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Women and Girls on the Climate Change Frontline: Navigating Climate Change, a podcast series that shines a light on the women and girls leading the fight against climate change in the least developed countries.
In the previous episodes, we journeyed to The Gambia, meeting women with grand solutions for climate crisis adaptation, and emphasized the importance of women's leadership. Today, one critical issue is in focus: Education. United Nations studies reveal that despite being in the 21st century, the world is still far from achieving universal education. Limitations are especially pronounced for girls and quality is a significant issue, a 'learning crisis' as termed by the World Bank.
We explore whether more formally educated women will result in more women leaders. However, our spotlight veers towards non-formal education, as guided by our interviewees, diverging via two primary channels: the arts and media.
Our Guests in this episode:
Shelot Masithi. She is a 24-year old environmental activist from South Africa. She is the founder of She 4 Earth, a climate school educating children and youths of African descent about climate change, shifting from carbon-centric climate change to include water scarcity, climate migration/displacements, food insecurity, and the psychology encompassing these global problems. Redesigning education to equip the younger generation for a Net Zero Future. Her work is centered on Ubuntu. She's a volunteer at Force of Nature, Climate Psychology Alliance, and Friends of the Haenertsburg Grasslands. Shelot is also an entrepreneur. An author. She loves hiking.
Rahma Diaa. A freelance journalist and trainer & Founder of Climate school initiative. Rahma is particularly interested in covering climate crises and sustainability. she graduated from the Faculty of mass communication, journalism department at Cairo University in 2012, and got a diploma in Media Translation from (AUC) in 2018. she has been a journalist since 2009, and has worked for Dostor, Tahrir, and Aswat Masriya- Reuters. she currently collaborates with Arab and foreign media, including Scientific American magazine, VICE, Raseef 22, and ARIJ. she received ten awards, most recently of them, "Emerging journalist" award from covering climate now, 2021& Cairo climate talks award in 2023.


