag than regular tires. 5. Using Lightweight Materials Reducing the overall weight of a car is one easy way to increase the mileage. A lighter vehicle uses less energy each time you accelerate or drive up a hill. Composite materials like carbon fiber or lightweight metals like aluminum and magnesium can be used to reduce weight. The Power Split Device The power split device is the heart of the Toyota Prius, the most famous hybrid vehicle. This is a clever gearbox that hooks the gasoline engine, generator and electric motor together. It allows the car to operate like a parallel hybrid: The electric motor can power the car by itself, the gas engine can power the car by itself or they can power the car together. The power split device also allows the car to operate like a series hybrid; the gasoline engine can operate independently of the vehicle speed, charging the batteries or providing power to the wheels as needed. It also acts as a continuously variable transmission (CVT), eliminating the need for a manual or automatic transmission. Finally, because the power split device allows the generator to start the engine, the car does not need a starter. The power split device is a planetary gear set. The electric motor is connected to the ring gear of the gear set. It is also directly connected to the differential, which drives the wheels. So, whatever speed the electric motor and ring gear spin at determines the speed of the car. The generator is connected to the sun gear of the gear set, and the engine is connected to the planet carrier. The speed of the ring gear depends on all three components, so they all have to work together at all times to control the output speed. When you accelerate, initially the electric motor and batteries provide all of the power. The ring gear of the power split device is connected to the electric motor, so it starts to spin with the motor. The planet carrier, which is connected to the engine, is stationary because the engine is not running. Since the ring gear is spinning, the planets have to spin, which causes the sun gear and generator to spin. As the car accelerates, the generator spins at whatever speed it needs to in order for the engine to remain off. Once you reach about 40 mph (64 km/h), the gasoline engine will turn on. The generator suddenly changes speed, causing the planet carrier to turn and start the engine. Once the engine is running, it settles into a constant speed while the generator varies its speed to match the output speed with the electric motor. If you are really accelerating hard, the motor will draw extra power from the batteries. Once you are up to freeway speed, the car will move under a combination of gas and electric power, with all of the electricity coming from the generator. How Much Horsepower Do You Need? The amazing thing is that most of what we require a car to do uses only a small percentage of its horsepower. When you are driving along the freeway at 60 mph (96.6 km/h), your car engine has to provide the power to do three things: Overcome the aerodynamic drag caused by pushing the car through the air Overcome all of the friction in the car's components such as the tires, transmission, axles and brakes For most cars, doing all this requires less than 20 horsepower. So, why do you need a car with 200 horsepower? So you can "floor it," which is the only time you use all that power. The rest of the time, you use considerably less power than you have available. Hybrid Mileage Tips A driver's desire for quick acceleration causes our cars to be much less efficient than they could be. You may have noticed that a car with a less powerful engine gets better gas mileage than an identical car with a more powerful engine. (Just look at the window stickers on new cars at a dealership for a city and highway mpg comparison.) How to Get the Best Mileage You can get the best mileage from a hybrid car by using the same kind of driving habits that give you better mileage in your gasoline-engine car. Drive slower. The aerodynamic drag on the car increases dramatically the faster you drive. For example, the drag force at 70 mph (113 km/h) is about double that at 50 mph (81 km/h). So, keeping your speed down can increase your mileage significantly. Maintain a constant speed. Each time you speed up the car, you use energy, some of which is wasted when you slow the car down again. By maintaining a constant speed, you will make the most efficient use of your fuel. Avoid abrupt stops. When you stop your car, the electric motor in the hybrid acts like a generator and takes some of the energy out of the car while slowing it down. If you give the electric motor more time to slow the vehicle, it can recover more of the energy. If you stop quickly, the brakes on the car will do most of the work of slowing the car down, and that energy will be wasted. The same reasoning applies to gasoline-powered cars: Abrupt stops waste a lot of energy. Lots More Information "Diesel-based hybrid cars." The Daily Times. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C01%5C09%5Cstory_9-1-2006_pg6_13

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car6.htm

Car Talk

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Using Mix of Gasoline and Liquefied Petroleum Gas for Lower Emissions and Greater Torque 2013-01-1151 The paper considers the problem of how to improve the economic efficiency of gasoline-powered internal combustion (IC) engines and at the same time increase their eco-friendliness and reduce emissions. Current industry thinking is that the use of alternative fuels (e.g. liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is widely used) helps reduce emissions of harmful substances in exhaust gases, but causes a reduction in engine power and torque. One of the ways to fix this problem is to add gasoline to the LPG, while current approaches to this problem improve either ecological performance or power readings of engines. It is assumed that one can change the fuel burning velocity and the amount of harmful substances in exhaust gases by adding gasoline to LPG and varying their percentage fuel mixture (called binary), thus providing higher ecological and operating performance of IC engines. Based on the above assumption a new engine control method has been developed, which improves gasoline IC engine performance and reduces emissions by adjusting the binary fuel composition and controlling the ignition advance angle. The paper presents the results of the experiments set up and examines the efficiency of the method developed. Citation: Beresnev, M. and Beresnev, A., "Using Mix of Gasoline and Liquefied Petroleum Gas for Lower Emissions and Greater Torque," SAE Technical Paper 2013-01-1151, 2013, https://doi.org/10.4271/2013-01-1151. Download Citation Max Beresnev, Alex Beresnev Southern Federal Univesity, Russia SAE 2013 World Congress & Exhibition Liquefied petroleum gas Subscribers can view annotate, and download all of SAE's content. Learn More »

https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2013-01-1151/

Car Talk

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Hirsutism, which causes excessive facial hair growth in cisgender females, is typically caused by an increase in hormones called androgens. It’s fairly common and affects between 5 to 10 percent of women. The main difference between more typical hair on a woman’s body and face (often referred to as “peach fuzz”) and hair caused by hirsutism is the texture. When caused by hirsutism, the hair on a woman’s face, arms, chest, stomach, back, or chest is usually coarse and dark. Hirsutism is a common condition, affecting between 5 and 10 percent of women. It tends to run in families, so you may be more likely to have this hair growth if your mother, sister, or another female relative also has it. Women of Mediterranean, South Asian, and Middle Eastern heritage are also more likely to develop the condition. The presence of excess body hair can lead to feelings of self-consciousness, but the condition itself isn’t necessarily dangerous. However, the hormonal imbalance that can lead to it may complicate a person’s health. Hirsutism isn’t the same as hypertrichosis, which refers to excess hair in areas that aren’t dependent on androgens. Hypertrichosis can increase hair anywhere on the body, while hirsutism typically causes excess hair in areas usually seen in men, such as the face and lower stomach. Women can develop excessive body or facial hair due to higher-than-normal levels of androgen hormones. These hormones include testosterone and androstenedione. All individuals produce androgens, but these levels typically remain low in individuals assigned female at birth. However, if a women’s skin suddenly becomes sensitive to androgens, or her body begins to produce these hormones in excess, she can develop hirsutism. There are a few conditions that can cause this hormone imbalance. Polycystic ovarian syndrome Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one common cause of hirsutism. It accounts for 85 percent of cases. PCOS causes benign cysts to form on the ovaries, which can affect hormone production. This can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and decreased fertility. - irregular menstrual cycle - weight gain or difficulty losing weight - thinning hair - skin tags - fertility difficulties Adrenal gland disorders Other forms of hormonal imbalance that can cause hirsutism include certain adrenal gland disorders, such as: The adrenal glands, located just above your kidneys, are responsible for hormone production. People with congenital adrenal hyperplasia are born without an enzyme that’s necessary for hormone production. An adrenal tumor can cause the overproduction of certain hormones, such as prolactin. Individuals with Cushing disease have higher-than-normal levels of cortisol (cortisol is sometimes called the “stress hormone”). All of these conditions can affect the way your body produces androgens. - high blood pressure - bone and muscle weakness - excess weight in the upper body - unexplained weight loss - weight gain - high or low blood sugar levels - irregular periods - lowered libido Excessive body or facial hair growth can also result from taking any of the following medications: - minoxidil, which is used to stimulate hair growth - anabolic steroids, which are synthetic variations of testosterone - testosterone, which can be taken in case of a testosterone deficiency - cyclosporine, which is an immunosuppressant drug that’s often used before organ transplants In some cases, women may experience idiopathic hirsutism, which means that there’s no detectable cause for why the hirsutism developed. It’s usually chronic and may be harder to treat. Hirsutism can affect anyone, at any age, but you’re more likely to experience it if you have a family member who has also been diagnosed with it. Women of Middle Eastern, European, and South Asian ancestry are also more predisposed to hirsutism. Individuals previously diagnosed with PCOS have a higher risk of developing hirsutism. Your doctor will take a detailed medical history when diagnosing hirsutism. Discuss your medication use with a doctor to help them determine the cause of your condition. If you’re living with obesity, your doctor may suggest losing weight to reduce the symptoms of hirsutism. Because obesity can change the way your body produces and processes hormones, maintaining a moderate weight may correct your level of androgens without the use of medication. If excessive hair growth is a symptom of PCOS or adrenal disorders, you may need additional pharmacological treatment. Drug therapy in the form of birth control pills and anti-androgen medications can help balance your hormone levels. - Anti-androgen medications: Steroidal androgens and nonsteroidal (or pure) anti-androgens can block androgen receptors and lower androgen production from the adrenal glands, ovaries, and pituitary glands. - Combination birth control pills: These pills, which have both estrogen and progesterone, may help shrink the cysts from PCOS. The estrogen can also help reduce excess hair. These drugs are usually a long-term solution for hirsutism. You’ll most likely notice improvement after 3 to 6 months of drug therapy. Your doctor may prescribe the cream eflornithine to reduce the growth of facial hair. This cream works by interfering with a chemical in hair follicles under the skin, slowing hair growth. Your facial hair growth should slow after 1 to 2 months. Side effects of eflornithine include skin rash and irritation. Hair removal techniques are a nonmedical way to manage excessive hair. These are the same hair removal methods that some people use to keep their legs, bikini line, and underarms free of hair. Waxing, shaving, and depilatories: If you have hirsutism, you may want to be more proactive about waxing, shaving, and using depilatories (chemical foams). These are all pretty affordable and take effect immediately, but they require continual treatment. Laser hair removal: Laser hair removal involves using concentrated light rays to damage your hair follicles. Damaged follicles can’t produce hair, and the hair that’s present falls out. With sufficient treatments, laser hair removal can provide permanent or near-permanent results. Electrolysis: Electrolysis is the removal of hair using an electric current. It treats each hair follicle individually, so the sessions can take longer. Both laser hair removal and electrolysis can be expensive and require multiple sessions to achieve the desired results. Some patients find these treatments uncomfortable or slightly painful. It’s generally not possible to prevent hirsutism. If your doctor has recommended it, losing weight may help with the symptoms, especially if you’ve previously been diagnosed with PCOS. Excessive body and facial hair due to hirsutism can be a long-term challenge. Most women with diagnosed hormonal imbalances respond well to treatment, but the hair can grow back if their hormone levels become out of sync again. Depending on the underlying cause and your choice of treatment, treating hirsutism may or may not be a lifelong commitment. Laser hair removal or electrolysis can provide more permanent results than shaving, waxing, or depilatories. Conditions that cause hirsutism, such as PCOS or adrenal gland disorders, may require lifelong treatment. Managing your hormone levels, managing your weight, focusing on a nutrient-rich diet, and seeking support if the symptoms of hirsutism are distressing to you are all ways to make living with the condition easier. What is the Ferriman-Gallwey score? The Ferriman-Gallwey index is a method to score the degree of male pattern body hair growth in women. It consists of pictures of hair distribution on the upper lip, chin, chest, back, abdomen, arm, forearm, thigh, and lower leg. Each area is scored from 0 to 4, with 4 being heavy hair growth. After each area is scored, the numbers are added together for a total score. Most experts agree that a total of 8 indicates hirsutism. The Ferriman-Gallwey score is a simple, inexpensive, and reliable diagnostic tool for hirsutism. There are more elaborate and expensive methods to determine the extent of excess hair growth that may be more precise. These include photographic measures, computerized assessment of photographs, and microscopic measurement and counting of hair shafts. Deborah Weatherspoon, PhD, RN, CRNA, COIAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

http://www.healthline.com/health/excessive-or-unwanted-hair-in-women

Romance

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According to the report, food safety deserves urgent attention because foodborne hazards account for 91 million acute illnesses and 137,000 deaths annually in Africa. The World Bank estimates show that each year unsafe food costs economies of low- and middle-income countries about US$110 billion in lost productivity and healthcare expenses. “The report is a call to action to develop and implement feasible, locally relevant interventions that we know can reduce the severe consequences of foodborne illness,” says Michael Taylor, co-author of the Global Food Safety Partnership report released last week (6 February). For instance, the report found that less than five percent of donor investments addressed specific public health risks, such as Salmonella and E.coli, that local consumers face when purchasing from informal food markets. The report is based on data collected on 518 donor-funded food safety initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2010 and 2017, and interviews with almost 200 experts. “Donor food safety investments are overwhelmingly focused on supporting overseas market access, trade, and formal markets rather than on the public health problem of foodborne illness,” says the report. “There is relatively little donor investment to directly reduce the burden of foodborne illness in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as with surveillance systems, public awareness of food safety issues, research on specific hazards and intervention, and informal market capacity and practices.” The report indicates that although there was at least a project in all 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, ten countries had most food safety projects: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. According to Taylor, donors and African governments should address the public health burden of foodborne illness among African consumers, build capacity in creating evidence on food safety, and harness marketplace drivers of progress on food safety by increasing consumer awareness and empowerment and supporting private efforts. Grace-Randolph, who leads the food safety programme of the International Livestock Research Institute, tells SciDev.Net, “The new studies reveal the hitherto underestimated health, human capital and economic burden of foodborne disease globally and in Africa.” Much past investment has been driven by the goal of supporting food exports to Europe and other foreign and regional markets that require food to meet global standards for pesticides and other hazards, Taylor adds. “The current burden of foodborne illness is unacceptably high. It adversely affects the health of millions of African consumers, damages the African economy, and undermines agriculture-led development strategies. This is a slow expanding crisis.” Taylor explains. The report highlights the importance of informal markets where most smallholders sell their crops, vegetables and livestock products. It sets out the evidence that both smallholders and informal markets will be important for decades to come, and provides recommendations on how they can best be integrated into safe, secure, profitable an sustainable food systems.

https://www.commodity-port.com/food-safety-projects-in-africa-benefiting-donor-nations/

Food

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According to newly available data, the countries listed below generated in 2021/2022, more than 99.7% of their electricity from hydro, geothermal, wind or solar power: - Democratic Republic of Congo Figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) also show that another 47 countries generated at least 50% of their electricity from renewables in 2021/2022, among which are 11 European countries. The data was published by a Stanford University professor of civil and environmental engineering, Mark Zachary Jacobson. Professor Jacobson also says other countries like Germany are actually capable of running 100% renewable-generated electricity for short periods of time. 47 countries are now generating above 50% of their electricity from renewable energy: There has been significant progress in recent years with improving efficiency rates for solar cells, primarily boosted by perovskite, the so-called ‘miracle material’. Commercial costs have also fallen, which led scientists at the University of Exeter and University College London to claim in 2023 that solar energy has reached an “irreversible tipping point” that will see it become the world’s main energy source by year 2050. Their paper, published in the journal Nature Communications, found that technological and economic advances meant the transition to clean energy is not just reachable, but inevitable. “Solar energy is the most widely available energy resource on Earth, and its economic attractiveness is improving fast in a cycle of increasing investments.” Leave a comment

https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2024/04/17/global-lens-7-countries-now-generating-100-electricity-from-renewables/

Politics

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As countless photos from space can attest, Earth is round—the "Blue Marble," as astronauts have affectionately dubbed it. Appearances, however, can be deceiving. Planet Earth is not, in fact, perfectly round. This is not to say Earth is flat. Well before Columbus sailed the ocean blue, Aristotle and other ancient Greek scholars proposed that Earth was round. This was based on a number of observations, such as the fact that departing ships not only appeared smaller as they sailed away but also seemed to sink into the horizon, as one might expect if sailing across a ball says geographer Bill Carstensen of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Isaac Newton first proposed that Earth was not perfectly round. Instead, he suggested it was an oblate spheroid—a sphere that is squashed at its poles and swollen at the equator. He was correct and, because of this bulge, the distance from Earth's center to sea level is roughly 21 kilometers (13 miles) greater at the equator than at the poles. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Instead of Earth being like a spinning top made of steel, explains geologist Vic Baker at the University of Arizona in Tucson it has "a bit of plasticity that allows the shape to deform very slightly. The effect would be similar to spinning a bit of Silly Putty, though Earth's plasticity is much, much less than that of the silicone plastic clay so familiar to children." Our globe, however, is not even a perfect oblate spheroid, because mass is distributed unevenly within the planet. The greater a concentration of mass is, the stronger its gravitational pull, "creating bumps around the globe," says geologist Joe Meert at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Earth's shape also changes over time due to a menagerie of other dynamic factors. Mass shifts around inside the planet, altering those gravitational anomalies. Mountains and valleys emerge and disappear due to plate tectonics. Occasionally meteors crater the surface. And the gravitational pull of the moon and sun not only cause ocean and atmospheric tides but earth tides as well. In addition, the changing weight of the oceans and atmosphere can cause deformations of the crust "on the order of a centimeter or so," notes geophysicist Richard Gross at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "There's also postglacial rebound, with the crust and mantle that were depressed by the huge ice sheets that sat on the surface during the last ice age now rebounding upward on the order of a centimeter a year." Moreover, to even out Earth's imbalanced distribution of mass and stabilize its spin, "the entire surface of the Earth will rotate and try to redistribute mass along the equator, a process called true polar wander," Meert says. To keep track of Earth's shape, scientists now position thousands of Global Positioning System receivers on the ground that can detect changes in their elevation of a few millimeters, Gross says. Another method, dubbed satellite laser ranging, fires visible-wavelength lasers from a few dozen ground stations at satellites. Any changes detected in their orbits correspond to gravitational anomalies and thus mass distributions inside the planet. Still another technique, very long baseline interferometry, has radio telescopes on the ground listen to extragalactic radio waves to detect changes in the positions of the ground stations. It may not take much technology to understand that Earth is not perfectly round, but it takes quite a bit of effort and equipment to determine its true shape.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-is-not-round/?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C9741137789And

Education

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If there is one disease that takes away human lives so suddenly and frequently these days, it is cancer. We all have that friend or family member who has been lost to cancer and the number keeps growing on a daily basis. For the fact that the exact cause of cancer has not been detected yet, everyone needs to really be careful and be aware of important information they need to know about this deadly disease. For those who are also currently suffering from one type of cancer or the other, the information below will help you. So, What is Cancer? Cancer is disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue. Cancer generally refers to a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Today, there are more than 100 types of cancer, including breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and so on. Cancer symptoms vary depending on the type. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bleeding, prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss and a change in bowel movements. While these symptoms may indicate cancer, they may have other causes. Cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or alternative remedies. Normally, healthy cells in our bodies divide and replace themselves in a controlled fashion. Cancer starts when a cell is somehow altered so that it multiplies out of control. What is a Tumour? A tumour is a mass composed of a cluster of such abnormal cells. Most cancers form tumours, but not all tumours are cancerous. Benign, or noncancerous, tumours do not spread to other parts of the body, and do not create new tumours. A typical example here are fibroid tumours. Malignant, or cancerous, tumours crowd out healthy cells, interfere with body functions, and draw nutrients from body tissues. Cancers continue to grow and spread by direct extension or through a process called metastasis, whereby the malignant cells travel through the lymphatic or blood vessels eventually forming new tumours in other parts of the body. Classification of Cancer The major classification of cancer are carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, and leukaemia. Carcinomas, the most commonly diagnosed cancers originate in the skin, lungs, breasts, pancreas, and other organs and glands. Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes. Leukaemia is cancer of the blood, which does not usually form solid tumours. Sarcomas arise in bone, muscle, fat, blood vessels, cartilage, or other soft or connective tissues of the body and are relatively uncommon. Melanomas are cancers that arise in the cells that make the pigment in skin. Cancer Signs and Symptoms When cancer begins, it produces no symptoms. Signs and symptoms appear as the mass grows or ulcerates. Cancer is a “great imitator”. Thus, it is common for people diagnosed with cancer to have been treated for other diseases, which were hypothesized to be causing their symptoms before cancer will now be finally detected. This is why a lot of cancer patients, especially in this part of the world always detect the condition so late. Local symptoms may occur due to the mass of the tumour or its ulceration. For example, mass effects from lung cancer can block the bronchus resulting in cough or pneumonia. oesophageal cancer can cause narrowing of the oesophagus, making it difficult or painful to swallow. colorectal cancer may lead to narrowing or blockages in the bowel, affecting bowel habits. Masses in breasts or testicles may produce observable lumps. Ulceration can cause bleeding that, if it occurs in the lung, will lead to coughing up blood, in the bowels to rectal bleeding, in the bladder to blood in the urine and in the uterus to vaginal bleeding. Although localized pain may occur in advanced cancer, the initial swelling is usually painless. Some cancers can cause a buildup of fluid within the chest or abdomen. General symptoms occur due to effects that are not related to direct or metastatic spread. These may include: unintentional weight loss, fever, excessive fatigue and changes to the skin. Hodgkin disease, leukemias and cancers of the liver or kidney can cause a persistent fever. Some cancers may cause specific groups of systemic symptoms, termed paraneoplastic syndrome. Examples include the appearance of myasthenia gravis in thymoma and clubbing in lung cancer. Cancer can spread from its original site by local spread, lymphatic spread to regional lymph nodes or by haematogenous spread via the blood to distant sites, known as metastasis. When cancer spreads by a haematogenous route, it usually spreads all over the body. However, cancer ‘seeds’ grow in certain selected site only (‘soil’) as hypothesized in the soil and seed hypothesis of cancer metastasis. The symptoms of metastatic cancers depend on the tumour location and can include enlarged lymph nodes (which can be felt or sometimes seen under the skin and are typically hard), enlarged liver or enlarged spleen, which can be felt in the abdomen, pain or fracture of affected bones and neurological symptoms. Causes of Cancer The majority of cancers, about 90–95% of reported cases, are due to genetic mutations from environmental factors. The remaining 5–10% are due to inherited genetics. Environmental, as used by cancer researchers, means any cause that is not inherited genetically and this includes lifestyle, economic and behavioural factors and not merely pollution. Common environmental factors that contribute to cancer death include tobacco, diet and obesity, chemicals (from food, cosmetics, toiletries and so on), infections, radiation (both ionizing and non-ionizing), stress, lack of physical activity, physical agents, hormones, auto-immune diseases and pollution. How Cancer is Diagnosed Early cancer diagnoses and treatment improves and increases the chances of being cured. Some types of cancer such as those of the skin, breast, mouth, testicles, prostate, and rectum may be detected by routine self-exam or other screening measures before the symptoms become serious. Most cases of cancer are detected and diagnosed after a tumour can be felt or when other symptoms develop. In a few cases, cancer is diagnosed incidentally as a result of evaluating or treating other medical conditions. Cancer diagnosis begins with a thorough physical exam and a complete medical history. Laboratory studies of blood, urine, and stool can detect abnormalities that may indicate cancer. When a tumour is suspected, imaging tests such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and fibre-optic endoscopy examinations help doctors determine the cancer’s location and size. To confirm the diagnosis of most cancers , a biopsy needs to be performed in which a tissue sample is removed from the suspected tumour and studied under a microscope to check for cancer cells. If the diagnosis is positive (cancer is present), other tests are performed to provide specific information about the cancer. This essential follow-up phase of diagnosis is called staging. The most important thing doctors need to know is whether cancer has spread from one area of the body to another. If the initial diagnosis is negative for cancer and symptoms persist, further tests may be needed. If the biopsy is positive for cancer, be sure to seek a confirming opinion by a doctor who specializes in cancer treatment before any treatment is started. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, treatments to eradicate the tumour or slow its growth may include some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy or herbal and alternative therapies. CANCER treatments includes: Surgery: The main goal is to remove tumours, tissue, or areas with cancer cells, such as lymph nodes. Doctors also may do it to diagnose the disease or find out how serious it is. In many cases, surgery offers the best chance of getting rid of the disease, especially if it hasn’t spread to other parts of the body. Along with a traditional operation, doctors can also fight some types of cancer with: - Laser surgery (beams of light) - Electrosurgery (electric currents) - Cryosurgery (very cold temperatures to freeze cancer cells) Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy can sometimes cause long-lasting side effects, like infertility and nerve damage. Generally, there are two methods for chemotherapy, which are: “Traditional” Chemotherapy: You get most chemo medications through an injection into a vein. But you can get some types as a shot in your muscle, under your skin, or as an ointment or cream to put on your skin. Side effects usually vary from person to person, even if you have the same type of cancer and get the same treatment as someone else. Oral (a.k.a. “No Needle”) Chemotherapy: With this type of treatment, you swallow a drug in liquid, tablet, or capsule form at home. It works as well as other forms of chemotherapy for some types of cancer, but not all chemo drugs can be taken by mouth. There are some that the stomach can’t absorb, and others can be harmful if you swallow them. Oral drugs can cost more out-of-pocket than traditional chemo, too. Radiation: This common treatment uses high-energy particles or waves to destroy or damage cancer cells to keep them from spreading. It might be your only treatment, or you might get it along with surgery, chemotherapy or herbal therapy. Radiation itself isn’t painful, but afterward you may have pain, fatigue, and skin rashes around the place you got the treatment. There are also known side effects for radiation therapy too which depend on the location of the cancer cells. Targeted therapy: In which drugs work against specific parts of cancer cells to keep them from growing or spreading. Immunotherapy: also called biologic therapy, which gets the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Hormone therapy: also called hormone treatment or hormonal therapy, which treats cancers that use hormones to grow (such as breast cancer and prostate cancer). Stem cell transplants: The use of chemo or radiation to destroy as many cancer cells as possible, then try to replace them with healthy stem cells from bone marrow or blood. Photodynamic therapy: This works by injecting a special drug into the bloodstream, then use a specific type of light to make it kill cancer cells. With any cancer treatment, it might take a while before you know how it affects the disease. It is important to stay in touch with your doctor or therapist and keep such person in the loop about anything that doesn’t feel right. You are the most important part of your cancer care team. Treating Cancer Naturally: This involves the use of combination of cancer-fighting herbs, diet and lifestyle changes to cure cancer. This is has been proven to be more effective for the fact that it is almost the least risky out of all the therapies available to tackle cancer. Treating cancer naturally will not have any side effect on your immune system or affect other healthy body cells. If you need such therapy for cancer, click here to contact us. Exercise and Cancer: Exercise can help control fatigue, muscle tension, and anxiety in those with cancer. Patients tend to feel better if they do exercises such as walking or swimming. Exercise has also been shown to improve the outcomes associated with cancer treatment. Mind/Body Medicine for Cancer: Some mind/body therapies improve quality of life for cancer patients through behaviour modification. Others encourage expression of emotions. Behaviour therapies such as guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback are used to alleviate pain, nausea, vomiting, and the anxiety that may occur in anticipation of, or after, cancer treatment. Individual or group counselling allows patients to confront problems and emotions caused by cancer and receive support from fellow patients in a group setting. Patients who pursue these types of therapies tend to feel less lonely, less anxious about the future, and more optimistic about recovery. Nutrition, Diet, and Cancer: Scientific evidence suggests that nutrition plays a role in cancer prevention. Observational studies have shown that cancer is more common in some people with certain dietary habits such as colorectal cancer in people who have diets rich in meat products. Studies show some supplements may increase cancer risk, such as lung cancer risk in smokers taking beta carotene and prostate cancer risk in men taking high doses of vitamin E. Acupuncture and Acupressure Acupuncture and acupressure are examples of “complementary” medicine for cancer. There are evidences that show that they help reduce symptoms and side effects of the illness and its treatment. Homeopathy and Cancer: Homeopathic preparations may ease the nausea, fatigue, and anxiety associated with cancer and its treatment. Social Support and Spirituality: Having the support of friends and family can help you deal with the depression, fear, and anxiety that accompany cancer. In some cases, a strong support network can even affect the length of survival of cancer patients; studies have shown that men who experience limited social contact have a shorter survival time, while women with good social support survive longer from their cancers. Prayer can relieve stress, create a sense of meaning and purpose, and provide solace. Being an actively spiritual person may have even more benefits; cancer patients who consider themselves spiritual suffer less anxiety and depression, and even less pain, from their cancer. At-Home Care for Cancer After radiation therapy for cancer, be gentle to your skin. Do not scrub it, expose it to sunlight, or wear tight clothing. Aloe vera ointment is gentle and soothing, along with non-irritating lotions or creams, such as vitamin E. Eat light healthy snacks throughout the day rather than three heavy meals. Try eating food cold or at room temperature to avoid nausea. If your treatment involves lowering your white blood cell count, avoid people who are ill. Tell your doctor about any fever or unusual symptoms. Relieving pain: In addition to taking prescribed medication, try relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation. Join a cancer support group. Get plenty of rest, balanced with light exercise. Rather than feeling compelled to maintain a “positive attitude,” express your emotions honestly. Don’t worry if you sometimes feel depressed or afraid: These are normal feelings and legitimate reactions that will not affect your cancer. Fill your days with activities you enjoy. Reading a good book, listening to music, and talking with friends are surprisingly therapeutic. If you have been diagnosed of any type of cancer and you need a reliable natural remedy to combat it, click here to contact us today. Many people have been helped. If you gained anything reading this, kindly share with people you care about to save lives. Stay Healthy And Never Give Up! Plan B Wellness

https://www.planbwellness.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-cancer/

Health

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Claim: Ethiopia says it planted more than 350 million trees in just one day which, if verified, would be a world record. Verdict: If it's true what the government says that 23 million people took part it's possible they could have planted this many trees, but it hasn't been independently confirmed. Why plant trees? Ethiopia's government launched the £1.1bn tree planting project earlier this year to tackle deforestation and climate change. The United Nations says forest cover in Ethiopia fell from 35% of total land area in the early 20th Century to a little above 4% by the 2000s. The initial target was to plant 200 million tree saplings in 12 hours on 29 July, but Getahun Mekuria, the Innovation and Technology minister, said the country ended up planting more than 350 million tree seedlings. Allow Twitter content? Their aim is to plant four billion trees by October this year. How was it organised? The handing out of the seedlings to volunteers across the country was completed three days before the event, the government says. Some government employees were given the day off to help and officials from the UN, African Union and foreign diplomats also took part. Most of the seedlings were of an indigenous species, but there were also fruit trees such as the avocado. Officials were assigned to count the seedlings being planted by volunteers. So how likely is it that such a high number of trees were planted? An expert said it is possible but only with proper planning. "It is not impossible, but it would take a very well-organised effort," said Tim Christophersen, who coordinates work on forests and climate change at the UN. He told AFP that one volunteer could realistically plant about 100 trees a day. More than 23 million of Ethiopia's 105 million people took part, says Dr Tefera Mengistu, the National Forest Sector Development Program coordinator. So if all these people planted 100 seedlings - the 350 million figure would be surpassed easily. However, there is no available tally for how many trees each person planted. Planting 350 million trees, Mr Christophersen said, would require about 864,000 acres of land. But we don't know much land was used during this 12-hour effort. The head of one government-linked organisation told the BBC they'd been ordered to plant 10,000 trees, but had to pay for them out of their own budget. So they planted 5,000, but reported the full amount. And there is also a discrepancy between figures for some areas given out by the Innovation and Technology minister and the numbers posted on the website of the prime minister. We have asked the prime minister's office for clarification but have yet to get a response. The UN has praised the Ethiopian government and called on the region to follow its lead. "Other African nations should move with speed and challenge the status quo," said Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, director of UN environment's Africa office. However, the claim has also been viewed with scepticism by some. "I personally don't believe that we planted this much… It might be impossible to plant this many trees within a day," said a spokesperson for the opposition Ezema party. Some critics of the prime minister say he is using the campaign to distract from the challenges his government is facing, including ethnic conflicts which have forced some 2.5 million people from their homes. Was it an official record? Guinness World Records says it has not received an application from Ethiopia to verify the record-breaking attempt. "We are always on the lookout for new record-breaking achievements however, and so we would encourage the organisers of this event to get in touch with us to register an application," said Jessica Dawes, a spokeswoman for the organisation. Ethiopia would need to provide accurate evidence of the tree-planting, the people who took part, where it took place and timings. There also have to be two independent witnesses who can confirm the record results. The current world record holder is India. In 2016, 50 million trees were planted by more than 800,000 people in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. And if you're wondering about the record for the most trees planted in a day by one person, that's currently held by someone in Canada who planted 15,170 red pine seedlings in 2001.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-49266983

Politics

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Dietary weapon to fight against the deadly COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) COVID 19 is an infectious disease that is caused by a coronavirus. This virus has become a global concern as it has spread to more than 180 countries across the globe with currently over 2,840,830 cases. The outbreak of this virus has taken many lives and livelihood, the social, physical, and mental life of the people had been affected. Domestic violence due to Partial or total lockdown. What Causes Coronavirus This virus has been found out to be zoonotic meaning that, they first develop in animals before passing to humans through close contact with that animal. This deadly virus can be spread among people through respiratory droplets and physical contact with an infected person. The Symptoms of this Virus Medical health personnel has disclosed that persons with this virus may not display some symptoms until about 21 days before you can begin to notice symptoms such as; - Difficulty in breathing - Severe cough - Increase in body temperature - Persistent pain in the chest Call for emergency medical care if you start having any of these symptoms. How can we prevent this deadly disease? - Wash your hands with soap at all time or immediately you have a contact. - Observe safe distance from others - Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. - Stay at home as much as you can - If you have any of the above symptoms call for medical help immediately Dietary weapon to fight Against COVID-19 Research had shown that food and food supplements containing vitamins like, vitamin C and D and other micronutrients can help fight against this disease. According to the journal of nutrient, Adrian Gombart of OSU’s Linus Pauling Institute and collaborators at the University of Southampton, the University of Otago (New Zealand) and University Medical Centre (The Netherlands) say that Public health officials should release nutritional recommendation to complement the role of other preventive measures that will already have. COVID 19 patients need a strong immune system to fight against this virus infection and this is what all these nutrients can provide. Certain vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids such as; vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acid in fish are known to help boost your immune system. But the problem is people are not eating enough of these nutrients. Hygiene and vaccination are important to curb the spread of this virus, but other strategies such as nutritional focus on the immune system can also help to reduce the effect of this infection. Ways to Derive Vitamins from our Food and Others - Cook all fruit and vegetables in a very low heat and not for too long. - Don’t fry. Put all vegetables and fruits in the pot, add your groundnut oil, other seasonings before you put it on the fire. It is as sweet as the one you fry. - Do not cut your vegetables before you wash it. The water-soluble vitamins will be washed away and you will be left with roughage. - Don’t just cook to please your appetite but your body - Snack on fruits daily instead of Pepsi and Coke - Take enough vitamin supplements especially vitamin C Dietary Weapon To Fight Against The Deadly COVID-19

https://greenerhealth.com.ng/covid19/

Health

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In the annals of Byzantine history, few figures loom as large as Emperor Justinian I. A visionary ruler who redefined the boundaries of empire and reshaped the legal landscape of civilization, Justinian's reign from 527 to 565 AD stands as a testament to the heights of Byzantine power and influence. At the dawn of his rule, the Byzantine Empire faced myriad challenges. Barbarian incursions had eroded the once-mighty Roman territories in the west, leaving the empire a mere shadow of its former glory. Yet, within the heart of Constantinople, Justinian saw not despair, but opportunity. With a boldness matched only by his ambition, Justinian embarked on a campaign of reconquest, seeking to reclaim the lost territories of the Western Roman Empire. Through a series of military campaigns led by the brilliant general Belisarius, Justinian achieved remarkable success, recapturing lands as far-reaching as Italy, North Africa, and parts of Spain. But Justinian's ambitions extended far beyond the battlefield. Recognizing the need for a unified legal system to govern his vast empire, he undertook the monumental task of codifying Roman law. The result was the Corpus Juris Civilis, a comprehensive legal code that would serve as the foundation of law and jurisprudence for centuries to come. Yet, perhaps Justinian's most enduring legacy lies not in conquest or legislation, but in the realm of architecture. Under his patronage, Constantinople blossomed into a city of unparalleled splendor, adorned with grand monuments and majestic buildings that captured the imagination of all who beheld them. Foremost among these architectural marvels was the Hagia Sophia, a cathedral unlike any the world had ever seen. With its soaring dome and intricate mosaics, the Hagia Sophia stood as a testament to the power and glory of Byzantium, a beacon of hope and inspiration for all who entered its hallowed halls. In Justinian, we see not merely a ruler, but a visionary – a man whose legacy endures in the laws we abide by, the buildings we admire, and the empires we aspire to build. As we reflect on his reign, we are reminded of the enduring power of human ambition and the indomitable spirit that drives us to reach ever greater heights. In the grand tapestry of history, Justinian I stands as a colossus – a titan of his age whose legacy continues to shape the world we inhabit today. Post a Comment

https://www.alalamychronicles.com.ng/2024/05/justinian-i-architect-of-empires-and-law.html

Culture

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Furcifer Labordi Chameleons Die After Mating (If They Don't Kill Each Other First) Furcifer labordi chameleons mate in January. It's "a nasty, often violent business of males fighting males, females fighting males, and all of them wishing they were somewhere else," according to Natalie Angier, writing for The New York Times. If they don't kill each other while trying to mate, hormone overdoses due to high levels of aggression might end them. Regardless, the males and females both die after successfully mating and laying eggs, and then just "drop from the trees with the papery grace of autumn leaves." This particular species of chameleon spends two-thirds of its existence as an egg buried in the sand. These chameleons have the shortest lifespan of all tetrapods (four-limbed animals), often only lasting 4 to 5 months. They often spend more time developing as an embryo than they do after birth. The males in all 12 species of the marsupial mammal antechinus die after their first time successfully breeding, typically from stressing themselves out. The stress of the breeding season destroys their immune system, leading to liver infections and parasites of the blood and intestines. While some females live to breed for another season, all the males perish. That's not the only place males get the short end of the stick. As babies, the males are denied adequate milk by their mothers, who prefer to wean the females. Then, they end their year-long lives trying to mate with as many females as they can "in violent, frenetic encounters that can each last up to 14 hours," according to National Geographic. Normal mating sessions for these mammals last at least a few hours at a time, and then the males immediately go on to find more females to mate with. By moving so quickly, these creatures give themselves no time to eat, drink, or sleep. With breeding seasons lasting around two weeks, the males are so exhausted from the repetitive intercourse that they perish, leaving the females to birth and care for the babies on their own. Some female praying mantises bite their much smaller mate's head off after or even during fertilization. The male gets seduced by pheromones and a courtship dance beforehand, only to be killed after intercourse. Females usually don't take off the male's head in one quick chomp, but instead, they bite into it like an apple, prolonging the pain. Males appear to use their feelers to calm the female down beforehand, but it almost never works. However, research shows that there's a benefit to this decapitation. Males have a "separate mini brain" in their tails, which activates once their heads are gone. It causes them to thrust more vigorously and speed up the process, making the mating more successful in the end. Male Australian Redback Spiders Sacrifice Themselves After Sex Unlike some animals that get sick or just die of natural causes after mating, male Australian redback spiders essentially sacrifice themselves after sex. Like their American cousin, the black widow spider, female redbacks devour males post-coitus if they make themselves available. During mating, males purposely put their abdomens near the female's mouth, even though she will likely squirt digestive juices on him and devour him from the back in the end. Males who choose to sacrifice themselves "sire proportionately more offspring than do the partners that the female spiders choose not to chew." A male redback's lifespan is so short that he will likely die or get eaten by a predator before making it to another female's web anyway. So, most males don't survive their first time mating. The Male Phascogale Is The Largest Mammal That Mates Itself To Death The male Australian phascogale is the largest known mammal to die after sex for reasons similar to other marsupial mammals. Around the age of 11-12 months, the male phascogale - if fortunate enough to be chosen by the dominant female - breeds in early winter. He expends so much energy trying to mate that his own immune system gets put at risk. Males will even stop eating to focus on finding a mate, causing hormonal changes that can lead to their organs breaking down. All three species of phascogale fall prey to stress-induced diseases and die, or they are eaten by predators like owls, foxes, and cats. Either way, they'll die after their first and only breeding season. However, females go on to live for about three years. Since the males perish before the young ones are born, there are more resources for the babies and mothers to thrive off of. The Male Little Red Kaluta Is The Only Grassland-Dwelling Mammal To Die Of Post-Mating Stress The Dasykaluta rosamondae or "little red kaluta" species is one of several marsupial mammal breeds where the males don't survive past their first mating season. Males die soon after reaching sexual maturity at about 10 months old. The little red kaluta, however, is the only one of these marsupials to live in the grasslands of Australia. The rest of these mammals dwell in the forest. Like similar species, the male little red kaluta's immune systems collapses, and it dies of stress-related issues after mating. Interestingly, in laboratory settings, the males kept alive after mating become "reproductively senile," which means they're too old to effectively mate, despite only being 1 year old. However, females are capable of reproducing for at least two breeding seasons.

https://www.ranker.com/list/animals-who-die-after-sex/kellen-perry?ref=collections&l=2424647&collectionId=1666cc