What we like
Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe?
In a hypothetical race to claim the mantle of biggest threat to humanity, nuclear war, ecological catastrophe, rising authoritarianism, and new pandemics are still well in front of the pack. But, look there, way back but coming on fast. Is that AI? Is it a friend rushing forward to help us, or another foe rushing forward to bury us?
As a point of departure for this essay, in their recent Op Ed in The New York Times Noam Chomsky and two of his academic colleagues—Ian Roberts, a linguistics professor at the University of Cambridge, and Jeffrey Watumull, a philosopher who is also the director of artificial intelligence at a tech company—tell us that “however useful these [AI] programs may be in some narrow domains (they can be helpful in computer programming, for example, or in suggesting rhymes for light verse), we know from the science of linguistics and the philosophy of knowledge that they differ profoundly from how humans reason and use language. These differences place significant limitations on what these programs can do, encoding them with ineradicable defects….”
They continue: “Unlike humans, for example, who are endowed with a universal grammar that limits the languages we can learn to those with a certain kind of almost mathematical elegance, these programs learn humanly possible and humanly impossible languages with equal facility.”
Readers might take these comments to mean current AI so differs from how humans communicate that predictions that AI will displace humans in any but a few minor domains is hype. The new Chatbots, painters, programmers, robots, and what all are impressive engineering projects but nothing to get overly agitated about. Current AI handles language in ways very far from what now allows humans to use language as well as we do. More, current AIs’ neural networks and large language models are encoded with “ineradicable defects” that prevent the AIs from using language and thinking remotely as well as people. The Op Ed’s reasoning feels like a scientist hearing talk about a perpetual motion machine that is going to revolutionize everything. The scientist has theories that tell her a perpetual motion machine is impossible. The scientist therefore says the hubbub about some company offering one is hype. More, the scientist knows the hubbub can’t be true even without a glance at what the offered machine is in fact doing. It may look like perpetual motion, but it can’t be, so it isn’t. But what if the scientist is right that it is not perpetual motion but nonetheless the machine is rapidly gaining users and doing harm, with much more harm to come?
Chomsky, Roberts, and Watumull say humans use language as adroitly as we do because we have in our minds a human language faculty that includes certain properties. If we didn’t have that, or if our faculty wasn’t as restrictive as it is, then we would be more like birds or bees, dogs or chimps, but not like ourselves. More, one surefire way we can know that another language-using system doesn’t have a language faculty with our language faculty’s features is if it can do just as well with a totally made up nonhuman language as it can do with a specifically human language like English or Japanese. The Op Ed argues that the modern chatbots are of just that sort. It deduces that they cannot be linguistically competent in the same ways that humans are linguistically competent.
Applied more broadly, the argument is that humans have a language faculty, a visual faculty, and what we might call an explanatory faculty that provide the means by which we converse, see, and develop explanations. These faculties permit us a rich range of abilities. As a condition of doing so, however, they also impose limits on other conceivable abilities. In contrast, current AIs do just as well with languages that humans can’t possibly use as with ones we can use. This reveals that they have nothing remotely like the innate human language faculty since, if they had that, it would rule out the non human languages. But does this mean AIs cannot, in principle, achieve competency as broad, deep, and even creative as ours because they do not have faculties with the particular restrictive properties that our faculties have? Does it mean that whatever they do when they speak sentences, when they describe things in their visual field, or when they offer explanations for events we ask them about—not to mention when they pass the bar exam in the 90th percentile or compose sad or happy, reggae or rock songs to order—they not only aren’t doing what humans do, but also they can’t achieve outcomes of the quality humans achieve?
If the Op Ed said current AIs don’t have features like we have so they can’t do things the way we do things, that would be fine. In that case, it could be true that AIs can’t do things as well as we do them, but it could also be true that for many types of exams, SATs and Bar Exams, for example, they can outperform the vast majority of the population. What happens tomorrow with GPT 4 and in a few months with GPT 5, or in a year or two with GPT 6 and 7, much less later with GPT 10? What if, as seems to be the case, current AIs have different features than humans but those different features let it do many things we do differently than we do them, but as well or even better than we do them?
The logical problem with the Op Ed is that it seems to assume that only human methods can, in many cases, attain human-level results. The practical problem is that the Op Ed may cause many people to think that nothing very important is going on or even could be going on, without even examining what is in fact going on. But what if something very important is going on? And if so, does it matter?
If the Op Ed focused only on the question “is contemporary AI intelligent in the same way humans are intelligent,” the authors’ answer is no, and in this they are surely right. That the authors then emphasize that they “fear that the most popular and fashionable strain of AI—machine learning—will degrade our science and debase our ethics by incorporating into our technology a fundamentally flawed conception of language and knowledge,” is also fair. Likewise, it is true that when current programs pass the Turing test, if they haven’t already done so, it won’t mean that they think and talk the same way we do, or that how they passed the test will tell us anything about how we converse or think. But their passing the test will tell us that we can no longer hear or read their words and from that alone distinguish their thoughts and words from our thoughts and words. But will this matter?
Chomsky, Roberts, and Watumull’s essay seems to imply that AI’s methodological difference from human faculties means that what AI programs can do will be severely limited compared to what humans can do. The authors acknowledge that what AI can do may be minimally useful (or misused), but they add that nothing much is going on comparable to human intelligence or creativity. Cognitive science is not advancing and may be set back. AIs can soundly outplay every human over a chessboard. Yes, but so what? These dismissals are fair enough, but does the fact that current AI generates text, pictures, software, counseling, medical care, exam answers, or whatever else by a different path than humans arrive at very similar outputs mean that current AI didn’t arrive there at all? Does the fact that current AI functions differently than we do necessarily mean, in particular, that it cannot attain linguistic results like those we attain? Does an AI being able to understand nonhuman languages necessarily indicate that the AI cannot exceed human capacities in human languages, or in other areas?
Programs able to do information-based linguistic tasks are very different, we believe, than tractors able to lift more weight than humans, or hand calculators able to handle numbers better than humans. This is partly because AI may take various tasks away from humans. In cases of onerous, unappealing tasks this could be socially beneficial supposing we fairly apportion the remaining work. But what about when capitalist priorities impose escalating unemployment? That OpenAI and other capitalist AI firms exploit cheap overseas labor to label pictures for AI visual training ought not come as a surprise. But perhaps just as socially important, what about the psychological implications of AI growth?
As machines became better able to lift for us, humans became less able to lift. As machines became better able to perform mathematical calculations for us, humans became less able to perform mathematical calculations. Having lost some personal capacity or inclination to lift or to calculate was no big deal. The benefits outweighed the deficits. Even programs that literally trounce the best human players at chess, go, video games, and poker (though the programs do not play the way humans do), had only a fleeting psychological effect. Humans still do those very human things. Humans even learn from studying the games the programs play—though not enough to get anywhere near as good as the programs. But what happens if AI becomes able to write letters better than humans, write essays better, compose music better, plan agendas better, write software better, produce images better, answer questions better, construct films better, design buildings better, teach better, converse better, and perhaps even provide elderly care, child care, medical diagnoses, and even mental health counseling better—or, in each case, forget about the programs getting better than us, what happens when programs function well enough to be profitable replacements for having people do such things?
This isn’t solely about increased unemployment with all its devastating consequences. That is worrisome enough, but an important part of what makes humans human is to engage in creative work. Will the realm of available creative work be narrowed by AI so that only a few geniuses will be able to do it once AI is doing most writing, therapy, composing, agenda setting, etc.? Is it wrong to think that in that case what humans would be pushed aside from could leave humans less human?
The Op Ed argues that AI now does and maybe always will do human-identified things fundamentally differently than humans do them. But does that imply, as we think many Times readers will think it does, that AIs won’t do such things as well or even better than most or perhaps even all humans. Will AIs be able to simulate human emotions and all-important human authenticity into songs and paintings they make? Maybe not, but even if we ignore the possibility of AIs being explicitly used for ill, don’t the above observations raise highly consequential and even urgent questions? Should we be pursuing AI at our current breakneck pace?
Of course, when AIs are used to deceive and manipulate, to commit fraud, to spy, to hack, and to kill, among other nefarious possibilities, so much the worse. Not to mention, if AIs become autonomous with those anti-social agendas. Even without watching professors tell of AI’s already passing graduate level examinations, even without watching programmers tell of AIs already outputting code faster and more accurately than they and their programmer friends can, and even without watching AIs already audibly converse with their engineers about anything at all including even their “feelings” and “motives”, it ought to be clear that AI can have very powerful social implications even as its methods shed zero light on how humans function.
Another observation of the Times Op Ed is that AIs of the current sort have nothing like a human moral faculty. True, but does that imply they cannot have morally guided results? We would bet, instead, that AI programs can and in many cases already do incorporate moral rules and norms. That is why poor populations are being exploited financially and psychologically to label countless examples of porn as porn—exploitative immorality in service of what, morality or just phony propriety? The problem is, who determines what AI-embedded moral codes will promote and hinder? In current AIs, such a code will either be programmed in or learned by training on human examples. If programmed in, who will decide its content? If learned from examples, who will choose the examples? So the issue isn’t that AI inevitably has no morality. The issue is that AI can have bad morality and perpetuate biases such as racism, sexism, or classism learned from either programmers or training examples.
Even regarding a language faculty, as the Op Ed indicates certainly there is not one like ours in current AI. But is ours the only kind of faculty that can sustain language use? Whether the human language faculty emerged from a million years of slow evolution like most who hear about this stuff think linguists must believe, or it emerged overwhelmingly over a very short duration from a lucky mutation and then underwent only quite modest further evolution while it spread widely, as Chomsky compellingly argues, it certainly exists. And it certainly is fundamental to human language. But why isn’t the fully trained neural network of an AI a language faculty, albeit one different from ours? It generates original text. It answers queries. It is grammatical. Before long (if not already) it will converse better than most humans. It can even do all this in diverse styles. Answer my query about quantum mechanics or market competition, please. Answer like Hemingway. Answer like Faulkner. Egad, answer like Dylan. So why isn’t it a language faculty too—albeit unlike the human one and produced not by extended evolution or by rapid luck, but by training a neural network language model?
It is true that current AI can work with human languages and also, supposing there was sufficient data to train it, with languages the human faculty can not understand. It is also true that after training, an AI can in some respects do things the human language faculty wouldn’t permit. But why does being able to work with nonhuman languages mean that such a faculty must be impoverished regarding what it can do with human languages? The AI’s language faculty isn’t an infinitely malleable, useless blank slate. It can’t work with any language it isn’t trained on. Indeed, the untrained neural network can’t converse in a human language or in a non-human language. Once trained, however, does its different flexibility about what it makes possible and what it excludes make it not a language faculty? Or does its different flexibility just make it not a human-type language faculty? And does it even matter for social as opposed to scientific concerns?
Likewise, isn’t an AI faculty that can look at scenes and discern and describe what’s in them and can even identify what is there but is out of place being there, and that can do so as accurately as people, or even more accurately, a visual faculty, though again, certainly not the same as a human visual faculty?
And likewise for a drawing faculty that draws, a calculating faculty that calculates, and so on. For sure, despite taking inspiration from human experiences and evidence, such as AI programmers have done, none of these AI faculties are much like the human versions. They do not do what they do the way we humans do what we do. But unless we want to say that the contingent, historically lucky human ways of information processing are the only ways of information processing that can handle language as intelligently as humans can, and are the only ways of information processing that can not only produce and predict but also explain, we don’t see why true observations that current AI teaches us nothing about how humans operate imply that current AI can’t in two or five, or ten or twenty years—be indistinguishable from human intelligence, albeit derived differently than human intelligence.
More, what even counts as intelligence? What counts as creativity and providing explanations? What counts as understanding? Looking at current reports, videos, etc., even if there is a whole lot of profit-seeking hype in them, as we are sure is the case, we think AI programs in some domains (for example playing complex games, protein folding, and finding patterns in masses of data) already do better than humans who are best at such pursuits, and already do better than most humans, in many more domains.
For example, how many people can produce art work better than current AIs? We sure can’t. How many artists can do so even today, much less a year from now? A brilliant friend just yesterday told of having to write a complex letter for his work. He asked chatGPT to do it. In a long eye blink he had it. He said it was flawless and he admitted it was better than he would have produced. And this was so despite that he has written hundreds of letters. Is this no more socially concerning than when decades ago people first used a camera, a word processor, a spreadsheet, or a spell checker? Is this just another example of technology making some tasks easier? Do AIs that already do a whole lot of tasks previously thought to be purely human count as evidence that AIs can do that much and likely much more? Or, oddly, does what they do count as evidence that they will never do that much or more?
We worry that to dismiss the importance of current AIs because they don’t embody human mechanisms risks obscuring that AI is already having widespread social impact that ought to concern us for practical, psychological, and perhaps security reasons. We worry that such dismissals may imply AIs don’t need very substantial regulation. We have had effective moratoriums on human cloning, among other uses of technology. The window for regulating AI, however, is closing fast. We worry that the task at hand isn’t so much to dispel exaggerated hype about AI as it is to acknowledge AI’s growing capacities and understand not only its potential benefits but also its imminent and longer run dangers so we can conceive how to effectively regulate it. We worry that the really pressing regulatory task could be undermined by calling what is occurring “superficial and dubious” or “hi tech plagiarism” so as to counter hype.
Is intelligent regulation urgent? To us, it seems obvious it is. And are we instead seeing breakneck advance? To us, it seems obvious we are. Human ingenuity can generate great leaps that appear like magic and even auger seeming miracles. Un-opposed capitalism can turn even great leaps into pain and horror. To avoid that, we need thought and activism that wins regulations.
Technologies like ChatGPT don’t exist in a vacuum. They exist within societies and their defining political, economic, community, and kinship institutions.
The US is in the midst of a mental health crisis with virtually every mental health red flag metric off-the-charts: Suicides and ‘deaths of despair’ are at historic levels. Alienation, stress, anxiety, and loneliness are rampant. According to the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America, the primary drivers of our breakdown are systemic: economic anxiety, systemic oppressions, alienation from our political, economic, and societal institutions. Capitalism atomizes us. It then commodifies meaningful connections into meaninglessness.
Social Media algorithms calculate the right hit that never truly satisfies. They keep us reaching for more. In the same way that Social Media is engineered to elicit addiction through user-generated content, language model AI has the potential to be far more addicting, and damaging. Particularly for vulnerable populations, AI can be fine-tuned to learn and exploit each person’s vulnerabilities—generating content and even presentation style specifically to hook users in.
In a society with rampant alienation, AI can exploit our need for connection. Imagine millions tied into AI subscription services desperate for connection. Profit motive will incentivize AI companies to not just lure more and more users, but to keep them coming back.
Once tied in, the potential for misinformation & propagandization greatly exceeds even social media. If AI replaces human labor in human defining fields, what then is left of “being human”? Waiting for AI guidance? Waiting for AI orders?
Clarity about what to do can only emerge from further understanding what is happening. But even after a few months of AI experiences, suggestions for minimal regulations seem pretty easy to come by. For example:
- Legislate that all AI software & algorithms that have public impact must be Open Sourced allowing for their source code to be audited by the public.
- Establish a new regulatory body, similar to the FDA, for public impact software.
- Legislate that all AI-generated content, whether voice, chat, image, video, etc., must include a clearly visible/audible, standardized watermark/voicemark stating that the content was generated by AI, that the user has to acknowledge.
- Legislate that all AI generated content provide a list of all specific sources used/learned to generate that particular content, including weights.
- Legislate that any firm, organization, or individuals creating and distributing intentionally misleading and/or manipulative false AI created content be subject to severe penalties.
- Legislate that no corporation, public or private, can replace workers with AI unless the government okays the step as being consistent with human priorities (not just profit seeking), the workforce of the workplace votes in favor of the change as being consistent with workforce conditions and desires (and not just profit seeking), and the replaced workers continue to receive their current salary from their old firm until they are employed at a new firm.