Education

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The word "miscarriage" refers to the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation, as you are likely aware if you have heard it. Nobody wants to consider miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy, but 10–20% of all known pregnancies result in miscarriage. You can be better prepared for a miscarriage if you can identify the signs of one and know what to do after that. of a miscarriage Because a miscarriage can occur quickly or gradually, you might not recognize any specific early symptoms of one. However, regardless of how quickly it occurs, major symptoms include: - Vaginal bleeding or spotting pink, red, or brown - Having cramps or lower abdominal pain - Removing blood clots or tissue from the vagina Each miscarriage is unique. The pains and bleeding that are the heaviest may stop in a few hours, but bleeding may be intermittent for up to three weeks. Additionally, a miscarriage isn't always unpleasant, despite the fact that the majority of people have cramping. Early pregnancy is characterized by both vaginal spotting and minor cramping, making it possible to experience a miscarriage without being aware of it. This is why, once you've confirmed your pregnancy, you should contact your healthcare provider if you encounter any of the aforementioned signs and symptoms. How often do miscarriages occur? The majority of miscarriages occur in the first trimester, or the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. An early miscarriage could be mistaken for a period if you're not keeping track of your menstrual cycle or fertility. And while miscarriages are still possible after the first trimester, the likelihood drops substantially, to just 3-4%. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, it is also possible to experience a pregnancy loss; however, this is known as a stillbirth. Compared to miscarriages, it is far less prevalent and is treated pregnancy test come out negative after a miscarriage? After a miscarriage, it takes some time for your hormone levels to stabilize at those from before the pregnancy. For several weeks after a miscarriage, the level of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may still be high enough to result in a positive pregnancy test. ALSO READ: Tips on getting pregnant with fibroids exactly causes miscarriages? Miscarriages are frequently brought on by factors that are out of your control, such as: abnormalities: An over- or under-proportionate number of chromosomes can occur in a fertilized egg. The majority of miscarriages are caused by random chromosomal abnormalities, which account for about half of all pregnancies. They have the power to stop the embryo from developing or from forming at all. or uterine problems: Some uterine or cervix problems can impede embryo development and result in miscarriage. This includes disorders including endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and cervical insufficiency, which occurs when the cervix opens too early, usually in the second trimester, and causes growths or scar tissue in the uterus. - Infections: You risk losing your pregnancy if you don't get treatment for STIs. It's crucial to get tested for STIs before becoming pregnant because an infection can exist without showing any signs. Additionally, if you contract listeriosis, a form of food illness, you could miscarry. It is advised that you refrain from consuming some meals when pregnant because of this. - Other variables can also raise your chance of miscarriage and other pregnancy issues in addition to the ones mentioned above. Among these risk factors are: - Age: The chance of miscarriage increases beyond the age of 35. This is because eggs with additional or missing chromosomes are increasingly typical as you become older. exposition: exposure to radiation, poisons, or pollutants through work or other means. of disease: such as severe diabetes, thyroid abnormalities, autoimmune diseases, and being overweight or underweight. lifestyle: taking in drinks, smoking, and taking drugs. in the past: An increased likelihood of miscarrying in the future can be predicted if you experience two or more consecutive miscarriages. cause a miscarriage? Miscarriage has not been associated with physical exercise or sexual activity. Conversely, if you're ever unsure whether anything is safe to do while pregnant, talk to your healthcare professional. According to several pieces of research, increased coffee intake or stress levels during pregnancy may raise the risk of miscarriage. Although more research is required, it is advised that you try to manage your stress as much as you can and limit your daily coffee intake to 200 mg. move forward in the event of a miscarriage Again, contact your healthcare practitioner if you suspect a miscarriage. They'll want to confirm the miscarriage and make sure you don't have any infections or risky blood loss. An ultrasound and a pelvic exam are typically used for this. Miscarriages frequently end spontaneously, requiring no medical intervention. You might experience some mild bleeding that subsides over the course of a few weeks, and it might take a few days for all of the tissue to pass. If you have persistent heavy bleeding, a fever, indications of weakness, or other infections, get medical help right once. medical help after a miscarriage A miscarriage cannot be stopped by medicine. Instead, miscarriage treatment emphasizes avoiding severe bleeding and infection, which can occur if the uterus isn't entirely free of tissue. Options for treatment, once a miscarriage has been determined, include: - Medication: The passage of pregnancy tissue may be accelerated with medication. - Surgery: A small procedure known as dilatation and curettage (D&C) may be carried out if there is unutilized tissue in the uterus or indications of significant blood loss or infection. The cervix is dilated during a D&C so that the remaining tissue can be carefully removed. Additionally, preference may be used to select ALSO READ: Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy for getting over a miscarriage Avoid placing anything in your vagina during a miscarriage and for two weeks after to prevent infection. This entails refraining from sexual activity and switching to pads in place of tampons. Take acetaminophen as directed on the package if you experience painful cramps before, during, or after a miscarriage. The bleeding can cause your iron levels to fall. Consume a nutritious diet rich in iron and vitamin C to counteract this and assist your body's blood production. Red meat, shrimp, beans, and leafy green vegetables are all good sources of iron. Citrus fruits, kiwis, bell peppers, and many other vegetables contain vitamin C. There are no right or wrong emotions to feel upon experiencing a miscarriage. Many different feelings, such as mood swings, grief, rage, and loneliness, are frequent. If you need help after losing a pregnancy or are feeling overwhelmed, talk to family, friends, or a counselor. Give yourself some grace. A miscarriage can take a heavy emotional and physical toll. If you require some downtime to rest and recover, it's acceptable to take a break from your routine. Once it has been determined that you have miscarried, attend any follow-up appointments that have been suggested and notify your healthcare practitioner as soon as you notice any new or worsening symptoms. miscarriage be prevented? It's common to consider whether there was anything you could have done to prevent the miscarriage. Keep in mind that miscarriages are rarely anyone's fault, and there is no surefire way to prevent them. However, there are several healthy lifestyle decisions you may make to reduce your risk, such - Quit as soon as you can if you smoke, consume alcohol, or use drugs. - Have an STI test done. - Discuss any health issues you haven't received treatment for with a medical expert. - To manage your health conditions, follow any treatment recommendations or other advice you have already been provided. - Activate your body enough. - Follow a healthy diet. Making a preconception appointment is one of the finest things you can do if you aren't pregnant yet to reduce your chance of miscarriage and other issues. Your healthcare professional has the chance to review your health and lifestyle histories and offers suggestions that can help your pregnancy start as healthily as possible. Maintain your prenatal checkup schedule if you are already pregnant. Prenatal visits make sure that both you and your unborn child are receiving the necessary care. Additionally, by scheduling regular consultations, your care team has a better opportunity of identifying potential issues early on ALSO READ: How to Use Okra Water to Boost Ovulation your best to continue living a healthy lifestyle. To be the healthiest and fittest version of yourself, abide by our advice. We provide precise, current assessments with the goal of improving your general health. Some teaching materials on topics relating to health are being created by a group of business executives. Our efforts to educate you have been significant in ensuring that you have the most fruitful life possible. You may find the latest recent headlines as well as suggestions on how to get a good night's sleep. FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS ANY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES YOU MAY HAVE IN THE "COMMENTS" SECTION BELOW. - Miscarriage symptoms - Threatened miscarriage - Which food can cause miscarriage? - Causes of miscarriage in early pregnancy - Medicine for pregnancy to avoid miscarriage Post a Comment

https://www.healthlifekit.com/2023/05/how-to-confirm-miscarriage-at-home.html

Family

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News Hub Creator 2d View pictures in App save up to 80% data. To guide, nurture, and support your child in his or her development is a rewarding but difficult journey. Since every child is different and has their own particular set of requirements and character traits, raising children is an ongoing process of discovery and adjustment. While no single method can guarantee success, there are some guidelines that can smooth the way. Here are seven guidelines for being a good parent. It's crucial for parents to establish firm limits and guidelines for their children. This not only makes them feel more secure but also teaches them to be disciplined and accountable for their actions. Your child will benefit from understanding the rationale behind your rules, so be sure to do so when establishing them. Your child will benefit from a predictable environment in which the rules are consistently enforced. When it comes to your relationship with your child, it's especially important to be able to talk to them openly and honestly. Try to put yourself in your kid's shoes and see things from their point of view. Asking questions and sharing personal feelings can help break down barriers in communication. The bond between parents and children can be strengthened and trust can be established. It's crucial to make your child feel loved and cared for. Expressions of affection can be both verbal and physical, including embracing, kissing, and other forms of physical contact. An emotional bond between parent and child is strengthened through displays of affection, which in turn can improve the child's sense of self-worth. Your child looks up to you as a parent because you set a good example. Being a good role model in terms of manners, behavior, and values is crucial to your child's development, so watch what you say and do. Setting a good example can have a profound impact on your child's outlook and actions. Your child will benefit from your love and guidance, but you should also push them to become self-reliant and confident. The ability to solve problems independently and the confidence that comes from doing so can be fostered by giving your child more freedom to do so. As long as your child is not in immediate danger, it is fine to allow them to learn from the consequences of their actions. It's crucial to your child's growth and development that you encourage curiosity and curiosity in your child. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as by reading to them, giving them access to learning tools, and providing them with opportunities to explore the world around them. Teaching a child to enjoy studying increases the likelihood that he or she will go on to achieve academic and professional success. The ability to be patient and understanding is crucial for successful parenting. It's important to keep your cool and be understanding when dealing with your child's outbursts of frustration or misbehavior. This can teach your child to manage their emotions in tense situations and help bring the situation to a peaceful resolution. Parenting is a thrilling and rewarding journey, but one that requires its participants to keep their cool and their hearts open the whole way. If you pay attention to the tips in this post and figure out what works best for you and your family, you will be able to encourage your child's growth and development and create a nurturing environment. If you prioritize your own health and well-being and reach out for assistance when you need it, you'll be helping both yourself and your child. Being a parent is a never-ending journey of self-discovery and adjusting to changing circumstances because no two families are alike. Have faith in your instincts and know that there is no one "right" way to raise a child. If you have love, patience, and understanding, you can raise happy, healthy children who are ready to take on the world.

https://www.operanewsapp.com/ke/en/share/detail?news_id=f398dd486945dc807180a397f20e8e31&news_entry_id=sb499b60221227en_ke&open_type=tanscoded&request_id=8bb1b60bfa68a139465b6d013b57364943ffed9b&from=publisher

Family

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An Archaeological Mystery In Ghana: Why Didn't Past Droughts Spell Famine? In the Banda district of west-central Ghana, July is the hungry season. This year's sorghum, yams and millet are still young and green in the rain-fed fields, and for most farmers, last year's harvest is long gone. People survive on cassava. They grind the roots and cook a polenta-like porridge called tuo zaafe and they stir the leaves into a soup. But there isn't enough to go around always, and the meal lacks protein. It's hard to know whether autumn will bring more food: Rains in Banda have been erratic lately and harvests sparse. The region has been in the midst of a 40-year drought. It's easy to think that life has always been this way in Banda — a poor, mostly agricultural district, a 10-hour drive from Ghana's thriving capital, Accra. But according to Northwestern University archaeologist Amanda Logan, that could not be further from the truth. Logan says the hungry-season gap likely didn't exist in the past. In fact, her research shows that before the mid-19th century, people here usually had enough to eat — even when rains failed. In a paper published Wednesday in American Anthropologist, Logan reports that food security in Banda peaked about 500 years ago, smack in the middle of an epic drought. By contrast, a much milder dry spell is currently wreaking havoc on local diets. Logan has spent the past eight years examining archaeological artifacts — dug up by her and archaeologists before her — spanning a 1,000-year timeline, searching for indirect clues to food shortage and abundance. She began by looking at charred grains — typically left over from cooking, and occasionally from kitchen fires. These grains provide a window into past eating habits of residents. Using more than 300 samples from 10 sites representing different time periods, Logan identified the grains and tracked changes in their relative quantities. She wanted to know when people were eating foods that they loved, and when they switched to less-preferred ones, a key sign of food insecurity. (It's like switching from steak and potatoes to mac and cheese when you're broke.) From the 11th through 15th centuries, she found, people mostly ate pearl millet, a grain historically loved by communities all over West Africa. Other artifacts, such as beads from Afghanistan and locally made iron bangles, show that during this period, merchants were plugged into trade networks, and local artisans were busy. That suggests there was enough food to feed a significant number of people who weren't farming. In other words, the people of Banda were thriving. Then, in the middle of the 15th century, a two-century-long drought set in — sedimentary records from nearby Lake Bosumtwi tell the story. "That drought, in terms of its severity and length, is like nothing we've seen in modern Africa," Logan says. "It's really intense." But here's the mystery: The archaeological record during this period shows no signs of food stress — no big increase in wild plant remains, which people often eat to get through famines; no shift to less-preferable foods; no major declines in population. People kept eating millet. And a wide range of iron, copper, ceramic, ivory and cloth artifacts show that trade and craft production were still thriving. It wasn't until the mid- to late 1800s, long after the drought ended, that Logan began to turn up evidence of food stress. Present-day residents of Banda still talk about ancestors around that time eating wild plants to survive, and the archaeological record backs them up: Four new types of wild plant seeds appear in dwellings from that period. A little later on, people went from eating millet to maize, a historically less-favored staple. They also began to eat cassava, also not a favorite among locals historically. Today, the hungry season has become a fact of life in Banda. So what happened between the 15th and 21st centuries to explain these changes? According to Logan, two key things: The slave trade siphoned off many young farmers and artisans, and Banda was incorporated into Britain's Gold Coast colony in the late 1800s. The British wanted to expand markets for their own industrial goods like iron and cloth, so they undercut local production of these items. "Five hundred years ago, Banda was a producer as well as a consumer of highly sought-after stuff [like] gold, ivory, iron and copper," she says. "As you get to the colonial period, Banda stops being a producer of anything but agricultural and locally consumed goods" like pottery. These changes weakened Banda's economy, and consequently, crippled residents' ability to survive drought and other disasters. The region remained reliant on agriculture even after Ghana became independent in 1957. Today, over 70 percent of residents work in farming, fishing or forestry. Because they sell much of their harvest to earn cash, families often run short of food for themselves and have to buy more at the market. If crops fail or prices rise at the wrong time, they go hungry. Back during the drought in the 1400s, Logan thinks people may have used income from craft production to buy food. Or that non-farm income spared them from selling food they grew, leaving them with enough to get through the year. They also may have shared food among themselves, so that the poor did not starve. The geographer Michael Watts has shown that this latter strategy was common in northern Nigeria before that region became a British colony. Scott MacEachern, a professor of anthropology at Bowdoin College and president of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists, says Logan has strong evidence documenting the long-term decline in Banda's food security. And her argument explaining that decline is convincing. "It fits really well with the historical record," says MacEachern, who was not involved in the study. "We tend to think of colonization as a fairly dry process, as essentially changes in government. On the ground, they were fantastically disruptive processes to the patterns of everyday life. So it's entirely plausible that the decline in food security she talks about is associated with those processes." Logan isn't the first to highlight the role of colonialism on food security in parts of the world. Geographers like Watts and economists like Amartya Sen have linked colonial policy to hunger for decades. But Logan is among the first to do so using archaeological evidence, says MacEachern. The new study is important because it extends the story much further into the past, says Arizona State University archaeologist Michelle Hegmon. Logan's findings, Hegmon says, parallel what economists and historians have already found — that food insecurity isn't caused simply by drought. "It's caused by economics and colonialism and the way people have to produce for market and things like that," she says.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/20/486670144/an-archaeological-mystery-in-ghana-why-didn-t-past-droughts-spell-famineMy

Culture

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Vitamin D The Sunshine Vitamin Vitamin D is otherwise known as “sunshine vitamin” as it can be synthesized from sunlight by our body. The term vitamin D refers to a family of compounds that are derived from cholesterol. There are two major forms of vitamin D: vitamin D2, found in plants and better known as ergocalciferol (or calciferol). And vitamin D3 is found in animal tissues and is often referred to as cholecalciferol. Among these vitamin D2 or calciferol and vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol are biologically important. Ergosterol and 7dehydrocholesterol act as provitamin of vitamin D. When ergosterol of vegetable origin is exposed to ultraviolet light calciferol is formed. Vitamin D3 is formed by the action of ultraviolet rays of sunlight on 7dehydrocholesterol. Which is present in our skin. If the body is kept in “Purdah” or covered for a prolonged time cholecalciferol is not produced by the body. Importance of vitamin D Vitamin D itself is in an inactive form. Vitamin D is concentrated in the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the small intestine. In the DNA vitamin helps to form active calcium-binding protein. It also maintains the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Vitamins D helps the deposition of calcium phosphate in the bone. Sources of vitamin D - Fish liver oils - Egg yolk - Fatty fish, like tuna, mackerel, and salmon - Foods fortified with vitamin D like some dairy products - orange juice - Beef liver You might also like to READ: Food that will keep you away from your doctor Some brands of butter are fortified with vitamin D. Sunlight is the best natural source of vitamin D. The human body is an excellent source of vitamin D. it produces much of its vitamin D in the summer under the influence of sunlight. The natural oils in the skin are changed by the sun’s rays, and large quantities of vitamin D are produced. Vitamin D deficiency results in poor absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine and excessive loss of them in the faeces. A deficiency of vitamin D leads to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults The name rickets is given to vitamin D deficiency, the symptoms shown are restlessness and irritability rickets are a disease of infancy and childhood. Calcium and phosphorus are not deposited enough to form strong bones. As a result, the leg bones become bent and deformed. The bones become soft and easily bent. Under the constant pull of the muscles. The joints lose their shape and are no longer able to function as they should. There may be a marked softening of the bones of the skull in young infants. This occurs among adults. It is often known as adult rickets. Osteomalacia is most common among women. Who lives on a poor diet lacking in calcium and vitamin D. Pregnant women are more prone to it. Due to the increase in weight gain during pregnancy accompanied by vitamin D deficiency. It is common among women in “purdah” who are always indoors and when outdoors their body is covered. Repeated pregnancies and prolonged lactation further deplete calcium stores which result in osteomalacia. Pain, softening and tenderness in the bones and fractures are the common complaints of patients with osteomalacia

https://bnethub.com/vitamin-d-sources-deficiency-overall-benefits/

Health

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Christians the world over celebrate Christmas in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Various Christmas traditions have been associated with the celebration of Christmas, and different cultures celebrate different ways. The unifying factor is the historical fact that Jesus was born, c. 5 BC. The angel who appeared to the shepherds the night of Jesus’ birth said, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11). We celebrate Christmas because, as the angel said, the birth of Jesus Christ is “good news.” Good news is meant to be celebrated. In fact, the angel said the news of Jesus’ birth would cause “great joy” and would be “for all the people”—the joyful celebration would be universal. People around the globe would be glad for this occasion. We celebrate Christmas because, as the angel said, “A Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” The three titles the angel applies to Jesus are important. Jesus is the Savior who delivers us from sin and death (Matthew 1:21). He is the human Messiah (or Christ) who fulfills the Law and the Prophets, showing that God is faithful (see Matthew 5:17). And He is the divine Lord who has entered our world: the Almighty has taken on human flesh; God and man have been fused together in an indivisible, eternal bond; God is truly with us (see Matthew 1:23). In celebrating Christmas, we celebrate the Savior, because we needed deliverance. We celebrate the Christ in whom all of God’s promises are “Yes” and “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). We celebrate the Lord who in humility took on “the very nature of a servant” for our sakes (see Philippians 2:6–8). We celebrate Christmas with gift-giving because of the “indescribable gift” that God gave to us (2 Corinthians 9:15). We celebrate Christmas by stringing lights because the Light of the world has come to us (John 1:4; Isaiah 9:2). We celebrate Christmas with carols and choirs because they are expressive of joy and follow the examples of Mary and Zacharias and Simeon and the angels, all of whom extolled the Lord in poetry (Luke 1–2). We celebrate Christmas by decorating evergreen trees with stars and angels and tinsel because of the eternal life Jesus brings (John 4:14)—and stars and angels and beauty were all associated with Jesus’ birth. In celebrating Christmas we celebrate the love and condescension of God. In Texas in 1987, a toddler by the name of Jessica McClure fell into an eight-inch well casing. Down she went, becoming stuck twenty-two feet below ground. Once people discovered that “Baby Jessica” was in the well, they took immediate action. They didn’t tell her to find a way to climb back up, and they didn’t just shout happy thoughts to encourage her. No, they went down to where she was and got her. They did whatever it took. Rescuers worked nonstop for fifty-eight hours to free her. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve fell. Down they went, dragging all humanity with them into the darkness and death of sin. And what did God do? He did not tell us to find our own way out of the mess we were in, and He did more than shout down happy thoughts to us from heaven. No, He came down to where we were and got us. That’s what Christmas is all about—God’s coming down to rescue us, to do whatever it took to deliver us from sure death. When even one person is in a life-threatening situation, we understand what has to be done. When God looked down at our sinful planet, He saw a whole world of people in mortal danger. We celebrate Christmas because it was at Christmastime that the Rescuer of all mankind came to save us from the hopeless situation we were in. God did not stay in heaven; He came down to where we are.

https://www.gotquestions.org/why-celebrate-Christmas.html

Religion

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What Is The Year 2038 Problem? Also known as the Y2K38 Bug, The Unix Y2K Bug or Epochalypse The year 2038 problem is a problem caused by how some software systems store dates. When these dates reach 1 second after 03:14:07 UTC on 19 January 2038 they could have an error or incorrectly store the wrong date (in some cases 20:45:52 on Friday, 13 December 1901). To understand why this happens we need to understand the background behind how these dates are stored. Which Dates Have This Issue? One of the many ways dates are stored in a system is called a Unix Timestamp, Unix Epoch time or sometimes just referred to as a timestamp. These dates are stored as the number of seconds that have elapsed since midnight on 01 January 1970 (UTC/GMT). If a signed 32 bit Integer is used to store this type of date it will run out of space to store dates after 03:14:07 UTC on 19 January 2038. This could cause an error or store an incorrect time depending on the language it was written in (for example PHP or C), the version, operating system and many other factors. It’s important to note that this problem does not just impact UNIX systems as many programming languages and systems adopted this date format to represent time. If you don’t understand what an signed 32 bit integer is we suggest you have a read our guide Learn How Computers Store Integer Numbers. How Do I Check If This Will Be A Problem? Checking for this issue across a whole system is probably going to be a time consuming and complicated task. You will need to look into all aspects of your system and everything that is connected to that system. It’s important to note that these problems may occur earlier in some systems and later in others if the system is comparing times in the future and times in the past. All systems are different and it would be impossible to come up with a full list of things to check but here are some things to look out for: - Embedded systems that may store dates as signed 32 bit integer timestamps - Hardware running 32 bit software or operating systems - Databases that have timestamps stored as signed 32 bit integers - Database functions that use 32 bit integer representations of times such as UNIX_TIMESTAMP() - Code where dates, times or intervals between two times are compared - Code that calculates based on times or events in the future or past. (For example a loan calculator that calculator interest over 30 years) You will need to rely on experts to check all the systems especially if you have critical software running that you absolutely can’t afford to break for any amount of time. If you are running all 64 bit software this does not guarantee you won’t have any issues. Even in these systems dates can still be stored using a signed 32 bit integer and these systems could rely on other systems that may have this issue. It’s also important to note that not all 32 bit software will have this issue, in fact the vast majority of 32 bit software probably won’t have this issue. A lot of 32 bit software will store dates in special structures that can handle dates far in excess of the year 2038 but the only real way to know how the dates are stored and used in a system is to check. A word of caution: Do not change times on servers to test, just don’t do it. If you really know what you are doing then proceed with absolute caution. When server times get out of synchronization bad things can happen. Attempt to do all your tests on testing systems and not on production servers to minimize any impacts and if you absolutely need to test things on production machines do them at times when the systems aren’t as busy in case things break. How To Fix This Issue There is no universal fix to this issue. Systems will have to be fully checked and problems identified and fixed. It is suggested that you add extra tests with boundary tests around this date to ensure that the software will function after this date. Once problems are identified here are just a few different ways they can be fixed: - Convert the timestamps and functions to use 64 bit integers (and ensure the functions can handle 64 bit integers correctly) - Convert the code to use unsigned 32 bit integers where you don’t need to store dates before the year 1970. Note that you will just be moving the same problem forward to the date February 7, 2106 - Convert the timestamps to use structures specifically made to handle dates and times (i.e. DateTime objects). Is This Similar To The Y2K Bug? In a way it is a similar type of problem to the Y2K bug in that the date is stored in a way that doesn’t have a big enough capacity to represent the time after a specific date. It is this similarity why sometimes it is referred to as the Y2K38 Bug. The Y2K bug was an issue when years were stored as ‘00’ instead of ‘2000’ whereas the year 2038 problem is the problem with the underlying structure not being big enough to hold the date after 2038. Will This Cause The End Of The World? Probably not. By the year 2038 most software should be updated to use at least a 64 bit representation of timestamps. For critical systems the vast majority will have to check their code bases and systems and implement any fixes well before this date. In addition to this, most of the work done to fix the issues around dates for the Y2K bug before the year 2000 should have factored in the year 2038 problem into their fixes. This doesn’t mean that you can just ignore it but unless there are some very big oversights or companies ignore the issue most things should change over smoothly. As we have seen this issue could impact many different systems in many different ways. To ensure that you have a smooth functioning system after the year 2038 it is important that your code bases and any connected systems (including embedded systems) are tested and checked to ensure they are compatible with times after this date. With some checking and testing you can ensure your systems will function correctly after these dates and well into the future. All information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is provided in good faith, however, We make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on the Website. Under no circumstance shall We have any liability to You for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of the Website or reliance on any information provided on the Website. Your use of the Website and Your reliance on any information on the Website is solely at Your own risk.