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Eggplant lovers, jump to the recipe.
Eggplant haters, bear with me for a second.
I have a story that might help you see eggplants in a different light.
As a child, I was disgusted by eggplant dips or fried eggplants, and they were always there. My Moroccan family loved them, but I refused to even look at them.
But one day, when I was in 11th grade, a friend of mine offered me one of the sandwiches his mother prepared for him. When I asked him what was in the sandwich, he said “Probably hummus” and then left to go back to class. I know what hummus tastes like and that white spread wasn’t hummus. The flavor was totally new to me and strangely tasty. It was slightly smoky and sweet.
Later, when I saw my friend at recess I mentioned that the sandwich was delicious, but it wasn’t hummus. He said “Oh yes, it was baba ganoush”. “What? No way! I don’t like baba ganoush, I don’t eat eggplants.” “I guess you do now.”
The key is to continue trying, and eventually you will fall for them. Especially if you’re vegan, because they are meaty and rich.
The recipe is adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks, Naz Deravian. I don’t know what I enjoy more, her writing or her recipes. Both are poetic and rich.
- Avocado or olive oil
- 2 medium filipino - sliced in half lengthwise – or regular eggplants*
- 1 medium onion - diced small
- 2-3 garlic cloves - sliced
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon dried meat or any dry herb
- 1 handful walnuts - chopped
- Plant-based yogurt
- Preheat the oven to 400F° (200C°).
- Brush the flesh of the eggplants in olive oil and place them on a baking tray. Sprinkle over them a little bit of salt and roast until the eggplants are very tender, about for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, warm about 3-4 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and stir often. Lower the heat if necessary, don’t let them brown too fast. Cook for 8 minutes then add the dried mint. Continue to cook and stir until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Set a side.
- Let the eggplant cool down then using a spoon, spoon their flesh and put into the skillet (if you used regular eggplants*, then put their meat into a colander, to drain the liquids). Mash them with the spoon a bit and mix with the onion and garlic. Taste and correct seasoning.
- Serve in a deep plate the chopped walnuts sprinkled over and a spoonful of yogurt.
- Eat with good bread or as a side.