https://theyear2038problem.com/

Education

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The article How the Radio Spectrum Works talks about how the FCC has allocated different frequencies to different activities in the United States. For example, cell phones have their own assigned frequencies, baby monitors have their own frequencies, CB radios have their own, and so on. FM radio stations all transmit in a band between 88 megahertz (millions of cycles per second) and 108 megahertz. This band of frequencies is completely arbitrary and is based mostly on history and whim. Inside that band, each station occupies a 200-kilohertz slice, and all of the slices start on odd number boundaries. So there can be a station at 88.1 megahertz, 88.3 megahertz, 88.5 megahertz, and so on. The 200-kilohertz spacing, and the fact that they all end on odd boundaries, is again completely arbitrary and was decided by the FCC. In Europe, the FM stations are spaced 100 kilohertz apart instead of 200 kilohertz apart, and they can end on even or odd numbers. For more information on radio technology, see the next page.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/fm-station-odd-number.htm

Politics

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Just recently the environment ministry organised a sensitisation workshop on the prevention and control of mycotoxins in food and the environment which is affecting the health of Nigerians and the economy at large. HELEN OJI reports. The prevention and control of mycotoxins in food and the environment is apt and timely, considering the adverse health effects of mycotoxins on Nigerians and the economy. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) asserts that more than one-quarter of the World’s agricultural produce is contaminated with Mycotoxins. The common occurrence and extensive growth of moulds in homes, schools, offices and especially on food and food products poses great risk to human survival. The low level of knowledge by the public about these moulds and the effects of the metabolites they produce are of great concern and needs to be promptly addressed. Exposure to moulds and their toxic mycotoxins and other metabolites in food and environment has been associated with disorders of the respiratory and central nervous systems to mention but a few. Mycotoxins are poisonous substances produced by fungi a group of organisms that contains moulds, yeasts and mushrooms. Two closely related species of moulds or fungi are mainly responsible for producing the mycotoxins of public health significance: Fusarium and Aspergillus ( flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus), that produce fumonisins and aflatoxins, respectively. Several types of aflatoxin (14 or more) occur in nature, but four – aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 are particularly dangerous to humans and animals. A number of different types of fumonisin are known, but fumonisins B1, B2 and B3 (also named FB1, FB2 and FB3) are the major forms found in food. While aflatoxins are known to cause cancer of the liver in humans, fumonisins are thought to be possible cancer promoters of aflatoxin carcinogenicity. For fumonisins the evidence for adverse health effects in humans is currently inconclusive but there are concerns they may contribute to various serious adverse health outcomes such as birth defects. There is some evidence and concern that there might be additive or synergistic actions that occur when the two types of mycotoxins are present, potentially increasing carcinogenicity, in particular to cause cancer of the liver in humans. Fumonisins can also have significant health effects in livestock and other animals and aflatoxins pose a significant economic burden, causing an estimated 25% or more of the world’s food crops to be destroyed annually. High economic loss According to the Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahood Abubakar, there is high economic loss due to diseases induced by mycotoxins and the continuous rejection of Nigeria food products in the international market. He stressed that moulds are perhaps the most pressing food quality problems in environments because many of the food and food products are moist organic materials which are subjected to poor methods of food handling and storage. Also worrisome is the dense nature of the population where buildings are more likely to harbour high levels of moulds. In his words, “The Country is worried about the risk of environmental exposures experienced by those that consume or are exposed to food and food products contaminated with mycotoxins. As has been well established, the exposure of humans and animals to mycotoxin is both chronic (cancer induction, kidney toxicity, immune suppression) and acute (turkey X syndrome, human ergotism, etc). The ingestion of mycotoxin through food and inhalation of mycotoxins and other contaminants in the air might result in lung damage, allergic reactions such as irritation in the respiratory tract, eyes, and skin, and sometimes headaches. Exposure to all these contaminants could have harmful effects on vital organs and consequently on the overall human health and productivity. “It is instructive to note that, controlling mycotoxins which is largely preventive entails good agricultural practice and sufficient post-harvest drying of crops. Additionally, they are also controlled by diversion of mycotoxin-contaminated commodities from the food supply through effective screening in the market place. These, require concerted efforts of the Environment, Agriculture. and Health Sectors through effective collaboration, thereby fostering the objectives of one health,” he added. Rapid testing technology Specifically, the need to prioritize mycotoxin control through the use of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Concepts following an Integrated Management Approach for Pre-harvest, Harvesting, Post-harvest, Storage and Processing of Food and Cash crops. The Ministry is strongly advocating for an effective Mycotoxin Testing Programme using rapid testing technology with potential for scaling up to laboratory-based methods. Abubakar said it is imperative to note that; this workshop is organised to develop capacity of participants on the occurrence, prevalence and effects of mycotoxins in food, animal and environment. “We intend to make the participants acquire the skills to monitor and detect safety risks associated with exposure to mycotoxin contamination in the environment and promptly taking appropriate corrective measures.”

https://www.blueprint.ng/inec-bans-recs-from-visiting-government-houses/Good

Politics

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The testes are where sperm are manufactured in the scrotum. The epididymis is a tortuously coiled structure topping the testis, and it receives immature sperm from the testis and stores it for several days. When ejaculation occurs, sperm is forcefully expelled from the tail of the epididymis into the deferent duct. Sperm then travels through the deferent duct through up the spermatic cord into the pelvic cavity, over the ureter to the prostate behind the bladder. Here, the vas deferens joins with the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct, which passes through the prostate and empties into the urethra. When ejaculation occurs, rhythmic muscle movements propel the sperm forward. Review Date 3/31/2024 Updated by: Sovrin M. Shah, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19073.htm

Family

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Coronavirus: Flushing the loo can create a cloud of virus particles which the next user might inhale, warns study A new study warns that virus particles in the faeces of infected people could be ejected into the air when toilets are flushed. Tuesday 16 June 2020 16:40, UK Flushing the toilet can create an aerosol cloud of coronavirus droplets more than a metre high which can be inhaled by others, spreading the infection, new research warns. Physicists specialising in fluid dynamics are warning about the transmission method following studies which found coronavirus particles surviving in the faeces of the infected. The danger that COVID-19 could be transmitted through the common use of toilets could impact how workplaces, restaurants and bars re-open as the world leaves lockdown. According to the researchers, flushing things down the loo doesn't necessarily mean that they are simply leaving the premises. Instead the enormous turbulence caused by flushing water can spread bacteria and viruses, although the public appears to be largely unaware of this infection pathway. Precise computer models were used to simulate water and air flows in a flushing toilet, and the resulting droplet cloud, in a study published in the journal Physics of Fluids. The investigators tested a standard set of fluid dynamic formulas to simulate flushing in toilets with one and two inlets for flushing water. "The results of the simulations were striking," said the American Institute of Physics, which published the journal. It found that as water pours into the toilet bowl is creates a number of vortices which continue upward into the air above the bowl, carrying droplets to a height of nearly three feet. At this height the droplets are very likely to be inhaled or to settle on another surface in the lavatory. What's more, these droplets are so small they actually float and hang in the air for more than a minute - and for toilets with multiple inlets for flushing water, the distance is even greater. "One can foresee that the velocity will be even higher when a toilet is used frequently, such as in the case of a family toilet during a busy time or a public toilet serving a densely populated area," said co-author Ji-Xiang Wang, of Yangzhou University. One key way to prevent this deadly problem is to close the toilet lid before flushing which will decrease the aerosol spread. But in many countries, including the US, toilets in public restrooms often don't have lids - posing a serious hazard to public health. The researchers suggest a better toilet design would include a lid which automatically closed before flushing.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-flushing-the-loo-can-create-a-cloud-of-virus-particles-which-the-next-user-might-inhale-warns-study-12007909

Health

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Honey is a sweet, viscous food substance made by honey bees and some related insects. A lot of people recommend honey as a replacement for sugar in terms of health benefits but is honey really healthy for your body? First of all, let us look at the nutritional value of honey. Nutritional Value of Honey According to Wikipedia, One hundred grams of honey provides about 1,270 kJ (304 kcal) of energy with no significant amounts of essential nutrients. Composed of 17% water and 82% carbohydrates, honey has a low content of fat, dietary fiber, and protein. Honey is a mixture of Sugars and other carbohydrates. It contains mainly fructose (38%) and glucose (32%) with remaining sugars including maltose and sucrose. It also contains vitamins (riboflavin, Niacin, vitamin C, pantothenic acid, and folate) and minerals like (zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorous), amino acids, and antioxidants in small quantities. Health Benefits of Honey Honey is effective in healing wounds. It’s been found to be an effective germ killer and also aids in tissue regeneration. It is also effective in fighting off diseases in the body because of the presence of hydrogen peroxide in it. Honey is also a good antioxidant, aids in digestive issues like diarrhea, helps in relieving sore throat, and also helps boost the immune system when taken raw. But do the side effects of using honey outweighs its usefulness? Is honey really healthy for you? We will explore all that in this article. Side Effects of Honey 1. Weight Gain If you are looking to lose weight, honey might not really be good for you. One tablespoon of honey (21 grams) contains 64 calories, which makes it higher than sugar at 49 calories per tablespoon. It might not seem a lot to you but taking it every time, the numbers keep piling up. Frequent usage of sugar is associated with weight gain. In as much, honey contains a small amount wide variety of vitamins, minerals, protein, and disease-fighting antioxidants. It’s still made up of fructose and glucose, the same sugary substance found in table sugar. 2. Infant Botulism Honey can cause botulism in infants. Infant botulism occurs when an infant ingests a bacterial spore that produces a toxin inside the body. This occurs due to the presence of C botulinum in honey, which is a bacterial strain. It is advised not to give infants below the age of 1 honey. 3. Increase in Blood Sugar Honey can increase the blood sugar level because it contains sugar. People with diabetes should avoid honey or take it in small quantities. Long-term intake of honey can increase the levels of hemoglobin (hemoglobin that is bound to glucose) in the blood. High levels of hemoglobin can mean a higher risk of diabetes. 4. Tooth Decay Honey contains sugar and it’s sticky. This may cause tooth decay if you don’t rinse your mouth properly after taking honey. Dental caries or cavities develop faster and in more teeth with a high-sugar diet. Sugar should be avoided to reduce the risk of cavities. Moderation is life. Honey is healthy for you but doesn’t take it in excess as it might cause issues for you. If you are looking to lose weight, avoid honey, or use it sparingly. Always rinse your teeth with water after taking honey and If you are diabetic, consult your doctor before adding honey to your diet. Live healthy, happy, and smarter.

https://greathomemaking.com/is-honey-really-healthy/

Health

en

Poverty is a scourge that plagues societies across the globe, robbing countless children of the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. The harsh realities of economic deprivation cast a long shadow over the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development of young minds, often dooming them to a lifetime of hardship and struggle. As we delve into the myriad ways in which poverty undermines a child’s chance at a fulfilling life, the urgency for comprehensive solutions becomes increasingly clear. The Physical Toll of Poverty When families are trapped in the grips of poverty, the consequences on a child’s physical well-being can be severe and far-reaching. Inadequate nutrition, substandard housing conditions, and limited access to quality healthcare all contribute to stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and a heightened susceptibility to a host of chronic illnesses. The lack of nutritious food is one of the primary drivers of poor physical health in impoverished children. Without access to a balanced diet rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients, a child’s growth and development can be significantly stunted. Malnutrition, particularly in the critical early years of life, can lead to stunted stature, impaired cognitive function, and increased risk of infectious diseases. In addition to nutritional deficiencies, children living in poverty are often exposed to environmental toxins and unsafe living conditions that can have lasting impacts on their health. Substandard housing, such as homes with lead-based paint or poor ventilation, can expose children to harmful pollutants and allergens, increasing the likelihood of respiratory issues, neurological problems, and other chronic conditions. Furthermore, the financial constraints of poverty can severely limit a family’s ability to access quality healthcare. Preventive care, routine check-ups, and timely treatment for illnesses or injuries may be out of reach, leading to worsening health outcomes and the potential for long-term complications. This lack of access to healthcare can have a profound impact on a child’s physical well-being, as minor issues can escalate into more serious problems without proper medical attention. The physical toll of poverty on children is not just a matter of immediate health concerns; it can also have far-reaching implications for their future. Stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and chronic health problems developed during childhood can persist into adulthood, limiting opportunities for education, employment, and overall well-being. Breaking the cycle of poverty and its associated health consequences is important for ensuring that all children have the chance to thrive and reach their full potential. The Socio-Emotional Burden The psychological and emotional strain of growing up in poverty cannot be overstated. Children from low-income households often face heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, as they grapple with the constant uncertainty of their living situation and the social stigma that can accompany their economic circumstances. The chronic stress associated with poverty can have a profound impact on a child’s emotional and social well-being. Worrying about where the next meal will come from, whether the family will be able to afford rent, or if they’ll have access to basic necessities can create a pervasive sense of anxiety and insecurity that is difficult to escape. This “toxic stress” can negatively shape a child’s self-esteem, as they internalize feelings of shame or inferiority due to their economic status. Furthermore, the social stigma that often accompanies poverty can exacerbate a child’s emotional turmoil. Peers may ostracize or bully children from low-income families, leading to social isolation and a diminished sense of belonging. This can severely hamper a child’s ability to form meaningful connections and develop crucial social skills, such as empathy, communication, and conflict resolution. The emotional burden of poverty can also manifest in a child’s overall outlook on life. Constant exposure to financial insecurity and limited opportunities can foster a sense of hopelessness and resignation, leaving children with the perception that they have little control over their circumstances and diminished prospects for the future. This mindset can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, as it undermines a child’s motivation and resilience, making it more difficult for them to break out of the cycle of poverty. The socio-emotional toll of growing up in poverty can have long-lasting consequences, extending well into adulthood. Children who experience chronic stress, social isolation, and a diminished sense of self-worth are more likely to struggle with mental health issues, form dysfunctional relationships, and have difficulty achieving their full potential. Addressing the emotional and social challenges faced by children in poverty is therefore crucial for promoting their overall well-being and enabling them to thrive in the face of adversity. The Erosion of Opportunity Poverty does not merely impact a child’s immediate well-being; it also casts a long shadow over their future prospects. Children from low-income families frequently have limited access to quality education, enrichment opportunities, and the resources necessary to pursue their dreams. This lack of access to the tools for success can trap families in a vicious cycle of generational poverty, robbing children of the chance to break free and forge a brighter path for themselves. One of the most significant barriers facing children in poverty is the lack of access to high-quality educational opportunities. Schools in low-income areas often lack the funding, resources, and experienced teachers needed to provide a robust and engaging curriculum. This can lead to substandard academic instruction, limited extracurricular activities, and a learning environment that fails to nurture a child’s full potential. Without exposure to enrichment programs, such as music, art, or STEM-focused activities, children in poverty may miss out on discovering and cultivating their unique talents and interests. These types of experiences not only foster personal growth but can also open doors to future educational and career paths. The absence of such opportunities can significantly limit a child’s ability to imagine and pursue their dreams. Furthermore, the financial constraints of poverty can impede a child’s access to the resources necessary for academic and personal success. Things like reliable transportation, a quiet place to study, and the ability to afford school supplies, field trips, or college application fees can be out of reach for families struggling to make ends meet. These barriers can make it exponentially more difficult for children to engage fully in their education and explore their aspirations. The erosion of opportunity created by poverty can trap families in a cycle of generational disadvantage, as children are unable to access the tools they need to break free and forge a better future. Without the chance to develop their skills, discover their passions, and pursue their goals, the children of today may be condemned to repeat the same struggles faced by their parents and grandparents. Addressing the educational and resource disparities that plague children in poverty is important for disrupting this cycle and empowering the next generation to overcome the limitations of their circumstances. By investing in high-quality schools, enrichment programs, and comprehensive support systems, we can give all children the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their boundless potential. The devastating impact of poverty on child development is a stark reality that demands our collective attention and action. By addressing the root causes of poverty and investing in comprehensive solutions, we can empower children to overcome the obstacles they face and unlock their full potential. Only through a holistic, multi-faceted approach can we hope to create a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their economic circumstances. The future of our society depends on our ability to rise to this challenge and ensure that no child’s dreams are shattered by the weight of poverty.

https://childbehavior.com.ng/how-poverty-affects-childrens-development/

Family

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Coronavirus: First patients injected in UK vaccine trial - Author, Fergus Walsh - Role, Medical correspondent The first human trial in Europe of a coronavirus vaccine has begun in Oxford. Two volunteers were injected, the first of more than 800 people recruited for the study. Half will receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and half a control vaccine which protects against meningitis but not coronavirus. The design of the trial means volunteers will not know which vaccine they are getting, though doctors will. Elisa Granato, one of the two who received the jab, told the BBC: "I'm a scientist, so I wanted to try to support the scientific process wherever I can." The vaccine was developed in under three months by a team at Oxford University. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, led the pre-clinical research. "Personally I have a high degree of confidence in this vaccine," she said. "Of course, we have to test it and get data from humans. We have to demonstrate it actually works and stops people getting infected with coronavirus before using the vaccine in the wider population." Prof Gilbert previously said she was "80% confident" the vaccine would work, but now prefers not to put a figure on it, saying simply she is "very optimistic" about its chances. So how does the vaccine work? The vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees that has been modified so it cannot grow in humans. The Oxford team has already developed a vaccine against Mers, another type of coronavirus, using the same approach - and that had promising results in clinical trials. How will they know if it works? The only way the team will know if the Covid-19 vaccine works is by comparing the number of people who get infected with coronavirus in the months ahead from the two arms of the trial. That could be a problem if cases fall rapidly in the UK, because there may not be enough data. Prof Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, who is leading the trial, said: "We're chasing the end of this current epidemic wave. If we don't catch that, we won't be able to tell whether the vaccine works in the next few months. But we do expect that there will be more cases in the future because this virus hasn't gone away." The vaccine researchers are prioritising the recruitment of local healthcare workers into the trial as they are more likely than others to be exposed to the virus. A larger trial, of about 5,000 volunteers, will start in the coming months and will have no age limit. - A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself? - AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise - WHAT WE DON'T KNOW How to understand the death toll - TESTING: Can I get tested for coronavirus? - LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your area Older people tend to have weaker immune responses to vaccines. Researchers are evaluating whether they might need two doses of the jab. The Oxford team is also working with researchers in Kenya about a possible vaccine trial there, where the rates of transmission are growing from a lower base. If the numbers could be a problem, why not deliberately infect volunteers with coronavirus? That would be a quick and certain way to find out if the vaccine was effective, but it would be ethically questionable because there are no proven treatments for Covid-19. But that might be possible in the future. Prof Pollard said: "If we reach the point where we had some treatments for the disease and we could guarantee the safety of volunteers, that would be a very good way of testing a vaccine." Is it safe? The trial volunteers will be carefully monitored in the coming months. They have been told that some may get a sore arm, headaches or fevers in the first couple of days after vaccination. They are also told there is a theoretical risk that the virus could induce a serious reaction to coronavirus, which arose in some early Sars animal vaccine studies. But the Oxford team says its data suggests the risk of the vaccine producing an enhanced disease is minimal, and data from animal studies has been positive. Scientists there hope to have one million doses ready by September, and to dramatically scale up manufacturing after that, should the vaccine prove effective. So who would get it first? Prof Gilbert says that has not been decided yet: "It's not really our role to dictate what will happen, we just have to try to get a vaccine that works and have enough of it and then it will be for others to decide." Prof Pollard added: "We've got to ensure we have enough doses to provide for those in greatest need, not just in the UK but also in developing countries." Another team at Imperial College London hopes to begin human trials of its coronavirus vaccine in June. The Oxford and Imperial teams have received more than £40m of government funding. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has praised both teams and said the UK will "throw everything we've got" at developing a vaccine. UK chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty has said neither a vaccine, nor a drug to treat Covid-19, is likely to be available within the next year. More to explore Content is not available

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/health-52394485

Health

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They might write terribly the first few times, spell incorrectly, and eventually get bored. In spite of all such minor setbacks, the children who continue to pursue creative writing skills become capable of scaling newer heights. There are parents who believe that allowing their children extra time to write stories will affect their academic performance. Such an outlook is way off base since studies have shown that kids who write creatively perform better in Science, Mathematics, and linguistics. In addition, children who push themselves to think and write creatively develop strong problem-solving skills, confidence, and self-control. It is, therefore, advised to encourage your children to write and utilise their imagination to develop strong learn creative writing skills because if they can conceive it, they can write about it, and if they can write about it, they can make the rest of the world comprehend their ideas. Learn Creative Writing Skills The Numerous Benefits of Creative Writing The primary benefits of inculcating learn creative writing skills in English include:- ● Broadening of thinking dimensions. ● Empowerment of analytical and critical thinking. ● Enhancement of imagination and embellishment of self-assurance. ● Speaking up, being assertive, and improving one’s interaction and persuasion abilities. ● Providing young individuals with a platform to maintain their focus, dedication, and commitment. Developing Creative Writing Skills in Children As parents want their children to foster creative writing skills in the English language, here are a few pointers that may be of help. ● Prompt your child – Prompts for writing can help your child develop their creative writing abilities and will direct them to write about a specific subject. By giving your child a storyline or writing exercises, you can encourage discipline and help them add excitement or surprises to their stories. ● Keep a journal – Your kids can learn to convey their thoughts, express their emotions, and grow while learning more about writing by keeping a journal. Asking your child to write about the finest and worst parts of their day daily is the best method to encourage journal-keeping. ● Perseverance – Your children will learn the value of working on a draft if you let them try and fail numerous times before finishing a tale or writing task. They should be taught that there are various steps in completing a perfect write-up, including putting ideas down, editing for grammar and flow, fixing mistakes, reviewing, and revising. ● Reading – It is true that those who read a lot also tend to write well. Reading exposes children to new words along with their contexts, thus allowing them to add those words to their vocabulary and use them effectively. ● Carry a dictionary – A dictionary in hand can prevent many writing errors. Children can, therefore, always turn to a dictionary for guidance. With its use, they can learn the definition of a term and the appropriate context for applying it in writing. Careers opportunities in creative writing for your child While many parents enrol their children in classes related to creative writing and English for kids, there are some who are constantly concerned about the career options available in this field. Well, if your little one has a passion for creative writing, avenues such as freelance writing, web content creation, proofreading, newspaper journalism, content editing, writing instructor, social media manager, online content manager, professional writer and becoming author etc. are always open. Learn Creative Writing Skills in Northumberland | Learn Creative Writing Skills in Norfolk | Creative Writing Skills in Nottinghamshire | Creative Writing Skills Online | Learn Creative Writing Skills in Cheshire | Learn Creative Writing Skills Near Me | Learn Creative Writing Skills in Derbyshire | Learn Creative Writing Skills in Cumbria

https://supermaths.co.uk/5-reasons-why-children-should-learn-creative-writing-skills/

Education

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They’re actually singing mating songs for each other. The drawing to the right showing part of the mosquito’s wing is what makes the buzzing or whining sound. The comb-like half, shown in blue, scrapes against the part shown in yellow, whenever the mosquito flaps its wings. (Source: “On a Possible Stridulating Organ in the Mosquito”) Why do mosquitoes buzz in your ears? The short answer: They can’t help it. Mosquitoes’ wings make that annoying buzz or whining sound whenever they fly. When they circle your head, looking for a place to land and bite, their buzz sounds louder whenever they’re close to your ear. Both male and female mosquitoes buzz, since they both have wings, but you probably won’t notice the whine of the males, because they don’t want to drink your blood. So they stay away from your ears, eating nectar, while the females come near to annoy you. Scientists have discovered that the buzz of mosquitoes is more than just a way to annoy you. It’s actually important to help them find suitable mates. Since female mosquitoes are larger, they flap their wings slower, and males know it. They use the distinctive pitch of the females’ buzz to recognize them. Louis M. Roth, who studied yellow fever mosquitoes for the U.S. Army during World War II, noticed that males ignored females whenever the females were quietly resting, but whenever the females were flying, and therefore buzzing, the males wanted to mate with them. The males even wanted to mate with recordings of female mosquitoes or tuning forks that vibrated at the same pitch. “A delightful African folk tale for anyone who hates the sound of mosquitoes buzzing in their ears. Kids will learn the lesson not to gossip, and they’ll enjoy looking for the little pink bird in the colorful pictures too.” Dr. Christopher Johnston of Baltimore, Maryland had already discovered how mosquitoes can hear, almost a hundred years before. He found that they have an organ in their antenna, which was named the Johnston organ after him. It allows them to recognize the buzz of other mosquitoes. It took other scientists to discover exactly what made the sound. Though you hear the buzz whenever mosquitoes fly, it’s not actually caused by the wings beating against the air. There’s an organ at the base of the wings which scrapes and makes the sound when the wings move. British entomologists A. E. Shipley and Edwin Wilson published a paper describing it in 1902, which they called “On a Possible Stridulating Organ in the Mosquito.” Stridulating means to make noise, and the toothed organ they found made noise as it rubbed against itself, while the wings moved. By the middle of the 20th Century, scientists had figured out that mosquitoes have special organs to whine or buzz as they fly, that other mosquitoes can hear the noise, and that the buzz of female mosquitoes makes males want to mate with them. It wasn’t until more recently that researchers Gabriella Gibson and Ian Russell discovered that mosquitoes actually change their buzz to “sing” to each other before they mate. They discovered that when males and females flew nearby, they altered the pitch of their buzz to match each other, and if they matched well enough, they mated. Cornell researchers tried the same experiment with mosquitoes which carry the dangerous disease dengue, and found the same thing. As scientists learn more about why mosquitoes buzz, they may be able to use that knowledge to help keep them from mating. Fewer mosquitoes mean fewer mosquito bites, and fewer diseases being spread. For example, in this article, researcher Lauren Cator suggests that if scientists can make sterile male mosquitoes who “sing” to females just as well as fertile males, the females will choose the sterile males, and won’t produce fertile eggs. There are a few myths about the mosquitoes you hear buzzing near your ears. Some people say that mosquitoes which buzz, don’t bite. Well, that’s true. As long as they’re buzzing, they’re flying, so they won’t bite you. But as soon as they land, look out! Does anybody actually enjoy the sound of mosquitoes buzzing? Apparently, teenagers do! With what scientists are learning about mosquitoes, I suppose it’s fitting that teenagers are using an electronic sound called a mosquito buzz as their mating “call.” Cornell researchers have found out that mosquitoes not only buzz in your ears, they buzz in each others’ “ears” too, as described in the video.

http://www.mosquitoreviews.com/mosquitoes-buzz-ears.html

Health

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In much English poetry, lines are said to rhyme with each other; this really means that the last words of lines rhyme with each other. So a four line poem could have a rhyming pattern aaaa - which means that all four lines rhyme. Read this stanza from a famous humorous poem by Lewis Carroll, You are old, Father William. What is it's rhyming pattern? "In my youth,' said his father, 'I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life." Two words are said to rhyme when they end with either the same vowel sound, or with the same vowel + consonant sequence. This means that, for example, feet and meat rhyme because they both end with the same sequence. So does hoe and flow, both ends with vowel sound. However, food and blood do not rhyme because their vowel sounds are not the same. To know how to properly use rhymes in your poem, you must work on your ability to be able to recognise words that rhyme. - BISCUITS - musket, fruit, shoot, quiet ANS = musket - SHARE - car, bear, bier, here ANS = here Hope you are getting the vibes. You can practice this using your rap skill. Lol, just kidding. Your dictionary should be able to assist you along the journey.

https://www.essiebookblog.com.ng/2024/02/how-to-add-rhyme-in-poetry-learn-how.html?m=1

Literature

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How Homework Helps [Or Not] You Learn? The topic is highly debated among parents, teachers, and education scholars. There are two cases when homework assignments help you convert new information into knowledge: - Case 1: repeat novel uncertain information. This is a way how our brain learns patterns - by spaced repetition. - Case 2: explore the topic on your own, more deeply than introduced in class. Both cases have shortcomings and personalized approaches must be used to compensate for: - Case 1: it is not possible to repeat the information if you never received the proper introduction to it (e.g. when you skip a class). - Case 2: you must be prepared to explore the topic on your own. The task must be well structured to reduce ambiguity. Lecturers often do the mistake of thinking that a student must find a way on their own. Whole math and programming books are written with middle steps of explanations skipped. This is very bad, though unfortunately common practice. Research studies (e.g. "Does Homework Improve Academic Achievement?" by Harris Cooper) reveal that no strong evidence was found for an association between homework and study achievement. It sounds counterintuitive, so we must look for other explanatory variables to get a clear view of why putting your time into homework sometimes is not worth it. Other Problems That Keep You from Acquiring Knowledge Analysis of problems related to homework (like in the research article "Why Do Students Have Difficulties Completing Homework?" by Xu, Jianzhong) points to influences such as: - Environmental noise: no way for students to find a calm spot for studying. - Lack of resources: this is especially important for programming assignments as computer and internet connection are necessary. - Lack of model example: no adult or important figure pays attention to studies overall. - More attractive competing activities. - Medical, nutritional and other issues. We are dedicated to improving the outcomes of the educational system. Our homework help service compensates for some inefficiencies in the study process, so we are doing our best to accelerate your learning. Most often students seek programming homework help (as compared to math, engineering, and economics). This is because programming is not the subject that you acquire the understanding of naturally, in real life. Such "extreme novelty" of thinking patterns is hard to acquire within ambiguous and not well-structured learning environments. We seek to make students suffer less by reducing the unnecessary stress so that you begin to see studying as a joyful experience.

http://homeworkhelponline.net

Programming

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Why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria: Indirect rule was the system of government used by Britain and French during the colonization of many African and Asian countries. In Nigeria for instance, indirect rule caused a lot of problems before it finally succeeded in some part of the country. This is apparently because of the divergent ethnic groups and religions in the country. While some groups were receptive to Britain’s indirect rule and policy of association, some groups vehemently opposed it. In the Eastern part of Nigeria for instance, indirect rule totally failed for some reasons I already mentioned in my article on why indirect rule failed in Eastern Nigeria. In the West, indirect rule partially succeeded. However, in the north, it was a total success. In this article I will vividly explain some of the reasons why indirect rule succeeded in the northern part of Nigeria. If you have been searching the internet to know why indirect rule was successful in the North, i enjoin you to read this article till the end. Meanwhile, before I will go into the crux of this work, it is apt to know indirect rule is. Below is the definition of indirect rule. - Importance of local government in Nigeria - List of law reports in Nigeria and their abbreviations - Most populated universities in Nigeria - History of the legal profession in Nigeria - Exceptions to privity of contract rule What is indirect rule? Indirect rule is a system of government introduced by the colonial Masters in most African and Asian countries, where the pre-existing rulers of the people were used to control the masses. According to Wikipedia, it is a system used by the British and French to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in Africa and Asia, through their existing indigenous power structures. The colonial masters chose indirect rule basically because of the diversity in culture and beliefs of the people in Africa. Coupled with that, indirect rule seemed to be the cheapest way through which the colonial master could accomplish their purpose in Africa and Asia. Below are some of the reasons why indirect succeeded in Northern Nigeria. Kindly watch the video below for more explanation of indirect rule system: Why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria Below are some of the reasons why indirect rule succeeded in the North: - Autocratic Nature of the Emirs - Submissiveness of the people - Centralized nature of the North - Lack of educated elites to oppose the system - Pre-existing tax system in the North - Preservation of the culture and religion of the people - Pre-existing judicial system in the north Yeah! There you have some of the reasons why indirect rule totally succeeded in Northern Nigeria. Meanwhile, if you need a detailed explanation of any of the reasons I have already mentioned above, keep reading this article as I will explain everything in depth. Must read: Top law firms in Nigeria (2020) 1. Autocratic Nature of the Emirs: A critical study of the Hausa/Fulani pre-colonial administration shows that the Emir was Autocratic in nature. He was so much respected that anyone who speaks against him can be killed for doing so. When the colonial masters understood this, they decided to use the Emir of the north to rule. By doing so, there was nothing that could stop the success of indirect rule in the North. The only thing which they did was to look for ways to please the Emir. They showed the Emir all their beautiful plans for northerners while they indirectly used him to control the people and to get what they want from the north. 2. Submissiveness of the people: Aside from the fact that Emirs in the North were autocratic, the people too were very Submissive to the Emir. It was so much that even if the Emir makes a request that someone should be kill, the people will do so without hesitation. This is one of the core reasons for the success of indirect rule in the North as opposed to the East. The colonial masters used this summissive nature of northerns to easily exploit the resources of the people. They didn’t oppose the system because the colonial masters were hiding under the Emir to do all their exploitation. More so, another reason why the north was quiet to colonialism was due to the fear of British military reprisal if they had rejected. 3. Centralized nature of the North: Another reason why indirect rule succeeded in the North is because of the centralized nature of the north. Before colonialism, the north had a very centralized system of government. There was an absolute monarchy and the people respected their traditional rulers so well. In light of this, the introduction of indirect rule in northern Nigeria didn’t give the colonial masters any problem at all. Since the political powers in the north was concentrated on their leaders, the people could no resist indirect rule. The British wisely used the Supreme leader in the north to control the society. In my opinion, this is the core reason why indirect rule succeeded in the north. It is important to note that even till today, Northern Nigeria still have a centralized political system. 4. Lack of educated elites to oppose the system: Unlike the east and west, Northern Nigeria had few or no educated elite who vehemently opposed colonialism. This is apparently one of the reasons why indirect rule succeeded in northern Nigeria. When the system was introduced in the East, some of the traditional leaders that were educated thought that it was wrong to happily welcome the colonial masters. Thus, they opposed everything the British colonial masters introduced into their system. This was not so in the north. The traditional leaders in the north welcomed the colonial masters and accepted everything they introduced. Based on this, the introduction of indirect rule system of government in the north was not a problem at all. All that the British colonial masters needed was the consent of the native leaders. MUST READ: Smith v Selwyn: Facts, Issues and Decision of the court 5. Pre-existing tax system in the North: It is truism that northern Nigeria had a pre-existing tax system before the coming of colonial masters. This actually contributed to the reasons why indirect rule succeeded in the north. In my article on Why Indirect Rule Was Used In Nigeria, I noted that one of the reasons why the colonial masters chose indirect rule was because they did not have enough funds to run any other kind of political system. Indirect rule was cheap and easy to run. When the colonial masters introduced tax system to the North, so as to get funds which they would use to accomplish their purpose, it did not present them with any problem because Northerners already had a tax system. The introduction of taxation into the north did not really affect the economy of the people . In other words, indirect rule was not really seen as a means through which the colonial master would use to achieve their personal purposes. 6. Preservation of the culture and religion of the people: Based on the points I have mentioned so far, you can see that indirect rule did not, in anyway, oppose the political system in the east. In fact, it preserved the political system of the north so the people did not actually see any reason why they should oppose indirect rule. I mean, indirect rule was even in line with the native laws and customs of the people. Take for instance, in the case of taxation, Northern Nigerians did not see anything wrong with the tax system because it was something they were already used to. Accordingly, when the colonial masters chose to rule through the traditional rulers, the masses didn’t oppose this system because they were obliged by the traditional law to always oppose their traditional leaders. In my opinion, this is actually another core reason why indirect rule succeeded in the north. MUST READ: Types of Judicial Evidence 7. Pre-existing judicial system in the north: When the colonial masters came to North, they decided to retain the native judicial system of Northern Nigeria. This filled the minds of most of the Northerners with the fallacy that colonialism was with the sole purpose of making Northern Nigeria better. Northerners did not oppose the little modification made on their traditional judicial system by the colonial masters because both the executive, legislative and judicial powers of the government were concentrated on the Northern traditional rulers (Emirs) and it is through this traditional ruler that the colonial masters were able to modify the their judicial system. - How to become a successful lawyer - Tips that will help you become a smart student in school - See the 7 Pillars of democracy in Nigeria - Highest paying law firms in Nigeria 2020 - Are lawyers liars? See the answer as to whether lawyers are liars here In a recap, I have mentioned and explained some of the reasons why indirect rule succeeded in the north. With the content of this article, i strongly believe that you will be able to explain to any some why indirect rule succeeded in northern Nigeria during colonization. That notwithstanding, if there is any point you do not understand in this article, kindly comment it below. Accordingly, if you have anything to contribute on the reasons why indirect rule succeeded in northern Nigeria, i would love to hear from you. Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people. this is great

https://bscholarly.com/why-indirect-rule-succeeded-in-northern-nigeria/

Education

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When burned, coal is the dirtiest of all fossil fuels but a range of technologies are being used and developed to reduce the environmental impact of coal-fired power stations. Collectively, they are known as clean coal technology (CCT). CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE Despite the improving efficiency of coal-fired power stations, CO2 emissions remain a problem. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing the carbon dioxide, preventing the greenhouse gas entering the atmosphere, and storing it deep underground. OPTIONS FOR CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE 1. CO2 pumped into disused coal fields displaces methane which can be used as fuel 2. CO2 can be pumped into and stored safely in saline aquifers 3. CO2 pumped into oil fields helps maintain pressure, making extraction easier A range of approaches of CCS have been developed and have proved to be technically feasible. They have yet to be made available on a large-scale commercial basis because of the costs involved. Coal arriving at a power plant contains mineral content that needs to be removed before it is burnt. A number of processes are available to remove unwanted matter and make the coal burn more efficiently. Coal washing involves grinding the coal into smaller pieces and passing it through a process called gravity separation. One technique involves feeding the coal into barrels containing a fluid that has a density which causes the coal to float, while unwanted material sinks and is removed from the fuel mix. The coal is then pulverised and prepared for burning. Coal gasification plants are favoured by some because they are flexible and have high levels of efficiency. The gas can be used to power electricity generators, or it can be used elsewhere, i.e. in transportation or the chemical industry. INTEGRATED COAL GASIFICATION COMBINED CYCLE PLANT 1. Coal burnt to produce syngas 2. Syngas burnt in combustor 3. Hot gas drives gas turbines 4. Cooling gas heats water 5. Steam drives steam turbines In Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) systems, coal is not combusted directly but reacts with oxygen and steam to form a "syngas" (primarily hydrogen). After being cleaned, it is burned in a gas turbine to generate electricity and to produce steam to power a steam turbine. Coal gasification plants are seen as a primary component of a zero-emissions system. However, the technology remains unproven on a widespread commercial scale. Burning coal produces a range of pollutants that harm the environment: Sulphur dioxide (acid rain); nitrogen oxides (ground-level ozone) and particulates (affects people's respiratory systems). There are a number of options to reduce these emissions: Sulphur dioxide (SO2) Flue gas desulphursation (FGD) systems are used to remove sulphur dioxide. "Wet scrubbers" are the most widespread method and can be up to 99% effective. A mixture of limestone and water is sprayed over the flue gas and this mixture reacts with the SO2 to form gypsum (a calcium sulphate), which is removed and used in the construction industry. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) NOx reduction methods include the use of "low NOx burners". These specially designed burners restrict the amount of oxygen available in the hottest part of the combustion chamber where the coal is burned. This minimises the formation of the gas and requires less post-combustion treatment. Electrostatic precipitators can remove more than 99% of particulates from the flue gas. The system works by creating an electrical field to create a charge on particles which are then attracted by collection plates. Other removal methods include fabric filters and wet particulate scrubbers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4468076.stm