domain: food


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Date night! Jennifer Lopez and toyboy Casper Smart leave restaurant hand-in-hand after romantic dinner
Last week Jennifer Lopez admitted that having a younger boyfriend leaves her plagued with insecurities.
But it doesn't seem that this has changed her relationship with dancer Casper Smart, as the pair were spotted walking through LA hand-in-hand on Wednesday.
With their styles in sync and looking as strong as ever, the couple held on tightly to each other as they made their way to Madeo restaurant for a romantic date night.
Stylish couple: Jennifer Lopez and boyfriend Casper Smart weave Madeo Restaurant on Wednesday night after a romantic meal
Earlier in the day the latino star had been busy promoting her new film Parker at the Four Seasons hotel and was clearly in need of some down time with her man.
Looking demure but stylish, JLo wore a chic black coat, pulled tightly around her and had her long hair tied high up on her head in a severe knot.
All dressed up: The singer went all out for her romantic date night, wearing a stand-out black dress
Figure-hugging: JLo's dress hugged her famous figure, while she wore her hair in a high bun
The 43-year-old star kept her make-up minimal, looking fresh-faced, and wore a pair of huge diamond earrings to add a little glamour to the otherwise modest outfit.
She made the most of her famous figure in a skin-tight black dress, which had shiny, 1980's style sleeves.
Adding a pair of black stilettos and clutching a small handbag, the former American Idol judge looked like she was embracing 1950's glamour.
Styles in sync: The couple look chic in dark colours as they spent the evening together, just hours after Jennifer's press conference for Parker
Protective boyfriend: Dancer Casper seems hold onto his superstar girlfriend as they head home
Going strong: The couple seem to be as loved up as ever despite the fact that Jennifer has admitted to feeling insecure about the age difference
Her dancer boyfriend, who is 18 years her junior, was also dressed in dark colours for the night out, looking just as stylish as his other half.
The 25-year-old wore smart grey trousers and a chic, navy jumper, clearly trying to keep up with his trendsetter other half.
Speaking out: Jennifer admitted to feeling insecure about her relationship because of the 18-year age gap
Classic style: The superstar looked modest but on-trend as she promoted her new film, Parker, at an LA press conference
Still got it: JLo stars opposite Jason Statham in the new action flick that will be released this year
Jennifer embraced a different look for her press conference earlier in the day, leaving her brown hair flowing in loose waves over her shoulders.
She looked modest in a floral blouse and a pair of high-waisted, checked trousers as she posed for photographs to promote the new action film, which co-stars Jason Statham.
Speaking to America's People magazine last week, Jennifer said of her relationship: 'I ask him, "Why don’t you go find a young girlfriend and get out of here? What do you want with me?"
'And you think, "How long is this gone be?" You think, "Okay, in 10 years I’m going to be like this and you’re going to be like that" and … men at that age are … I think all different things,' she added.
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domain: celebrity


text:
Faculty and staff await new pay raises
USF President Judy Genshaft’s proposed plan to give an additional salary increase to faculty members is in the works. But when faculty members will receive their pay raise has yet to be established, said Michael Reich, director for media relations.
Genshaft’s plan will reward an 8 to 10 percent increase to about 100 selected faculty members, Reich said. Provost David Stamps, along with the colleges’ deans, will review the criteria faculty members must meet and compile a list of eligible members for Genshaft to approve, Reich said.
The criteria faculty must meet will be set throughout this semester, Reich said.
The number of faculty members to receive the increase, Reich said, was decided as an acceptable amount with which to start.
He said 100 will be picked based on a reasonable amount of faculty to reward considering the budget cuts.
Starting Oct. 1, selected faculty and staff can expect to see a 2.5 percent pay increase, which is an across-the-board raise.
Reich said employees who have a satisfactory evaluation and meet the required hiring date will receive either a 2.5 percent increase or $600, whichever is greater. The same across-the-board increase was given to employees last year, Reich said.
The pay increase is awarded to faculty as well as employees in University Support Personnel Service, Administrative and Personnel and graduate assistants.
USPS employees met last week to begin discussing concerns employees have when the Board of Trustees are granted more power in January.
Reich said the board will have more control in spending, which could help increase faculty salaries.
“That’s the hope,” Reich said. “(Genshaft) plans on listening to the concerns of faculty and staff.”
Pay increases, Reich said, have been a main concern to Genshaft since she was inaugurated.
“Faculty salaries are very important to the president to recruit new faculty and reward faculty,” Reich said. “And she has been speaking to them about their concerns.”

domain: economics


text:
GM India hopes to break even in four years
General Motors (GM) India, which started operations in the country nearly 17 years ago, is hoping that it would financially break even within four years.
Kolkata: General Motors (GM) India, which started operations in the country nearly 17 years ago, is hoping that it would financially break even within four years.
"Our operations in the country are not profitable at the moment. We hope to break even in two to four years time," chief financial officer of GM India Anil Mehrotra said.
Launching the Chevrolet SAIL sedan here today, he said that in 2011, the company's sales figure crossed the one-lakh figure mark, but dipped to 94,000 units in 2012.
"We are planning a good growth in the current year. We expect to grow between 40 percent to 50 percent with the launch of SAIL sedan and multi-purpose vehicle Chevrolet Enjoy (to be launched in three months)," he said.
Developed jointly by SAIC of China and GM India, the SAIL sedan would be initially manufactured with a capacity of 48,000 units per annum and ramped up month by month.
Mehrotra said that in China, the car's sales volume was 41,000 units per month.
"The SAIL sedan car has a potential sales volume of 40,000 units per month in India," Vikas Jain, director (sales) of GM India said.