Politics

en

Domestic Violence a case study that must be curbed either from Men or women. Let’s check the myth and fact of Domestic Violence below. Myth: Victims of violence in the home enjoy the abuse. Fact: A variety of survival methods are undertaken by victims of domestic violence including reaching out to family and friends and informing the authorities. Sometimes taking the beating in place of children or even remaining silent are strategies that are enacted but this in no way means that the victim likes it. Myth: Psychological disorders and low self-esteem lead victims to get involved in abusive Fact: Studies of domestic violence victims demonstrate that those abused fail to share common characteristics other than being female. This dispels a belief in our culture that an emotionally stable person would not put themselves in a position of continued abuse. Of course people already inflicted with low self-esteem or psychological illnesses are not immune to domestic violence and the violence itself can lead to these types of problems, but there is no proof of them being a causing factor. Myth: Victims of domestic violence will always be in abusive relationships. Fact: It may take some time to completely separate victims from abusers because of the control abusers gain over their partner. This control could be financial, physical, or expressed through threats to the children, but most victims do find a way to break these relationships. A strong support system from friends and family is a motivating factor to ending abusive relationships, as well as law enforcement, counselors, and legal support. Protection and financial security can be achieved through legal assistance and there is no evidence that victims tend to seek out other abusive relationships. Myth: Domestic abusers hurt their partners because of alcohol and drugs. Fact: Though alcohol and drugs may increase the frequency and severity of violence in the home, domestic violence cannot be solved through substance abuse programs alone. Other programs such as batterer intervention may work in conjunction to get to the root of the problem. Myth: Protective orders or arresting abusers are useless methods to ending domestic violence. Fact: Though research on the efficacy of arrests and civil orders has produced conflicting results, most experts agree that their effectiveness is based on continued enforcement across the criminal justice and civil justice system. It is important for abusers to know that this will not be tolerated therefore officers must make arrests, prosecutors must prosecute, and courts must enforce orders or impose sanctions for any individual effort to work within the system. Myth: When one parent abuses another, the children are not affected. Fact: Children suffer behavioral, cognitive, emotional and developmental impairments when witnessing the abuse by one parent to another. Studies also show that between 50% and 75% of children are abused in conjunction with one of the parents. Children, especially boys, tend to reenact this violence on their own partners as adults. Myth: Domestic violence has no effect on a parent’s ability to be a parent. Fact: For many reasons, a parent’s ability to raise a child is hampered when that parent is abusive. Children suffer emotional as well as the physical abuse listed above and abusers use the children for leverage against the other parent which results in the child not being the primary concern. In most states, courts now recognize that the perpetrator should not be given custody. Gone are the days when the emotional instability of the abused parent affected their ability to successfully gain custody. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE WITH YOUR EMAIL BELOW AND GET MORE OF THIS EVERYDAY

https://reterdeen.com/myths-and-facts-of-domestic-violence/

Family

en

Rainbows are one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring natural phenomena. These vibrant arches of color in the sky are not just a visual delight, but also carry deep spiritual significance for many people. A rainbow is seen as a powerful symbol of God’s presence and promise. The Biblical Significance of Rainbows In the Bible, the rainbow is first mentioned in the story of Noah’s Ark. After the great flood, God sets a rainbow in the sky as a sign of his covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising to never again destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 9:12-17). This biblical account imbues the rainbow with a profound meaning – it represents God’s faithfulness, mercy, and the hope of new beginnings. Throughout the scriptures, the rainbow is also associated with the throne of God and visions of heaven. In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet describes a vision of “a likeness with the appearance of a human form” surrounded by “a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald” (Ezekiel 1:26-28). Similarly, in the book of Revelation, John envisions “a rainbow that encircled the throne” in heaven (Revelation 4:3). The rainbow’s connection to God’s throne and heavenly visions suggests that it symbolizes the majesty, power, and glory of the divine. Just as a rainbow stretches across the sky, bridging heaven and earth, it can be seen as a visual representation of God’s transcendence and his ability to connect the spiritual and physical realms. The rainbow’s vibrant colors, symbolize the fullness and diversity of God’s creation, as well as the beauty and wonder of his handiwork. Beyond its cosmic significance, the rainbow in the Bible also carries deep personal and covenantal meaning. After the flood, God establishes a covenant with Noah, promising to never again destroy the earth. The rainbow is given as a “sign of the covenant” (Genesis 9:12), a tangible reminder of God’s unwavering commitment to his creation and his people. Whenever the rainbow appears in the sky, it serves as a visible token of God’s faithfulness and the security of his promises. In this sense, the rainbow represents hope, restoration, and new beginnings. The flood, which had brought such devastation and loss, was followed by God’s gracious act of redemption. The rainbow, then, can be seen as a symbol of God’s ability to bring light out of darkness, life out of death, and a future out of the ashes of the past. This theme of hope and new life is further reinforced by the fact that the rainbow appears after the waters of judgment have receded. Just as Noah and his family emerged from the ark to a renewed earth, the rainbow signifies that a new era has dawned, one marked by God’s enduring love and care for his creation. The biblical significance of the rainbow is not limited to the story of Noah, however. In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet’s vision of the divine throne-room includes a rainbow, suggesting that this celestial phenomenon is intimately connected to God’s sovereign power and authority. Similarly, in the book of Revelation, the rainbow’s appearance around the throne of God in heaven underscores its association with the majesty and splendor of the divine presence. These visions of the rainbow in the context of God’s throne and heavenly court indicate that the rainbow is not merely a natural occurrence, but a profound theological symbol. It points to the fact that God is the creator and sustainer of all of nature, and that he rules over the cosmos with perfect wisdom and justice. At the same time, the rainbow’s appearance in these visions of the heavenly realm suggests that it has eschatological significance as well. Just as the rainbow was a sign of God’s covenant with Noah, it may also represent the hope of a new and redeemed creation, when God will finally establish his kingdom on earth and wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:1-4). Therefore, The biblical significance of the rainbow is multifaceted and profound. As a sign of God’s covenant, it represents his faithfulness, mercy, and the promise of new beginnings. As a symbol associated with God’s throne and heavenly visions, it points to the majesty and glory of the divine, as well as the hope of a renewed creation. Whether in the story of Noah or the apocalyptic visions of the prophets, the rainbow consistently serves as a visual reminder of God’s sovereign power, his unwavering love for his people, and the ultimate restoration of all things under his eternal reign. The Rainbow as a Personal Sign For many believers, the appearance of a rainbow can be a deeply personal experience, serving as a reminder of God’s love and care. When faced with difficult circumstances, the sudden appearance of a rainbow may be interpreted as a divine sign of encouragement, a promise that even in the midst of the storm, God is present and in control. Some may see a rainbow as a tangible representation of God’s faithfulness to fulfill his promises, or as a symbol of hope and renewal after a period of darkness or despair. The rainbow can also be a reminder of God’s creativity and the beauty he has infused into the world. In the biblical account of Noah’s Ark, the rainbow was established by God as a “sign of the covenant” (Genesis 9:12-17), a visible token of his promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood. For individuals who are struggling with doubt, fear, or uncertainty, the appearance of a rainbow can be a powerful reminder of this enduring covenant, assuring them that God’s love and commitment to his people remains steadfast, even in the midst of life’s storms. Just as the rainbow stretched across the sky after the floodwaters had receded, signaling a new beginning for Noah and his family, so too can the rainbow represent the hope of renewal and restoration in the lives of believers today. When faced with personal challenges or feelings of despair, the sudden appearance of a rainbow may be interpreted as a divine message, reminding the individual that though they may currently be walking through a valley, God is faithful to bring them through to a place of healing and new life. Moreover, the multi-colored nature of the rainbow can be seen as a symbol of God’s abundant provision and the diverse ways in which he cares for his people. Just as the rainbow displays a rich tapestry of hues, so too can believers find comfort in the knowledge that God’s love and support manifests in a variety of ways, tailored to the unique needs of each individual. For some, the rainbow may be a reminder of God’s creativity and the wonder of his handiwork. As they behold the arc of vibrant colors stretching across the sky, they may be inspired to praise God for the beauty and diversity he has infused into his creation. The rainbow can thus become a catalyst for deeper worship and a renewed appreciation for the majesty of the divine. In addition to its symbolic significance, the rainbow can also serve as a practical means of grace in the lives of believers. When facing difficult circumstances, the sudden appearance of a rainbow may provide a much-needed moment of respite, a chance to pause, reflect, and receive God’s peace and comfort. In these instances, the rainbow can function as a tangible expression of God’s loving presence, a physical reminder that he is near and that his promises are true. It is important to note, however, that the personal significance of the rainbow should not be reduced to a simplistic “sign” or “omen” that can be interpreted in a rigid or formulaic way. The rainbow’s meaning is deeply rooted in the broader biblical narrative and theology, and its personal relevance will vary from individual to individual, depending on their unique circumstances, experiences, and relationship with God. Moreover, the appearance of a rainbow should not be seen as a guarantee of immediate resolution or deliverance from one’s problems. Rather, the rainbow’s primary function is to point the believer towards the faithfulness, mercy, and creative power of God, reminding them that even in the midst of life’s storms, they can find hope and security in the steadfast love of their heavenly Father. The rainbow can serve as a deeply personal sign for many believers, a visual representation of God’s enduring covenant, his power to bring restoration and new life, and the beauty and creativity he has infused into his creation. Whether it is a sudden, unexpected appearance or a familiar sight, the rainbow can be a powerful means of grace, inspiring worship, hope, and a renewed sense of God’s loving presence in the lives of those who behold it. As believers continue to reflect on the biblical significance of the rainbow, they may find that it becomes an increasingly meaningful and cherished symbol of God’s faithfulness and care. Whether you view the rainbow from a scientific or a spiritual perspective, there is no denying the awe and wonder it can inspire. For those who believe in a loving and powerful God, the rainbow can be a profound and meaningful symbol, a reminder of the divine’s presence, promises, and care. When God sends you a rainbow, it can be an invitation to pause, reflect, and find hope in the midst of life’s challenges.

https://faithfulhome.com.ng/when-god-sends-you-a-rainbow/

Religion

en

Raising well-mannered children is a shared goal of parents worldwide. Good manners not only make children more pleasant to be around, but they also lay the foundation for success in various aspects of life, including personal relationships, education, and future career prospects. As a parent, you have a significant influence on your child’s behavior, and by actively teaching and reinforcing good manners, you can help shape their character. In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to instill good manners in your children. - Be a Role Model Being a role model is one of the most effective ways to instill good manners in your children. Children are keen observers, and they learn by watching and imitating the behavior of their parents. As a parent, it is essential to be mindful of your own actions and interactions, as your behavior sets the standard for your children’s behavior. In your daily life, make a conscious effort to exhibit good manners. Speak politely and respectfully, not only to your children but also to everyone around you. Use phrases like “please” and “thank you” regularly, and show appreciation for acts of kindness. When interacting with others, demonstrate empathy and understanding. Teach your children the value of kindness by performing acts of kindness yourself. Moreover, pay attention to how you handle conflicts and disagreements. Show your children that it is possible to express your opinions and feelings without resorting to rudeness or aggression. Teach them the importance of active listening and considering others’ perspectives. By being a role model in conflict resolution, you help your children develop the skills needed to navigate relationships with respect and understanding. It is also important to model good manners in your digital interactions. Show your children how to use technology responsibly and respectfully. Avoid using your phone or other devices excessively when spending time with your children and demonstrate the importance of giving others your full attention. Consistency is key when being a role model for good manners. Children need to see that your behavior is not a temporary act, but a consistent way of interacting with the world. By consistently embodying good manners, you create a lasting impression on your children and make it easier for them to adopt those behaviors. - Teach Basic Etiquette Teaching basic etiquette to children from a young age is essential in shaping their behavior and social skills. By instilling simple gestures and polite words, you lay the foundation for their understanding of respect and consideration for others. Start by teaching your children the importance of saying “please” and “thank you.” Encourage them to use these phrases when making requests or receiving something. Explain that these words show gratitude and appreciation for the kindness of others. In addition, teach your children to use polite words like “excuse me” and “sorry” in appropriate situations. Help them understand that these words demonstrate respect for others’ personal space and convey remorse when they make a mistake or unintentionally inconvenience someone. Greeting others with a smile is another important aspect of basic etiquette. Encourage your children to greet people they meet, whether it’s family members, friends, or strangers. Teach them how to make eye contact and offer a friendly smile as a way of acknowledging others. Furthermore, explain to your children the importance of using proper titles when addressing adults. Teach them to use “Mr.” or “Mrs.” followed by the person’s last name as a sign of respect. This simple act shows that they recognize and value the authority and experience of adults. Additionally, help your children understand the importance of respecting personal space and waiting for their turn when speaking or playing. Teach them to be patient and considerate, allowing others to have their chance to speak or participate. By teaching these basic etiquette principles, you provide your children with the tools they need to navigate social interactions with respect and consideration. These small gestures can make a big difference in how they are perceived by others and how they develop relationships throughout their lives. - Practice Active Listening: Practicing active listening is a crucial skill that helps children develop empathy, understanding, and strong relationships with others. By teaching your children the importance of actively listening, you empower them to value and respect the thoughts, opinions, and feelings of those around them. To begin, explain to your children that active listening involves more than just hearing words—it requires giving their full attention to the speaker. Encourage them to maintain eye contact with the person speaking, as it shows interest and respect. Explain that nodding and using appropriate nonverbal cues, such as smiling or leaning in slightly, can demonstrate attentiveness and encouragement. Teach your children to respond appropriately to what is being said. Encourage them to ask questions for clarification, to summarize what they’ve heard, or to offer their thoughts and opinions on the topic. This practice not only shows engagement but also encourages meaningful and open conversations. Furthermore, emphasize the importance of not interrupting when someone is speaking. Teach your children to wait for their turn to talk, allowing the speaker to express themselves fully. This demonstrates respect for others’ thoughts and fosters a positive and supportive environment for communication. Engage your children in activities that promote active listening. For example, during family discussions or storytelling sessions, encourage them to actively listen and respond thoughtfully. You can also play games like “Simon Says” or “Telephone” that require attentive listening and following instructions. By teaching your children active listening, you help them develop empathy and understanding. They learn to value different perspectives, which is essential for building strong and meaningful relationships. Active listening also helps children become better communicators and problem solvers, as they gain a deeper understanding of others’ needs and emotions. Remember to be a role model of active listening yourself. Show your children how to listen attentively and respond thoughtfully when they speak to you. By practicing active listening as a family, you create an environment that encourages open communication and empathy. - Teach Table Manners Teaching children proper table manners is an important aspect of their social development. Mealtimes provide a great opportunity to instill these manners. Start by teaching your children the basics, such as washing their hands before and after meals. Emphasize the importance of cleanliness and hygiene. Next, teach them how to use utensils correctly. Show them how to hold a fork and knife, and encourage them to practice proper dining etiquette. Teach them to cut food into bite-sized pieces and to bring the food to their mouths using utensils rather than their hands. Chewing with their mouths closed is another essential table manner. Explain to your children that it is respectful to eat quietly and with their mouths closed, as it shows consideration for others around the table. Teach your children the importance of waiting for others to start eating before they begin their own meal. Explain that this demonstrates patience and respect for everyone’s readiness to eat together. Encourage your children to engage in pleasant conversation during mealtimes. Teach them to listen attentively when others are speaking and to take turns sharing their thoughts and experiences. This helps develop their communication skills and fosters a positive dining atmosphere. Finally, instill the value of expressing gratitude for the food provided. Encourage your children to say “please” and “thank you” when asking for or receiving food. Teach them to appreciate the effort and thoughtfulness that goes into preparing a meal. By teaching your children these table manners, you equip them with the skills necessary for respectful and enjoyable dining experiences. These manners not only enhance their social interactions but also demonstrate their consideration and appreciation for others. - Encourage Empathy and Gratitude Encouraging empathy and gratitude in children is a valuable way to nurture their social and emotional development. By teaching them to be considerate of others and to appreciate acts of kindness, you help them develop compassion and good manners. Start by explaining the concept of empathy to your children. Help them understand that empathy involves putting themselves in someone else’s shoes and imagining how they might be feeling. Encourage them to actively listen and pay attention to others’ emotions, and to respond with kindness and understanding. Teach your children the importance of offering help when someone is in need. Encourage them to recognize when others require assistance and to lend a helping hand. Whether it’s a classmate struggling with their homework or a family member needing support, encourage your children to show empathy by offering their help. Expressing gratitude is another essential aspect of fostering empathy and good manners. Teach your children to acknowledge acts of kindness by saying “thank you” and showing appreciation. Encourage them to express gratitude for the little things as well, such as a friend sharing a toy or a teacher helping them understand a challenging concept. To foster empathy and gratitude, provide opportunities for your children to engage in acts of kindness themselves. Encourage them to perform small acts of kindness, such as holding the door for someone, offering a sincere compliment, or sharing their belongings. These experiences help your children understand the positive impact they can have on others and develop a sense of gratitude for their own blessings. Lead by example and demonstrate empathy and gratitude in your own interactions. When your children see you showing kindness and appreciation towards others, they are more likely to adopt these behaviors themselves. By teaching your children to be considerate of others’ feelings and to appreciate acts of kindness, you foster empathy and gratitude. These qualities contribute to their overall character development and help them form meaningful connections with others. Empathy and gratitude also promote good manners, as they encourage respectful and compassionate behavior. 6. Correct and Explain Mistakes When your child makes a mistake or exhibits poor manners, it’s important to approach these situations as teachable moments rather than resorting to punishment. By correcting their behavior calmly and providing explanations, you can help them understand the consequences of their actions and guide them toward making better choices in the future. First and foremost, remain calm when addressing your child’s mistake. Approaching the situation with anger or frustration can hinder effective communication and make it difficult for your child to absorb the lessons you’re trying to impart. Instead, maintain a composed demeanor and speak to them in a respectful and understanding manner. Explain to your child why their behavior was inappropriate or why their actions were considered a mistake. Help them understand the impact of their behavior on others. For example, if they were rude to a classmate, explain how their words or actions may have hurt the other person’s feelings. Foster empathy by encouraging them to imagine how they would feel if someone treated them in the same way. Encourage your child to reflect on the situation and think about alternative ways they could have handled it. Ask them questions that prompt critical thinking, such as “What could you have done differently?” or “How do you think your actions made the other person feel?” This encourages them to take responsibility for their behavior and consider the perspectives and feelings of others. Provide guidance and suggestions for more appropriate responses or actions in similar situations. Help them brainstorm alternative solutions or approaches that align with good manners and respectful behavior. By offering constructive alternatives, you empower your child to make better choices in the future. It’s important to remember that mistakes are a natural part of learning and growth. By addressing them in a supportive and educational manner, you create a safe environment where your child feels comfortable acknowledging their mistakes and learning from them. By reinforcing good manners and teaching them how to make amends when necessary, you equip your child with the skills to navigate social interactions with kindness and respect. 7. Foster Respect for Differences Fostering respect for differences in children is an essential aspect of raising compassionate and inclusive individuals. By teaching your children to embrace and appreciate diversity, you instill in them the values of respect, tolerance, and good manners. Start by engaging your children in conversations about diversity. Introduce them to different cultures, religions, and backgrounds through books, movies, and real-life experiences. Encourage them to ask questions and explore various perspectives. By exposing them to diversity, you help them develop an understanding and appreciation for the richness that different cultures and backgrounds bring to our world. Teach your children that everyone deserves respect, regardless of their differences. Explain that differences in appearance, beliefs, or abilities do not diminish a person’s worth or value. Encourage them to treat others with kindness, empathy, and fairness, regardless of their backgrounds. Emphasize that judgments based on stereotypes or prejudices are unfair and hurtful. Lead by example and demonstrate respectful behavior towards others. Show your children that you value diversity by engaging in positive interactions with individuals from different backgrounds. Encourage them to observe and learn from your actions, as children often emulate the behavior of their parents or caregivers. Create opportunities for your children to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Encourage participation in multicultural events, community activities, or volunteer opportunities where they can meet people with different perspectives and experiences. These interactions promote understanding and acceptance, allowing your children to learn firsthand about the richness of diversity. When your children witness discriminatory behavior or hear prejudiced remarks, guide them in understanding the harm caused by such actions. Encourage them to stand up against discrimination and speak out against injustice. Teach them how to express their disagreement respectfully and to promote equality and inclusivity. By fostering respect for differences, you not only instill good manners in your children but also cultivate a broader worldview. Your children will grow to appreciate diversity, embrace inclusivity, and contribute to creating a more harmonious and accepting society. Instilling good manners in your children is a gift that will benefit them throughout their lives. By being a positive role model, teaching basic etiquette, encouraging empathy and gratitude, and fostering respectful communication, you can help your children develop into well-mannered individuals. Remember to practice consistency, patience, and understanding as you guide them on this journey. By investing time and effort into teaching good manners, you are equipping your children with essential life skills that will serve them well in their personal and professional relationships.

https://childbehavior.com.ng/instilling-good-manners-in-your-children-a-guide-for-parents/

Family

en

Was Jesus black? Some contemporary groups suggest Jesus was a black or African Hebrew. Is there evidence for this view? Was Jesus black?A straightforward look at the history of the life of Jesus in the Gospels notes He was the virgin-born son of a Hebrew woman from the town of Nazareth in the modern-day nation of Israel. A descendant of Jews, Jesus would have certainly been born with a Jewish complexion, typically consisting of an olive, light brown skin tone. This is also supported by the fact that Jesus fit well within His local Jewish culture and was known as being from Nazareth and being a Galilean (Matthew 26:69). Many quickly dismiss the idea of the Jewishness of Jesus as unimportant. However, the Jewish physical background of Jesus is important for a variety of reasons. First, Jesus came as the promised Jewish Messiah. This would require Him to be physically Jewish, including features others would recognize as Jewish. The very first verse of the New Testament clearly proclaims the Jewish ethnicity of Jesus: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1). Second, the messianic prophecies could not be fulfilled in Jesus unless He was physically Jewish. To be from the tribe of Judah required Jewish lineage. It is evident from passages such as Hebrews 7:14," For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah," that Jesus was ethnically a Jew. Third, Jesus could only be rejected and suffer as the Jewish Messiah if He was Jewish. If Jesus had been of another background, the fulfillment of Isaiah 53 of Jesus as the suffering servant of the Jewish people would not have been able to take place. In fact, verse 2 notes, "For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him." This prophecy made clear that the looks of the Messiah were not the focus; it was His role that held utmost importance. Fourth, John 4:22 specifically notes the Jewishness of Jesus from His own perspective: "You [the Samaritans] worship what you do not know; we [the Jews] worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews." Finally, Jesus was nailed to a cross with a sign that called Him "King of the Jews." To both Jews and Gentiles, Jesus was seen as a Jewish man who claimed to be a king. While He was rejected, His resurrection proved His claim as the Messiah. The evidence clearly supports the view that Jesus was an ethnic Jew with a Jewish complexion. This Jewish Messiah is the One who calls those of every background to come to Him for salvation (Acts 4:12), offering eternal life to all who believe (John 3:16). What did Jesus look like? Was Jesus a Jew? Why is Jesus called Jesus of Nazareth? What language did Jesus speak? What were the key events in the life of Jesus? Truth about Jesus Christ

http://www.compellingtruth.org/was-Jesus-black.html

Religion

en

Venice experiences its worst flooding since 2012 Venice, Italy has been experiencing severe flooding due to high tides and strong winds, causing widespread damage and disruption to daily life. The flooding, which began on November 12, 2020, is the worst to hit the city since 2012. The city's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, has declared a state of emergency and called for international assistance to help deal with the crisis. The flooding has caused significant damage to homes, businesses, and historic landmarks, including St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. The flooding is attributed to a combination of factors, including a high tide, strong winds, and a low atmospheric pressure system. The tide gauge at St. Mark's Square recorded a level of 1.87 meters (6.14 feet) above sea level, which is the highest since 2012. The flooding has caused significant disruption to daily life in Venice, with many residents and tourists forced to evacuate their homes and businesses. The city's famous canals are filled with water, and many historic buildings and landmarks are at risk of damage. The Italian government has deployed emergency services and military personnel to help deal with the crisis, and international aid has been offered by neighboring countries and organizations. The European Union has also offered assistance, with the European Commission announcing a package of emergency aid worth €10 million (approximately $11 million). The flooding is a major concern for Venice, which is already vulnerable to rising sea levels and climate change. The city is built on more than 100 small islands and is surrounded by water, making it particularly susceptible to flooding. The Italian government has been working to implement measures to protect Venice from flooding, including the construction of a massive floodgate system called MOSE (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico). The system is designed to protect the city from high tides and flooding, but it is still under construction and is not expected to be completed until 2025. In the meantime, the city is working to mitigate the effects of the flooding and to support those affected by the disaster. The Italian government has set up emergency shelters and is providing aid to those who have been displaced or affected by the flooding. The flooding in Venice is a major concern for the city and its residents, and it highlights the need for urgent action to protect the city from the impacts of climate change.