domain: news


text:
Congratualtion to the researchers from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chili, Jamaica, and Panama who have just been awarded an ERC Starting Grant.
They are part of the 406 early-career researchers selected by the European Research Council (ERC) under the Starting Grants call 2017. The funding, worth €605 million in total and up to €1.5 million per grant, will enable them to set up their own research teams and pursue ground-breaking ideas. The share of women amongst the new grantees is the largest ever in an ERC competition and there was also more diversity in terms of nationalities.
The grantees will be hosted in 23 countries across Europe, with the United Kingdom (79), Germany (67) and France (53) as top locations. This year's competition counts 48 different nationalities amongst the grantees – the highest number since the establishment of the ERC. Forty-five grantees are non-European nationals
The 2018 call to select the next Starting Grants awardees is open until 17 October. It is open to all researchers of all nationalities, independently of where they are based at the time they submit their application.
More about the open call here. More about the selection here.


Aumgene Biosciences has fully equipped large scale spray drying facilities to offer contract spray drying / toll manufacturing services for various products such as nautral extracts, protein & protein hydrolysates, enzymes, food & neutraceutral products, .
The spray dryer plant uses natural gas a fuel and the air is heated indirectly. So the product does not come in contact with the fuel. The plant is PLC controlled with cycon seprators and water scrubbing unit for maximum recovery of the spray dried powder. The inlet air to the spray dryer is filtered using pre-filter and hepa filters for clean air.
Depending of the product characteristics the spray dryer has option of using two types of feed optimization – Rotary disc atomizer as well as fluid nozzle.
Below is a partial list of product categories for which we offer contract spray drying services
– Protein & Hydrolystates
– Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins
– Natural exctracts
– Food products
Kindly email or call us to discuss your spray drying needs.


Is there a car in your possession? Certainly you have seen times in which repairs are needed. The hassle of dealing with car repairs can make a person lose their mind. Luckily, this piece includes lots of tricks to help get you a great mechanic.
Inspect your radiator once in a while. Let the car run a while, shut off the engine and then pop the hood. Never open the radiator while the car is on. Look to see what the fluid level is (use a dipstick), and remember that coolant needs to have a bit of water added prior to entering your radiator.
Ask your mechanic is he is familiar with working on your car. If they have before, then they are likely going to be able to also fix your car easily enough.
Get to know your owner’s manual, or take the time to note important information. This will help you speak intelligently to a technician about your car when it is time to take it in. Also, reading the manual may help you realize that the repair you need, can be done easily by you.
Ask for OEM parts. These means they are parts that come directly from the manufacturer. Generic parts may cost less, but they are not as good. It might be a great deal, but if you have to continue to replace the part, it is not going to be a good deal in the long run.
Always try to figure out the problem with your car before you bring it in for repairs. If you know what the problem is, you can save money and also easily identify any repair shop that is trying to scam you. You probably know that some mechanics will deceive you about your car repairs to charge you more.
Take photos of your car ahead of a visit to the garage. A lot of shops aren’t going to strip things out of your vehicle, but some will if they are trying to make more money. You need to be able to document the original damages done to your vehicle in case your mechanic fails to fix them or makes things worse.
It’s important that car parts come with warranties. Ask the mechanic about the parts’ warranty. Find out how long the warranty lasts and ask for a printed version of the contract so you can review it.
Do not hire a mechanic who is not certified. One to look for is the certification given by the NIAE. This demonstrates the mechanic has shown a level of competence. This will tell you if they are properly trained and will provide you with quality service.
Don’t buy any parts that come with a promise of lasting a lifetime. This is often simply a sneaky way for unscrupulous parts dealers to get more money out of you. There are some cars that carry a “lifetime guarantee” for their transmission fluid: this is a perfect example. Though the change time on transmission fluid is very long, it should be swapped every 80,000 miles.
There are many bad shops out there, so it can seem very difficult finding a good one. This article gave you the tools you need to succeed. A little forward planning can save a lot of problems from occurring going forward.


Ideal for hidden audio solutions!
Our hidden Bluetooth amplifier allows you the option to retain the appearance of your vehicle interior whilst offering a quality sound from your mobile phone or other portable music devices either via Bluetooth or via the headphone jack.
There is no need to have a radio installed in your vehicle, however, you will require at least two speakers or one of our dual voice coil single speakers. The amplifier can be hidden away behind the dashboard, under the seat or even in the boot and is capable of powering 2 or 4 speakers.
Maximum output @ 4 ohms 4 x 250 watts
RMS output @ 4 ohms 4 x 60 watts
Frequency Response 0 HZ – 20 KHZ
Fuse Rating 5 Amps
Power Supply 10 to 16 volts
Sensitivity 150 MV
Channel Separation > 50 DB
THD < 0.1 %
Dimensions – 113 x 80 x 45mm
And due to air conditioning system installed we have a lack of room to play with in our 1967 Jaguar E-Type 2+2.
With that in mind we have manufactured our speaker boxes to house the hidden speakers which will be strategically placed throughout the car.


text:
Lewis, George, Artforum International
1 STEVEN SCHICK (Park Avenue Armory, New York, February 18) Kurt Schwitters's Ursonate (1922-32) is a sound-poetry classic. Steven Schick's highly amplified interpretation during the Tune-In Music Festival, with video montage/collage of giant images of him performed by Shahrokh Yadegari and Ross Karre, evoked a US mass-media demagogue, speaking in tongues.
2 MUSIC FOR MERCE (Roulette, SoHo, NY, March 20) One of the final events at the old Roulette space featured performances by Christian Wolff, Takehisa Kosugi, David Behrman, John King, Alvin Curran, Ikue Mori, Marina Rosenfeld, Gordon Mumma, Joan La Barbara, and many others, all to celebrate the release of Music forMerce (New World), a ten-CD box set of pieces created by these incredible composers for the Cunningham company.
3 JOHN ZORN (David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, March 25) John Zorn's monodrama La Machine de I'etre (2000) took its title, as John noted, from "a drawing by Antonin Artaud created during his last days in the asylum at Rodez ... no text, no plot, and no stage directions predetermined whatsoever." In this New York City Opera production, soprano Anu Komsi charged into the music with a sustained fervor that recalled the electroshock therapies Artaud himself underwent in the asylum.
4 MISHA MENGELBERG (Le Poisson Rouge, New York, March 31) Misha Mengelberg's Instant Composers Pool exemplifies the legacy of Mengelberg's associations with Fluxus and the famed "Notenkraker" gang (with Louis Andriessen and others) of the 1970s. Today's ICP functions as much as a family as a band, and you can hear the musicians sonically close ranks around their beloved leader.
5 OLGA NEUWIRTH AND THE TALEA ENSEMBLE (Bohemian National Hall, New York, May 24) Olga Neuwirth's audacious yet subtle use of timbre always puts me on the edge of my seat, and I loved the Austrian Cultural Forum-sponsored performance of her music by the Talea Ensemble, one of today's hot contemporary music bands. In the mid concert discussion, she confessed her original intent to become a jazz trumpeter after listening to--who else?--Miles Davis.
6 MATANA ROBERTS AND MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS (Community Church of New York, September 23) Well attended but rarely reviewed in major New York media is the ongoing concert series of the New York chapter of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. A highlight of this year's lineup was an evening of open improvisation by a quartet led by pianist-composer and AACM cofounder Muhal Richard Abrams, preceded by an extraordinarily introspective piece by saxophonist-composer Matana Roberts, featuring sudden, unexpected juxtapositions and interjections alongside subtle sonic signaling. …

domain: entertainment


After missing out on a win at Doomben midweek Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick is hopeful for some luck when he has crack at one of the country's richest race days
Shoe-gate speaks volumes about the current Government.
A grassroots community sporting club has been left shattered by an abuse of its grass roots by heartless vandals.
Tai Jennison's living a life most Coast teens who've grown up with saltwater in their veins could barely even dream of.
He's only spent two training sessions among his new teammates but Sunshine Coast Falcons recruit Nicho Hynes can already feel the positive vibes flowing.
A last-minute search for a replacement coach has unearthed some quality candidates for the Kawana Dolphins to consider.
Champion young cyclist Kelland O'Brien has just missed out on a podium finish in the Cycling Australia 2019 Road Nationals Under-23 Men's Time Trial.
Some of the region's best and brightest surfing prospects will be kept busy over the coming week.
Two names synonymous with Sunshine Coast racing are preparing to pair up for a crack at Magic Millions riches on offer on the glitter strip this Saturday.
It was a win that turned heads, after local hoop Damian Browne steered The Candy Man to victory from 12 lengths behind the field.