https://newsbreakers.ng/venice-experiences-its-worst-flooding-since-2012/

Politics

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Popular Question – When Should One Eat Fruits? Popular question – when should one eat fruits? This is a question that has raised dust among the populace. It has created different views among scholars and nutritionist. Various theories that are antagonistic has been developed and propagated. Let us examine some of these theories about the right time to eat fruits. Fruits should be eaten on an empty stomach Fruits should be eaten 2 hours before meals Fruits should be eaten 2 hours after meals Fruits should be eaten in the morning, afternoon, or evening. The above theories have various reasons why fruits should be eaten in those manners. Most of these reasons include; slow down digestion, increases blood sugar levels for diabetes patients, and affects the digestive system. In life; it has been rightly said that doing the right thing at the right time always guarantees success and this entails wisdom. As true as this is, it does not stay true with when fruits should be eaten! It is said that eating fruits with meal slow digestion and may cause the stomach to retain food for a longer time. This is more beneficial to man as food stays longer in the stomach, the individual gets the feeling of being full thus reducing the intake of snacks and other food. This helps to control obesity and weight gain. Slowing digestion by eating fruit with meals is also very beneficial for patients with diabetes. As digestion is delayed, the amount of sugar released to the blood is reduced and kept low and steady. This helps in controlling blood sugar levels. For people with diabetes, eaten some fruits can necessitate eating food rich in protein and fats and some fruits contain a high amount of sugar that may increase the blood sugar level. It has been said that food that stays long in the stomach does decrease stomach pH and do undergo fermentation which can in turn leads to some health challenges. Researches have shown this to be false. The presence of food in the mouth stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid (with a pH of about 1.5) in the stomach. This acid kills every bacteria present in the consumed food thus preventing fermentation and spoilage in the stomach. The stomach released the food in bits into the small intestine thus allow proper digestion and increases the rate of nutrients assimilation. However, diabetes patients may indeed develop digestive problems such as gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach empties slower than normal or not at all). Changes in diet can help to manage this condition and not necessarily the time in which fruit is eaten. Is there the best time to eat your fruit? It is important to understand that the human body over time has evolved to be efficient as much as possible to maximally digest and absorb nutrients from food irrespective of when you eat the food. The small intestine is about 18-20 feet long with a very large surface area ratio. This allows it for efficient extraction and absorption of nutrients. Irrespective of when you eat, the stomach helps to serve as a store, releasing only small amounts of the food at a time so that the intestines can easily digest it. Your digestive system is always awake to go into action whenever you eat.

https://greenerhealth.com.ng/when-is-the-best-time-to-eat-fruits/1

Health

en

Swaddling clothes are cloths and bands used in the practice of swaddling, or essentially “wrapping” an infant tightly in cloth. The idea behind swaddling is that it helps the baby transition from the womb (a very snug place) to the outside world. Swaddling clothes are still used today, but with some modifications. In general, swaddling has been proved to help infants sleep better, to prevent them from scratching themselves, and to reduce the risk of SIDS. In ancient times, like today, a swaddled infant was safe if wrapped and watched properly. Many cultures still practice swaddling today. The biblical passage that refers to swaddling clothes is Luke 2: “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7, ESV). We can assume from the fact that she swaddled the baby Jesus that Mary was an attentive and loving mother. The angel who spoke to the shepherds on the hillside mentions swaddling clothes as part of the sign to the shepherds that they had found the Messiah (Luke 2:12). There are some interesting theories about Luke’s detail of Jesus’ swaddling clothes. Some have postulated that the swaddling clothes were a foreshadowing—a prophetic reference—of Jesus’ burial cloths. The Greek word sparganoo is the root word used in the phrase “swaddling clothes,” and it means “to clothe in strips of cloth.” But this word sparganoo is never used in the New Testament to refer to burial cloth. In the descriptions in the Gospels of Jesus’ burial, we see variations on the phrase “wrapped in linen cloth,” and different Greek words are used for the binding. The swaddling clothes could prefigure Jesus’ burial (the Magis’ gift of myrrh in Matthew 2:11 is a clearer bit of foreshadowing), but the link can’t be proved linguistically. When the Son of God came into our world, He was entrusted to responsible, loving parents who sought to meet His every need. Baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes according to the custom of the day, an action that showed the tender care and affection of His mother.

http://www.gotquestions.org/swaddling-clothes.html

Religion

en

For the first section, I think although our society is always instilling in us the idea of equality between men and women. But a lot of gender biased in our society still exists. There are some examples of gender bias. The first example is in recruiting strategy. In the workplace, hiring managers are twice as likely to hire men as women. There may be gender biases throughout the recruitment process, starting with where and how to recruit. Irene McAvoy did not receive any response from her employer when she was looking for a job after college. When she changed her name from a feminine Erin to a masculine Mack on her resume, she got a 70% response rate. And employers may disclose their roles on platforms dominated by male candidates, or actively target men through advertisements. In addition to immorality, it’s also against the law. The second example is about the job description. The job description is so bland that it also contains some traces of unconscious bias. The tone and attitude of speaking always make people have different feelings, so people find that it includes confidence, decisiveness and strong attitude. All of these can attract male candidates and make female candidates hesitant. The study also showed that men only need to qualify 60% of the jobs they apply for, while women need to qualify 100%. This means that if your job description has many unnecessary or strict requirements, few women want to apply for the positions you apply for. For the second section, I think gender roles affect almost all lives. The difference between the two sexes, whether real or imagined, is a way to prove their existence. Gender inequality results from perceptual differences. It doesn’t help our society, where we train boys to be provider, stoic, uncompromising and demanding. And we train girls to be submissive, passive and meet the needs of men. This leads to the habit that a man always pays the bill, just because he is a man. That’s why there are usually more male robbers and kidnappers than female ones, because society puts too much pressure on men. That’s why single women are always under pressure to find a husband, support her and confirm her existence as a woman. Gender roles can even destroy marriage, relationships, etc. Once a lady who didn’t like cooking. However, she pretended to enjoy cooking during courtship until she got married. She was taught that every woman must know how to cook and enjoy it. As soon as she got into her wedding room, she stopped pretending because she was tired of pretending. Her husband and family began to complain that she had changed because she couldn’t keep pretending. For me, I am a male. Although everyone is saying that men and women are equal, I can still feel the huge pressure of men in society. For example, many women have to ask men to have a house and a car before they get married. In addition, many women like to change their positions at any time through benefits. Sometimes they will get benefits on the basis of their own women, and sometimes they will change their position to get benefits by advocating gender equality. I hope that equality between men and women is the real equality, not the slogan. The final topic we discussed in the colloquy class in last semester is about race. In the first section I will discuss the causes of racial discrimination. In the second section I will discuss some effects of racial discrimination in our life. For me, I am an Asian. I have yellow skin. People like me are also discriminated against in the world. I have also suffered racial prejudice in the past. First of all, I will talk about the race. The most important point that I will mention in the following content is racial discrimination. Racial discrimination refers to the practice of treating individuals differently because of their race or color. That is true that I have different perspectives when I see different people in disparate races. In fact, I am not willing to see others with a colored spectacle. That is because I think this kind of my view not respects to others, the reason is that their races have been decided when they were born. They do not have any chance to change their races at all, it just their destinies or fates. However, I cannot control my emotion. In my perspective, it is not prejudice, it just is instinct. The first reason that I have the instinct probably is the habits. That is because, I grow up with the people that is same race as me. I have been used to living with the people with the same skin color as me, and in my life are basically the people with similar characteristics. Therefore, the constant living condition render me hard to accept the other people with the disparate races. The second reason is that I probably affect by the education from my childhood. After parents and teachers continue to indoctrinate and educate, this kind of prejudice against race will come into being unconsciously. I am a Chinese and my skin color is yellow, so there still exist many biases to our race from others whose races are different from us and these biases usually come from the following factors: 1 intrinsic human nature, 2 economic and social insecurity, 3 the other, 4 demarcation among nations, 5 political insinuation, 6 Fragmentation/Stratification of society, 7 Mass media and popular culture, 8 lack of awareness, 9 history show us the way. For the second section, racism still exists and flourishes in some communities. While many people are able to accept the diversity of races and appreciate the differences between different religions and skin colors, there are also many who see differences among other races as a threat. Although racism at the individual level can be destructive through aggressive language, bad attitudes and occasional outbreaks of violence, it can have extremely serious consequences when it occurs at the government level. When racial discrimination occurs at the national level, we see atrocities such as ethnic cleansing, persecution, discrimination through the judicial system and harmful apartheid laws. It is undeniable that racism may cause damage to the culture and well-being of a country and cause economic and moral unrest. If hatred is allowed to thrive in a society, its negative effects will extend to every part of daily life. In some communities, we can see many signs of racial prejudice. Families of a certain color or race, living in poverty and poor conditions, are unable to get rid of their disadvantages due to the prejudice of their employers, leaving them in low paid positions. We have seen that the judicial system unfairly holds many ethnic groups accountable, imposes more severe penalties on their crimes, and even convicts those that have not been committed. We may also see discrimination in the education system, where people from certain backgrounds do not have access to the best schools and therefore do not have the appropriate qualifications for promotion and promotion to senior positions. Racial prejudice can also have a serious impact on individuals. Fear can become a daily occurrence, and low self-esteem is a common phenomenon. When a person often faces harassment and persecution in his or her life, he or she will naturally think that he or she is less valuable than his or her real self, which can only make the cycle of oppression permanent. Those who don’t value themselves will never try to get more. It is this problem that causes generations of families to get into trouble. It is also common for people who have always dealt with racism to become aggressive and aggrieved and turn to criminal behavior in an attempt to counter injustice. This will only make the adverse situation continue to cycle. I have also experienced racial discrimination once. During my trip to America, I was sent to a summer camp by my family. This is a golf camp. Every morning, the coach will teach us some golf skills. In the afternoon, we will practice with our teammates freely. Just the next afternoon, when it was my turn to hit the ball, a white boy came up to me and told me to get out of the way. I didn’t confront him to avoid conflict. Through this experience, I found that racial discrimination can happen in many cases The first topic we discussed in the colloquy class of the second semester is about beauty. In this part I just discussed the different kinds of form of beauty. For me, I think people with good quality are the most beautiful. First of all, many things in our life are beautiful. In other words, beauty is everywhere in our life. Beauty can be as small as a flower. At the same time, beauty can also be extremely grand like a high mountain. As long as we have a heart that is good at finding beauty, we can find beauty at any time. For example, first music is beautiful. The reason is that music is a creativity of an arts and innovations. Music is the powerful language of unity. Music killed depression, Slaughtered racism, and Strangled struggle. Music has no religion, no Color, and nor limit. Music was a cure and Music is also the soundtrack to the life of all of us. Second sky is beautiful. More people should lay down and watch the sky, people don’t need to worry as much as they do and life will be really simple. At the same time looking at the sky is pretty relaxing. Secondly, these beauties in our life often affect our thinking and feelings. For example, when we are in a bad mood or when we encounter something disturbing. A person gives you sincere encouragement or helps you. These people will cheer you up and give you a good view of the world. People may wonder why help and encouragement are beautiful. Actually, beauty is being able to look back on your life and knowing that you did things for the sake of your own peace of mind and not for anyone else’s misguided judgement. Knowing that you are worth the world and every positive thing it offers. In addition, encouragement can make people feel warm and hopeful, and can make people come out of despair. Although encouragement and help are not the beauty of expression, they are the beauty of inner and emotion, so that Help and encouragement are the beauty of a behavior. Thirdly beauty actually is a way for people to express their emotion or thoughts. Communicating is a kind of beauty and we called it “The art of communication”. When we’re attempting to get our message out to others, it’s as though we start with a giant blank canvas and we then begin to paint a picture, any picture we desire. Now, most people assume that when painting a picture, they have only a few basic brushes at their disposal. But the advanced artist knows there are many tools available to create their masterpiece, and they use each to their advantage. The same is true with communication. There are many tools available to you as you communicate; you just have to be aware of them and then use them purposefully. The better you become at using these tools, the better you’ll be at communicating. Furthermore, some artists or those people who love art like to express their feelings by creating artwork, such as painting or sculpture. They will use the influence of color on people’s thoughts to express their feelings or express what they want to express to everyone through the characteristic of painting. Sculptors express their feelings through the expressions and actions of sculptures. For me, people with good quality are the most beautiful. For example, the medical staff during the epidemic. Affected by the pneumonia epidemic caused by the coronavirus, frontline medical staff also made huge sacrifices, including life. Hearing the news that doctors and nurses were exhausted at work and passed away one after another, it touched my hearts. At the critical moment of the fight against the spread of the epidemic, the majority of medical staff in China immediately followed the call, let the family care for everyone, bid farewell to parents, bid farewell to husbands, bid farewell to wives and children, went to Wuhan, Xiaogan, Huanggang and other epidemic areas to put youth , Sweat, wisdom, skills, blood, life, are dedicated to this battle without smoke. In this battlefield without smoke, they resolutely ignored the risk of virus infection, in order to save protective clothing, insisted on not eating or drinking water for a day, not going to the bathroom, using their strong spirit, tenacious fighting spirit, superb medical skills to help patients find hope. The second topic we discussed in the colloquy class of the second semester is about religious. In this topic I mainly discussed my beliefs, where they come from and how they affect my identity. For me I am an atheist. I don’t have any faith so I’m an atheist. What is atheism? Atheism is a kind of belief that denies, denies and does not believe in the existence of gods; atheism is also a kind of resistance, rejection and attack to believe in the existence of any gods. I am an atheist because my family taught me from a young age not to believe in things about God. Atheism actually appeared a long time ago, but the unbelief of religious belief has a long and fascinating history. Therefore, it’s hard to judge the origin of atheism. To really understand atheism, we need to understand the history of atheism in the past 30 centuries. Atheism has appeared since the first religion, but because atheism is often sentenced to imprisonment or death, atheists tend to whisper at certain times and places. But atheism exists. Although the context of atheism in the ancient and medieval world is a story that few people know. Even atheists often know nothing about this part of their history. By the beginning of the 18th century, disbelief began to accumulate slowly in Europe. Secret documents challenging religious beliefs have been circulating for 50 years, only a step ahead of censorship. French parishioners read the documents of the Catholic priest who died in 1729 and found a book written for them by the priest, telling how disgusted and distrustful he was with the religion he had taught them for 40 years. By the end of this century, French, German and British philosophers had openly challenged religious power and ideas and established modern concepts of human rights and personal freedom. All this reached zenith in the French Revolution, after a brief flirtation with the atheist state, the supreme cult and reign of terror – at which point atheism returned to the ground for some time. However, since the 20th century, atheism has gradually become popular. In fact, an atheist’s life in China will not be isolated because I have no faith. Because most people in China are atheists. Even people with religious beliefs don’t often talk about their beliefs with others in China. I am now a high school student, from primary school to now, none of my classmates have religious beliefs, so that as an atheist, my life will not be affected by the lack of religious belief. But the atheists in other areas are very different from me. These atheists have no real religion from the beginning. Their view was naturalistic from the beginning. For those atheists who have supernatural beliefs, the story of losing them is amazing in its diversity. Some people describe that it’s easy to lose faith without drama. Others describe personal pain, especially when religious friends and family don’t respond well. Over the years, many religious people have been told that when they lose their faith, they will lose all hope and joy. When it turns out that’s not the case, the world is as beautiful as the day before, and life is as precious and valuable as the day before – a very pleasant surprise for many new atheists. Freedom and liberation often come from the realization – sometimes for the first time in history – that their thoughts are their own, that their destiny is in their own hands, that they are not chess pieces in other people’s chess games, but independent people. Atheists who grow up in conservative religious families often feel this feeling strongly, but others often talk about this sudden change of view. In the topic of social class. I find myself a middle class. I am satisfied with my life now, so I hope I can maintain my living standard through my efforts. I don’t want to be rich, because I think ordinary life has more flavor of life. In the topic of gender. I am a man, and I find that there are still many gender biases in our society. Many women suffer a lot of unfair treatment in many aspects of life. At the same time, men’s social pressure is also increased because of these prejudices In the topic of race. I am an Asian. I have yellow skin. I find that many of the racist ideas are cultivated from childhood. The problem of racial discrimination is still very serious. I also experienced racial discrimination as a child. In the topic of art. I find that I am a person who likes the beauty of life details. I like to observe small details of life. I also think the most beautiful scenery is the noble personality such as the taste. It’s like whenever I see medical staff fighting against time to save patients in the epidemic area, my heart will be shocked by their actions. In the topic of religion. I am an atheist. Atheists are the most common people in my country. People rarely communicate about religion. We all have our own ideas and will not be bound by religion.

https://artscolumbia.org/essays/who-am-i-essay-free-sample-for-students-52912/

Education

en

As kids start elementary school, they will learn more difficult things. To help them succeed, it’s important to make sure they are ready for the new ideas and concepts they will learn.. So, we’ve got some interesting learning games for 6 year olds that will help them advance their skills. As parents, we want our kids to develop fine motor skills, creative thinking, cognitive skills, and hand-eye coordination, among others at the right age. We understand that their grasping power is strong at this age and so, want to make the most of it. Learning games for 6 year olds serve as valuable tools to support their overall development and growth. Learning games for 6 year olds are not just fun, they also encourage creativity, imagination, and expressing themselves. By playing these games regularly, parents can help their kids get ready for school and develop a love for learning that will lead to ongoing success in their education. At SKIDOS, we’ve developed a number of learning games for 6 year olds that are aimed at sharpening various skills in them. These games help them learn problem-solving and creative thinking. These games are made to improve skills like hand-eye coordination and thinking smart. Kids can play and have fun while getting ready for school challenges. SKIDOS helps parents give their kids fun learning experiences that make them independent and ready for school. The early years of kids are when they are most creative and imaginative, and we must let their imagination run wild. It’s how they will learn to dream big. Our game, Fantasy World, has some amazing animation and sounds that add a spooky and adventurous touch to the game. There are many magical worlds that your child can explore in this game. They can search for hidden passageways, make magical potions, meet their favorite mythological characters like Dracula and Frankenstein, and complete the witty tasks and challenges that appear on the screen. Whether they are looking for fairies, dragons, witches, or gnomes, they’ll find them all in Fantasy World alongside some engaging math and logical thinking exercises to keep their learning going as well. Here’s a brilliant learning game for 6 year olds to develop their hand-eye coordination. There are bubbles of various colors, and the aim of the game is to pop a cluster of same-colored bubbles and reach the top row. The top row is where a bunch of bunnies are trapped, and once all the bubbles are popped, your child can rescue them. It’s a cute game with fun animation and sounds that will entertain and educate your child. After completing a level, before moving on to the next, a puzzle will appear on the screen. You can choose the difficulty level of these mini-games depending on their learning pace. If you’re looking to sharpen analytical thinking skills in your child, this is the game for them. It’s all about putting the correct colors together to keep the game going. There’s a train and your child has got to drive the train around while collecting carriages. But the catch is that they’ve got to merge carriages of the same color. When they do that, the same-colored carriages will disappear and the game can be continued. If not, the length of the train will keep increasing and when the train has no more space to move, the game will end. There are jigsaw puzzles and math games also in this game for your kids to have some more fun and learning. At 6 years, when they start elementary school, it’s important for you to engage them in learning activities so that they cope in class. If they are constantly sharpening various academic skills, it will be easy for them to get good grades and grasp new concepts. The SKIDOS learning apps are filled with games that are focused on this. Don’t worry, we’re here to ensure that your kids have a great time learning and playing, making the best use of their time. When kids actively play learning games, they keep improving their academic skills, which helps them get good grades and understand new things easily. With SKIDOS learning apps, you can be confident that your kids will have a great time learning through interactive play. Our games are designed to be both fun and educational, allowing kids to have fun while gaining important knowledge and skills. Parents can help their kids learn and grow by including learning games in their daily routine. These games boost academic skills and encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. With SKIDOS learning apps, parents can be sure that their kids are having a great time while learning and developing important skills. The wide variety of games ensures that kids enjoy the learning journey and parents can feel proud of their kids’ educational progress. Through learning games, kids also develop important social and emotional skills. They learn to work together, communicate, and solve problems with others. These games provide a safe space for kids to express themselves and understand their feelings, helping them grow emotionally. With SKIDOS learning apps, children not only excel academically, but also gain valuable life skills. Parents can be proud knowing their kids are learning and developing important social and emotional abilities that will benefit them in many areas of life. Skidos Labs ApS, 2200 København N

https://skidos.com/learning-games-for-6-year-olds/?utm_source=SEO&utm_campaign=OffPagebyRC