text:
Below, you will find a ton of practice questions specifically on the topic of assessing and monitoring patients in the ICU or critical care unit. This information is designed specifically for Respiratory Therapist students to help prepare for their exams. If will come in handy for your Patient Assessment courses in RT school.
So if you’re ready, let’s go ahead and dive right in!
Acute and Critical Care Monitoring and Assessment Practice Questions:
It is the repeated or continuous observation of measurements of patients parameters.
2. What are the benefits of monitoring?
Rapid detection of a change in a patients condition, allows you to evaluate therapeutic intervention, and it can be non-invasive.
3. What are the disadvantages of monitoring?
You have to set alarms, and the clinical condition may not match what appears with monitoring.
4. What is the standard for assessing ventilation or PaCO2?
Metabolism, lung mechanics, ventilation efficiency, and equipment function or ventilator.
5. What are the ventilatory measurements at the bedside in the ICU?
Lung volumes, airway pressure, FiO2, and flow.
6. Why do we monitor lung volumes and flows?
To determine the effectiveness of gas exchange across the alveolar-capillary membrane.
7. What are some other reasons that we monitor lung volumes?
To identify gas exchange in the lungs, to look for a change in clinical status, to look for a response to therapy, to check for a problem with the patient interface (circuit), and to evaluate the ability to wean.
8. Who should be monitored for lung volumes in intubated patients?
Patients considered for mechanical ventilation, patients being weaned from the ventilator, patients with abnormal breathing pattern, and to manage patients on the ventilator.
9. Who should be monitored for lung volumes in non-intubated patients?
Preoperative patients, those with an increased respiratory rate greater than 30/minute, those with neuromuscular diseases, CNS depressed, decorating blood gas, and those on NIV.
10. What are the pulmonary diseases that typically have high tidal volumes?
Metabolic acidosis, sepsis, and neurologic injuries.
11. What are problems with positive pressure ventilation?
Volutrauma, barotrauma, and dynamic hyperinflation,
12. What are the critical life functions?
Ventilation, Oxygenation, Circulation, and Perfusion.
13. During an emergency, which critical life function is your first priority?
14. During an emergency, which critical life function is your second priority?
15. During an emergency, which critical life function is your third priority?
16. During an emergency, which critical life function is your fourth priority?
17. What is used to assess the Ventilation?
Respiratory rate, tidal volume, chest movement, breath sounds, PaCO2, and EtCO2.
18. What is used to assess Oxygenation?
Heart rate, color, sensorium, PaO2, and SpO2.
Cardiac output, heart strength, and heart rate.
20. What is used to assess perfusion?
Blood pressure, sensorium, temperature, urine output, and hemodynamics.
21. What is an Advance Directive?
It is a set of instructions documenting what treatment a patient would want if he was unable to make medical decisions.
22. Lethargy, somnolence, and sleepiness are all signs of what?
Sleep apnea or excessive oxygen administration in a patient with COPD.
23. What does Obtunded mean?
It is a drowsy state that may have a decreased cough or gag reflex.
24. What are the Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)?
Bathing, eating, dressing, toilet use, and continence.
25. What is Orthopnea?
Difficulty breathing except in the upright position and is a sign of CHF.
26. What is Dysphagia?
Difficulty swallowing; may cause aspiration.
27. What do we visually inspect during a respiratory assessment at the bedside?
General appearance, edema, clubbing, venous distention, capillary refill, diaphoresis, skin color, chest configuration, chest movement, breathing patterns, accessory muscle use, muscle conditions, nasal flaring, cough, and evidence of a difficult airway.
28. What is the general appearance?
Age, height, weight, nourishment, etc.
29. What is Edema?
The presence of excessive fluid in the tissues caused by CHF and it rated as +1, +2 or +3.
30. What is Clubbing of fingers?
It is caused by chronic hypoxemia and is suggestive of pulmonary disease, especially COPD.
31. What is Venous Distension?
It occurs with CHF and is seen during exhalation in obstructive lung diseases.
32. What is Capillary Refill?
An indication of peripheral circulation where you blanch the hand and wait for the color to return, which should return within 3 seconds.
33. What is Diaphoresis?
Sweating; night sweats indicate tuberculosis.
34. What is Ashen or Pallor?
Abnormal skin color due to anemia or acute blood loss.
35. What is Jaundice?
Increased bilirubin level in blood and tissue; mostly in the face and trunk.
36. What is Erythema?
Redness of the skin caused by infection, inflammation, or capillary congestion.
37. What is Cyanosis?
Blue or blue-gray (dusky) discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes which is caused by hypoxia.
38. What is Biot’s breathing?
An increased respiratory rate and depth with irregular periods of apnea but same depth with each breath caused by problems in the CNS.
39. What is Kussmaul’s breathing?
An increased depth, irregular rhythm, labored breathing sounds, and an increased respiratory rate (usually over 20 breaths per minute) caused by metabolic acidosis, renal failure, or diabetic ketoacidosis.
40. What does it mean when the patient is relying more on their accessory muscles for breathing?
Accessory muscles are used to increase ventilation in times of stress or when there is an increase in resistance or a decrease in compliance.
41. What are the Accessory Muscles of breathing?
Internal intercostal, scalene, sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major, and abdominal muscles.
42. What are Retractions?
Intercostal or sternal occur when chest moves inward during inspiration instead of outward caused by severe airway obstruction or respiratory distress.
43. What is Nasal Flaring?
A sign of respiratory distress especially in infants.
44. What is the evidence of a Difficult Airway?
Short receding mandible (micrognathia), enlarged tongue (macroglossia), bull neck, or limited range of motion of the neck.
45. How to perform an assessment by palpation?
Feel and look for the pulse, tracheal deviation, tactile fremitus, tenderness, crepitus, and chest motion symmetry.
46. What is a Paradoxical Pulse?
The pulse varies with inspiration and may indicate severe air trapping as in status asthmaticus, tension pneumothorax, or cardiac tamponade.
47. What is Tracheal Deviation?
Palpate the trachea in the suprasternal notch and compare the space between the left clavicle and left border of the trachea.
48. When does the trachea deviate toward the abnormal side?
Pulmonary atelectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonectomy, or diaphragmatic paralysis.
49. When does the trachea deviate toward the normal side?
Massive pleural effusion, tension pneumothorax, neck or thyroid tumors, or large mediastinal mass.
50. What is Tactile Fremitus?
Vibrations felt on the chest wall caused by voice, pleural rub, or secretions in the airway (rhonchal fremitus).
51. What is Crepitus?
Bubbles of air under the skin that can be palpated and indicate the presence of subcutaneous emphysema.
52. How can you check for chest motion symmetry?
Check for asymmetrical chest expansion by placing hands on the chest and evaluating the distance moved by each during inspiration.
53. What is a resonant percussion note?
It occurs in normal air-filled lungs and makes a hollow sound.
54. What is a flat percussion note?
It is normally heard over the sternum, muscle, or areas of atelectasis.
It is normally heard over fluid-filled organs such as the heart or liver; pleural effusion or pneumonia can cause this thudding sound.
56. What is a tympanic percussion note?
It is normally heard over air-filled stomach which sounds drum-like and indicates increased volume when heard over lungs.
57. What is a hyperresonant percussion note?
It is a booming sound heard in an area of the lung affected by a pneumothorax or emphysema.
58. How to perform an assessment by auscultation?
crackles, wheezes, stridor, pleural friction rub, and heart sounds,
59. When might you see a unilateral wheeze?
It is most commonly caused by foreign body aspiration and should recommend rigid bronchoscopy.
60. What is stridor?
It is caused by an upper airway obstruction due to epiglottitis, croup, post-extubation, or foreign body aspiration.
61. What is a pleural friction rub?
a coarse grating, raspy or crunchy sound caused by inflammation of the visceral and parietal pleura heard with TB, pleurisy, pneumonia, pulmonary infarction, or cancer
62. What are the anatomical landmarks that are seen on a chest x-ray?
Trachea, mediastinum, A-P diameter, costophrenic angles, diaphragm, vascular markings, heart shadow, soft tissue, and ribs.
63. What is the mediastinum?
The area between the lungs where the heart, lymphatics, blood vessels, and major bronchi are found and may shift with a pleural effusion or pneumothorax.
64. When is the A-P Diameter affected?
increased with COPD; causes barrel chest and hyperinflation
65. What are costophrenic angles?
The angle made by the outer curve of the diaphragm and the chest wall and are obliterated by pleural effusions.
66. How is the diaphragm affected?
It is dome-shaped normally, flattened with COPD and pneumothorax may cause left or right hemidiaphragms to shift downward appearing flattened on one side
67. What makes up the vascular markings?
Blood vessels, lymphatics, and lung tissue.
68. Describe the heart shadow:
The left ventricle is normally seen and cardiomegaly is seen with CHF.
69. What is the lateral decubitus position?
A position when the patient is lying on the affected side and it used to detect small pleural effusions.
70. What is the proper endotracheal tube position?
Below the vocal cords, approximately 2-6 cm above the carina at the level of the aortic arch.
71. What would you see on a croup x-ray?
The x-ray reveals tracheal narrowing with subglottic swelling that looks like a steeple sign or hourglass.
72. What would you see on an epiglottitis x-ray?
The x-ray reveals supraglottic tracheal narrowing with an enlarged and flattened epiglottis that looks like a thumb sign.
73. What are some factors that may contribute to an increased ETCO2?
Increased muscular activity, Malignant hyperthermia, Increased CO, Bicarb infusion, Tourniquet release, Effective drug therapy for bronchospasm, and Decreased minute ventilation.
74. How does decreased minute ventilation result in increased ETCO2?
The same amount of CO2 needs to be released and your body will compensate to release the CO2. ETCO2 level is measured by each breath. Decreased RR = Increased ETCO2 with each breath.
75. What are some factors that may contribute to a decreased ETCO2?
Decreased muscular activity, Hypothermia, Decreased CO, PE, Bronchospasm, and Increased RR = Decreased CO2 released with each breath.
They are very accurate, they monitor continuously, and they measure HR constantly.
77. What are some disadvantages of having an arterial line in place?
It is invasive, there is an increased risk of infection and bleeding, and the transducer placement affects its effectiveness.
78. Where should the arterial line transducer be placed?
Phlebostatic Axis = level of the heart at the 4th intercostal.
79. An arterial line transducer that is placed too high results in what?
80. What are some factors that could contribute to an increased ICP?
Head trauma, suctioning, hematoma, and hydrocephalus.
81. What are some factors that could help contribute to a decreased ICP?
Osmotic diuretic (Mannitol) and a CSF leak.
82. What are the 3 major types of ICP monitoring devices?
Epidural probe, subarachnoid screw, and EVD.
83. What are 3 ways to verify the placement of an ET tube?
CXR, Auscultate all lung fields, and Monitor color change on CO2 detector.
84. An ET tube that is in too far may result in what?
Inflation of only one lung.
85. An ET tube in the stomach may result in what?
Hyperinflation of the stomach leading to vomiting and possibly aspiration.
86. What is the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve?
It describes the balance between the two ways that oxygen is transported in the blood.
87. When there is a shift in the oxyhemoglobin curve, this means what?
It means that there is a change in the way oxygen is taken up by the hemoglobin molecule at the alveolar level as well as a change in the way it is delivered to the tissue.
88. When there is a right shift in the dissociation curve, what does it mean?
It means that there is a decrease in the oxygen saturation for any given PaO2. Hemoglobin has a less affinity for the oxygen so hemoglobin releases the oxygen more readily.
89. What are the factors that can cause a right shift in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve?
A rise in body temperature, reduced pH (acidosis), and rise in CO2 (hypercapnia), and a rise in 2,3 diphosphoglycerate.
90. With a right shift in the dissociation curve, the oxygen is what?
It is released quicker.
91. When there is a left shift in the dissociation curve, what does that mean?
It means that there is an increased oxygen saturation for any PaO2 thus the delivery of oxygen to the tissue is impaired. Hemoglobin latches onto the oxygen more.
92. What are the signs of cardiac arrest?
Unresponsiveness, apnea, no pulse, ventricular fibrillation, asystole, and a sudden decrease in heart rate or EtCO2.
93. How should compressions be administered?
100-120 compressions/min that are 2-2/4 inch in depth. You should allow for chest recoil and be sure to minimize interruptions.
94. How should breathing be managed during CPR?
Open the airway and use the “2 thumbs up” hold on the bag-valve-mask. Maintain 1 breath every 6 seconds and avoid interrupting compressions.
95. What does an irregular rhythm look like?
You will see a wide QRS and no P waves.
In the line closest to the heart with 10-20 mL of NS flush.
97. When using intraosseous administration, how are medications given?
As a slow push and with 2% lidocaine if the patient is conscious.
98. When should atropine be used?
During symptomatic bradycardia, give 0.5 mg q3-5 min.
99. When should amiodarone be used and what is the dose?
It should be used in pulseless patients. The does is: 300 mg IV x 1 dose diluted in D5W followed by 150 mg.
100. Should you choose to worry about the patient’s ventilation status over their oxygen status?
Yes, yes you should. Ventilation is most important. Then Oxygenation. Then Circulation. Then perfusion.
Thank you so much for reading and as always, breathe easy my friend.