Education

en

From Stalin to Hitler, the most murderous regimes in the world The 20th century witnessed death and slaughter on an unprecedented scale. It was the century of the Holocaust and two World Wars; of communist, Nazi, fascist and military dictators who between them killed more than 100 million people. Scroll down for the leaders themselves, listed in order of the numbers who died as a result of their rule. The casualties of conflicts involving the U.S., the UK and France in Korea, Algeria, Vietnam, the Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq are excluded on the grounds that, though many would view these as unjust colonial wars by ‘imperialist’ powers, they weren’t fought by dictators. Indeed, when the wars proved unpopular or unwinnable, they were brought to an end by the pressure of public opinion. 1 MAO ZEDONG China (1949-76) Regime Communist Victims 60 million China’s so-called ‘Great Helmsman’ was in fact the greatest mass murderer in history. Most of his victims were his fellow Chinese, murdered as ‘landlords’ after the communist takeover, starved in his misnamed ‘Great Leap Forward’ of 1958-61, or killed and tortured in labour camps in the Cultural Revolution of the Sixties. Mao’s rule, with its economic mismanagement and continual political upheavals, also spelled poverty for most of China’s untold millions. The country embraced capitalism long after his death. 2 JOSEPH STALIN Soviet Union (1929-53) Regime Communist Victims 40 million Lenin’s paranoid successor was the runner-up to Mao in the mass-murder stakes. Stalin imposed a deliberate famine on Ukraine, killed millions of the wealthier peasants – or ‘kulaks’ – as he forced them off their land, and purged his own party, shooting thousands and sending millions more to work as slaves and perish in the Gulag. 3 ADOLF HITLER Germany (1933-45) Regime Nazi dictatorship Victims 30 million The horror of Adolf Hitler’s dictatorship lies in the uniqueness of his most notorious crime, the Holocaust, which stands alone in the annals of inhuman cruelty. It was carried out under the cover of World War II, a conflict Hitler pursued with the goal of obtaining ‘Lebensraum’. The war ended up costing millions of lives, leaving Europe devastated and his Third Reich in ruins.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2091670/Hitler-Stalin-The-murderous-regimes-world.htmlLegacyWorld

Politics

en

Social Studies Primary 4 First Term Lesson Notes Week 7 Subject: Social Studies Class: Primary 4 Term: First Term Age: 9 years Topic: Ways of Cultural Preservation Sub-topic: Exploring Methods to Preserve and Promote Cultural Heritage Duration: 40 minutes By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to: - Identify different methods used to preserve cultural heritage. - Explain why preserving cultural heritage is important. - Describe how cultural heritage can be promoted in their community. - Recognize the role of individuals and communities in cultural preservation. - Cultural preservation Methods of Teaching : - Class Discussion - Group Discussion - Asking Questions - Role Modelling - Role Delegation Start with a discussion on some cultural traditions or artifacts that pupils are familiar with. Ask if they think these traditions are important to keep and why. Pupils have a basic understanding of what culture and traditions are from previous lessons. Learning Resources and Materials: - Examples of cultural artifacts (pictures or models) - Videos or stories about cultural preservation - Worksheets for group activities Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge: Review previous topics on culture and its elements to link how preservation methods help maintain these traditions. Embedded Core Skills: - Critical thinking - Cultural awareness - Lagos State Scheme of Work for Social Studies - Textbooks on Social Studies - Visual aids related to cultural artifacts - Pictures and videos of cultural artifacts - Examples of preservation efforts - Worksheets for classroom activities - Scheme of Work - Online Information - 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum Ways of Cultural Preservation - Recording traditions, stories, and practices in books or digital formats. For example, writing down traditional recipes or documenting oral histories. - Teaching cultural practices and traditions in schools and community programs. For example, including cultural studies in school curriculums. - Festivals and Celebrations: - Organizing events that celebrate cultural traditions and practices. For example, holding annual festivals to showcase traditional dances and music. - Art and Craft: - Creating and maintaining traditional art forms and crafts. For example, preserving techniques for making traditional clothing or pottery. - Museums and Cultural Centers: - Establishing places where cultural artifacts and traditions are displayed and preserved. For example, setting up local museums to showcase historical artifacts. - Community Involvement: - Encouraging community members to participate in and promote cultural practices. For example, involving local artisans in cultural festivals. - Digital Media: - Using technology to share and promote cultural heritage. For example, creating online platforms or social media pages dedicated to cultural practices. - Cultural Exchange Programs: - Engaging in programs that allow different cultures to share their traditions. For example, organizing exchange visits between communities to learn about each other’s cultures. Fill in the blanks with the correct option (a, b, c, or d): - One method of preserving culture is ____. a) Ignoring traditions c) Changing customs d) Avoiding festivals - Education helps preserve culture by ____. a) Teaching cultural practices in schools b) Ignoring traditional stories c) Removing cultural subjects from curriculums d) Limiting community involvement - Festivals and celebrations ____. a) Showcase cultural traditions b) Ignore cultural practices c) Remove traditional events d) Limit cultural diversity - Art and craft preservation includes ____. a) Creating traditional clothing b) Discarding traditional art c) Ignoring cultural crafts d) Changing artistic techniques - Museums and cultural centers ____. a) Display and preserve cultural artifacts b) Destroy cultural items c) Remove historical artifacts d) Ignore cultural history - Community involvement in cultural preservation involves ____. a) Participating in cultural practices b) Avoiding cultural activities c) Removing traditional events d) Limiting local involvement - Digital media can help preserve culture by ____. a) Sharing cultural heritage online b) Ignoring traditional practices c) Limiting digital access d) Removing cultural content - Cultural exchange programs ____. a) Allow different cultures to share traditions b) Limit cultural interactions c) Avoid cultural sharing d) Remove community exchanges - Documenting traditions can be done by ____. a) Recording oral histories b) Discarding traditional stories c) Ignoring cultural practices d) Avoiding documentation - Art and craft preservation can include ____. a) Maintaining traditional techniques b) Changing artistic practices c) Ignoring cultural crafts d) Discarding traditional art - Festivals can help in preserving culture by ____. a) Showcasing traditional practices b) Removing cultural celebrations c) Limiting cultural events d) Ignoring traditions - Community involvement is important for ____. a) Promoting cultural practices b) Avoiding cultural traditions c) Removing local customs d) Limiting community participation - Museums help preserve culture by ____. a) Displaying cultural artifacts b) Ignoring historical items c) Removing traditional exhibits d) Changing cultural displays - Education helps in cultural preservation by ____. a) Teaching cultural practices b) Ignoring cultural subjects c) Removing traditional lessons d) Limiting educational content - Digital media helps in promoting culture by ____. a) Sharing cultural heritage online b) Removing cultural content c) Limiting access to traditions d) Ignoring cultural practices Class Activity Discussion: - What are some methods of preserving cultural heritage? - Documentation, education, festivals, art and craft, museums, community involvement, digital media, and cultural exchange. - Why is it important to preserve cultural heritage? - It helps maintain cultural identity and traditions for future generations. - How can schools contribute to cultural preservation? - By including cultural practices and traditions in their curriculum. - What role do festivals play in preserving culture? - They showcase and celebrate cultural traditions and practices. - How can digital media be used for cultural preservation? - By sharing cultural information and traditions online. - Why is community involvement important for cultural preservation? - It ensures that cultural practices are actively maintained and promoted. - How can museums help in preserving culture? - By displaying and protecting cultural artifacts. - What are some examples of cultural crafts that can be preserved? - Traditional clothing, pottery, and artwork. - How do cultural exchange programs benefit cultural preservation? - They allow different cultures to share and learn from each other’s traditions. - What are the benefits of documenting cultural traditions? - It helps preserve and pass down cultural practices to future generations. What is culture ? Culture is the sun total way of life of a particular group of people . Culture is used to describe the way and manner a set of group of people has decided to live ; This is always shown in their greetings , food, music or greetings . It is important for us to promote and preserve certain aspects of our old customs and traditions. Some of these are: 1 The practice of living together in a community, as if the members belong to one family. This can be preserved by a) Encouraging people to work in groups; and b) Forming associations like age grades and social groups. What is cultural preservation ? Cultural preservation are the steps that are taken to make sure that our culture ,customs and tradition do not go into extinction . They are the conscious efforts that are taken to make sure that our culture does not vanish from the surface of the earth . What are the conscious steps that we can take to protect and preserve our culture ? - National monument like museums may be built to house our traditional attires, relics and costumes - We must encourage our children to speak our local indigenous languages at home - We must organize national cultural festivals to promote our traditions , customs and culture - Traditional events like wedding , naming or burial should be conducted in accordance to our custom and traditions - Protecting places of historical traditional facts or history like the Osun Oshogbo Groove in Ile Ife in Osun State These also encourage good neighborliness’ and unity. 2 Traditional religion: This can be preserved by maintaining shrines and other places of worship. We should also not discriminate against traditional religion worshippers in any way. 3 Indigenous foods: This can be preserved by growing more of them, preparing them well for eating, and being proud of them. 4 Traditional mode of dressing: The different styles and modes of traditional dresses need to be preserved and worn by children and adults. 5 Respect for elders and those in authority: This can be preserved by encouraging children, youths and adults to show respect to elders and those in authority, at all times. 6 Respect for other people’s views: We could promote this by continuing to respect and tolerate the views, beliefs and traditions of other groups. We should not regard our own as superior or expect other people to follow our culture. 7 Chieftain titles: These can be preserved by respecting the positions of title holders, and by the holders trying to live or behave in the ways expected of them. 8 Traditional languages: Children, youths and adults need to speak their traditional language regularly. We should all make the mother tongue the home language. 9 The museum: We should preserve our artifacts in the museum. 10 Folklore: We should tell stories that reflect our culture. 11 Hard work: People must continue to work hard, so that we can have a better society, made up of decent and disciplined people. 12 High moral values: We must continue to have regard for high moral values such as speaking the truth, being very kind, fairness to all and not stealing; because these values will make our society progressive. Some Cultural Practices That needs to Be discarded - Human sacrifice - Female Genital mutilation - Transferring women to the next sibling of her in-law when the woman loss her husband - Widow shaving her hair - Forced marriage - Child Marriage - Secret societies of cults The following culture practices are to be retain because they unite us together and promote morals. - Respect to elders - Respect for handwork - High moral values - Good eating habit - Marriage practices - Good child upbringing - Traditional hairstyle - Traditional ceremonies e.g. marriage, naming ceremonies - Mode of dressing - Traditional institution e.g. leadership, chiefs - Step 1: The teacher revises the previous topic, which was “Why We Have Different Cultures and Traditions,” focusing on the importance of maintaining cultural heritage. Why we have different culture and Tradition - Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic “Ways of Cultural Preservation” by discussing various methods of preserving and promoting cultural heritage. - Step 3: The teacher invites pupils to share ideas on how they think cultural heritage can be preserved in their own community and provides corrections and additional information as needed. - Explain various methods of cultural preservation using examples and visual aids. - Facilitate group discussions and activities on cultural preservation. - Encourage pupils to brainstorm and share ideas for promoting cultural heritage in their community. - Participate in discussions about cultural preservation methods. - Engage in activities related to preserving cultural heritage. - Share their own ideas and experiences regarding cultural practices. - Evaluation Questions: - What is one method used to preserve cultural heritage? - How does education contribute to cultural preservation? - Why are festivals important for preserving culture? - How can art and crafts be preserved? - What role do museums play in preserving culture? - Why is community involvement crucial for cultural preservation? - How can digital media help in preserving culture? - What is the benefit of cultural exchange programs? - How can documentation help in preserving traditions? - What are some examples of traditional crafts that can be preserved? - Explain the ,meaning of cultural preservation - Mention two places of historical cultural background in Nigeria - Who re the custodians of the gods in Yoruba land - Mention two cultural practices that must be discarded - Recap the methods of cultural preservation and their importance. Mark pupils’ work, provide feedback, and encourage them to participate in preserving their own cultural heritage. More Useful Links - Why We Have Different Cultures and Traditions Social Studies Primary 4 First Term Lesson Notes Week 6 - Meaning of Culture and Elements of culture Social Studies Primary 4 First Term Lesson Notes Week 5 - Marriage Problems and Solutions Social Studies Primary 4 First Term Lesson Notes Week 4

https://edudelighttutors.com/2021/03/17/ways-of-cultural-preservation/

Education

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Idealist philosophers, such as Plato, Augustine, Descartes, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Hegel, and Royce had a tremendous impact on the notion of schools as a means of promoting knowledge and preserving social norms and values . School functions are based on idealistic educational beliefs about observing schools as miniature societies that must provide students with stability and sincere learning experiences by teaching them a democratic way of life with ethical and moral values . Schools are homes where ideas are verified, implemented, and simplified . School functions also entail creating remarkable learning environments through which teachers can lead learners to the ultimate reality as much as possible, attaining their fullest potential and guiding them toward their highest reasonable role . Wise teachers regarded as model characters within efficient and expressive schools may have such skills to be effective and operative regarding their pupils’ moral characters . The teachers’ task ought to be to wisely generate an enjoyable learning environment for students [55, 56]. The schools’ interpretations of observed truths entail the human mind as perfect and precise rather than a traditional physical experience . Another primary school function is knowledge and information transmission from one generation to the next, so that popular culture can be preserved through teaching . As an essential curriculum within schools, subject matters must be pleasant and inspire students to develop cooperation, obedience, and respect for others . Idealistic schools work on applying recommendations and directions while taking individual differences into account . Idealistic educators believe that authorized examinations are the finest technique to evaluate pupils’ achievements. Schools could apply punishment simply to regulate learners’ conduct [34, 49]. An additional key feature of school functions based on the educational philosophy of Idealism is the role of teachers. Role of teachers Teachers are the central aspect of the education process, as they are the ideal role models for their pupils, both spiritually and ethically. Teachers must concentrate on curricular activities as essential parts of the school curriculum . The connection between educators and learners should be an official relationship observed by schools and teachers who assess their pupils in light of precise measurements administered by a governing body and the teachers themselves [43, 49, 57]. Teachers themselves are one of the essential constituents, as no other component of the school system is more vital than teachers, of whom idealists have high expectations [18, 49]. Teachers who must shine in their awareness and human understanding of students’ needs and aptitudes should be brilliant to be examples and role models for their learners properly and knowledgeably . To do so, teachers need to create and demonstrate moral merit inserted in their deeds and principles, in addition to using and enjoying outstanding creative competencies through providing the minds of their pupils with opportunities to study, scrutinize, integrate, examine, amalgamate, and put knowledge into their conduct and into their way of life [11, 22, 41, 43, 49]. Hence, it could be determined that teachers have the leading role in learning environments based on the educational teachings of Idealism. Based on the educational teachings of Idealism, teachers play a dominant role in the pedagogical process . They constantly evaluate their pupils’ learning by asking them precise questions regarding the subject materials they transmit to students through lecturing . Lecturing in Idealism, along with dialogues, are the central and most important teaching methods [15, 34] as has already been mentioned. The teacher’s role is an icon and a representative of good character, a knowledge principal responsible for the pedagogical process, whereas pupils are obstinate receivers and reflectors who learn and embrace the subject matters and materials through their teachers. In Idealism, teachers are responsible for choosing the suitable materials and curricula to deliver them to their learners . In conclusion, idealistic educational implications include, first, the nature of existence, implying that all existing things in the universe are in the soul, spirit, or mind. Second, the subject matters are represented by the preceding generations, who transmit, impart, and inspire ‘Wisdom’ to the next generations. Third, teaching methods help the mental capabilities of pupils to be implanted, motivated, and inspired by the teachers, who then have significant roles. The role of teachers as a fourth idealistic educational implication implies transmitting social and cultural heritage from one generation to another and being role models before their students spiritually and culturally. Fifth, the roles of students entail that they are acknowledged as receivers and reflectors who learn and embrace essential values, norms, and principles through skill repetitions and examinations, and they have the autonomy to think immaterially or abstractly. Sixth, the roles of schools are viewed idealistically as mental growth environments in which absolute, unchangeable, consistent, fixed, and idealistic values must be taught to students. Additionally, schools are places where knowledge must be gained through the mind and discovery through reasoning. Idealism’s educational implications, principles, and values ensure human values in debates, dialogues, lectures, and discussions. The values and objectives of the Ministry of Education Strategic Plan 2017–2021 in the United Arab Emirates also ensure human values in the discussion, tolerance, moderation, peace, co-existence, compassion, and volunteering, in addition to ensuring inclusive quality education, including pre-school education [58, 59]. The researchers reviewed some literature focusing only on the five idealistic educational implications that have been mentioned. The next subsection of this part of the current research study includes some related previous studies.

https://meziesblog.com/what-are-the-roles-of-educational-institutions/

Education

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According to a new study, airplane bathrooms contain a lot of antibiotic-resistant microbes. There’s no other option to use the bathroom on an airplane when you need to use it, what are you going to do, pee your pants? Maybe it’s better to do it. According to recent research published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, scientists tested airplane sewage from five different German airports. The sewage tested turned out to contain many different antibiotic-resistant microbes, which is much more than the number of microbes in the sewages of nearby wastewater plants and hospitals, which were also tested. Microbiologist Stefanie Hess of Technische Universität Dresden in Germany told Science News, “This study clearly shows that the antibiotic-resistance problem is a global problem, and a global effort is necessary to tackle this severe threat for human and animal health.” Around 90 percent of the 187 E. coli were tested, and according to the study, they were resistant to at least one antibiotic. This is actually a serious problem since infections that can be caused by antibiotic-resistant microbes can be difficult to treat and deadly. At the same time, the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was around 45 to 60 percent in the samples from the waste treatment facilities. According to a research done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur every year in the U.S.A. and it causes the death of more than 35,000 people. Some infections such as strep throat, pneumonia, gonorrhea, and foodborne illnesses can get worse and they can be more difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. Microbes become resistant to antibiotics and treatments because of small changes in their DNA and they can transfer this resistance to the other microbes they encounter. According to the scientists of the research, airplane sewage should be managed and treated more carefully by public health officials. – Journal Environmental Science and Technology

http://www.mediaissuesng.com/news/use-of-airplane-toilets-dangerous-research-says/

Health

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What are the differences between fibroids and endometriosis or are they the same? How can you know which one is causing your infertility and how can you overcome it? These and many more are what you will learning in this write-up. While some fibroids may cause fertility issues, many other fertility issues are caused by endometriosis and not fibroids. Uterine fibroids and endometriosis are the leading reasons that many women have hysterectomies (the surgical removal of the uterus). Since this is a major surgery and only necessary in about 10% of cases, women should be looking towards other ways to combat these conditions. Endometriosis vs. Fibroids What is Endometriosis? The uterus’ muscular walls are lined with a special tissue called endometrium. Each month, this lining adds additional layers in preparation for a fertilised egg. When fertilisation occurs, the foetus is then nourished by this lining. When fertilisation does not occur, portions of this lining are shed along with the unfertilised egg during the monthly menstrual cycle and this process is repeated each month in a woman of childbearing age. Endometriosis occurs when some of this uterine lining (endometrium) detaches itself and instead of being expelled from the body through the menstrual cycle by way of the vagina, it spreads and attaches itself to various organs outside the uterus such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, lungs, bladder, large intestine, etc. The cells in this lining will continue to swell and bleed each month but this blood has no outlet as it would have if this occurred in the uterus. Since this lining is in an abnormal location, the body will surround the accumulated blood that has no outlet with scar tissue that continues to build month after month. This will result in the formation of blood filled cysts on the organs that are affected. These are solid tumours or growths which are usually noncancerous that contain smooth muscle fibres and connective tissue that develop within the uterine walls or grow out from the uterus. These tumours vary in sizes and shapes and grow very slowly. While most women report no symptoms, some women may suffer from various uterine fibroids symptoms. - Pain during and before menstrual cycles - Pain during sexual intercourse - May suffer from nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, etc - Pain during urination while on the period - Pain during bowel movements while on the period - Pelvic pain and pressure - Pain during menstrual cycles - Heavy and/or prolonged menstrual cycles - Large tumours can press upon the bladder leading to frequent urination or not being able to urinate which could damage the kidneys - Large tumours can also press upon the intestines causing constipation - Back pain - Pain in the upper thighs - Wide girth due to having large tumours causing some women to look like they are several weeks pregnant - Pain during sexual intercourse Causes of Fibroid and Endometriosis The exact causes for these two conditions remain unknown but many doctors believe that oestrogen may be at the root of the conditions. Other factors that may lead to the development of uterine fibroid and endometriosis include toxins, diet, exercise or lack thereof, etc. While dealing with the symptoms of fibroid and endometriosis can be quite a challenge, it is important to remember that surgery is not the only way to find relief. There are many ways to cure fibroids and endometriosis naturally including our fibroid natural treatment options as well as natural remedy that cures endometriosis. These natural methods are usually side-effect free unlike surgical procedures. If you have gained anything from reading this, don’t hesitate to share it with others too. Put your comments and questions or topics you will like us to write about in the comment box below and you will hear right back from us. Stay Healthy And Never Give Up! Plan B Wellness Limited Whatsapp, Call, SMS: +2348099666658, +2348099666648 Call and SMS only: +2348099666650 Could you please share home remedies to cure fibriods . You can get one here – https://www.planbwellness.com/fibroid-remedy-recipe-the-most-important-step-in-getting-rid-of-fibroids-naturally/ Would you please share natural home remedies to overcome endometriosis and even be able to concieve. Yes, we will. Just stay tuned. Please do you have remedy for adonomyosis?

https://planbwellness.com/fibroids-vs-endometriosis-what-is-the-difference/

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Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth. Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts. Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda. Teenagers and young adults should listen to music on headphones for no more than one hour per day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. The global health authority has warned that 1.1 billion 12 to 35-year-olds are at risk of hearing loss because of “unsafe use” of personal audio devices including smartphones, as well as exposure to damaging levels of sounds in nightclubs, bars and at sporting events. Nearly half of all young people in middle and high income countries were putting themselves at risk of tinnitus and, in extreme cases, irreversible hearing loss, they said. Exposure to 100 decibels (dB) for 15 minutes is classified as unsafe, as is 85dB for eight hours. The maximum volume on some music players, as well as noise levels in clubs, often exceed 100dB while 85dB is close to the noise level in a moving car. The WHO recommended limiting the use of personal music players, and wearing earplugs when visiting noisy venues. “As they go about their daily lives doing what they enjoy, more and more young people are placing themselves at risk of hearing loss,” said Dr Etienne Krug, WHO director for injury prevention said. “They should be aware that once you lose your hearing, it won’t come back. Taking simple preventative actions will allow people to continue to enjoy themselves without putting their hearing at risk.” Noise levels in the workplace should not exceed 85dB, the WHO said, and those who work in nightclubs and at sporting events should take particular caution. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/children-warned-to-not-listen-to-music-for-more-than-one-hour-a-day-10076200.html

Health

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