domain: health


Apparently, after launch of the budget AllCall Alpha model and the positive feedback of the mobile consumers through offline market research, AllCall decided to release a new smartphone model recently, which was customized based on consumers’ needs. Say hi to the new AllCall Atom.
AllCall Atom is powered by by MediaTek MT6737 chipset, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage and runs on Android OS 7.0 Nougat out of the box, but the Atom’s firmware can be upgraded to a newer version of OS if we should believe the makers. It comes with a Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery and features a 5.2-inch IPS display with 720 x 1280 pixel resolution and 2.5D glass coating.
Gizchina News of the week
Currently, it is sold in dark night black, Agate red, Aurora Blue and Champagne Gold color options and the body of the phone is made of an aluminum alloy. As for the camera, AllCall Atom is equipped with autofocus, offering an 8+2MP main rear dual cam with a Sony IMX149 sensor plus LED flash and 5MP front selfie camera.
The surprisingly low price for this phone will be set at $79.99, which is almost at the ultra budget level with better specs. You can find more about the AllCall Atom on the official website


Kendrapara : Scores of servitors and devotees on Monday staged sit-in demonstration near Lord Baldevjew temple in Odisha’s Kendrapara demanding permission for conducting Rath Yatra at Tulashi Kshetra tomorrow.
The demonstration began minutes after the Supreme Court allowed to conduct Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra in the holy city of Puri in the state.
The protesting servitors said this is for the first time in the history of the temple, the chariot pulling and other rituals of car festival is not going to be held here.
A protesting servitor said, Brahma Taladhwaja Rath, the chariot of Lord Baladevjew, is the highest chariot in the world with 65 feet. Devotees have been anxiously waiting to witness the car festival here.
It is an emotional issue for the people of Kendrapara and the government should have found a way out to hold the festival, said another protestor.
In a meeting on June 18, the temple administration decided that the Rath Yatra of the Lord Baladevjew would be restricted to temple premises in view of COVID pandemic.


Project: Urban Waste
The URBAN-WASTE project under the frame of HORIZON2020 develops eco-innovative and gender-sensitive waste prevention and management strategies in cities with high levels of tourism in order to reduce the urban waste production and improve municipal waste management. These strategies will facilitate the reintroduction of waste as a resource into the urban metabolism flows and address waste management, risk prevention and land-use as an integral part of urban development. Europe’s cities are some of the world’s greatest tourism destinations. The socio-economic impact of these visitors is extraordinary and urban tourism, with the economic and employment opportunities it creates, has become a key factor in overall urban planning. Tourism has great economic benefits for cities across Europe; however, tourism brings also a range of negative externalities, including high levels of unsustainable resource consumption and waste production. URBAN-WASTE aims at preserving the ecosystems services from the degradation due to irresponsible waste management.
Metabolic analysis of eleven paradigmatic tourist urban and peri-urban areas will be carried out: coastal cities - Nice (FR), Lisbon (PT), Syracuse (IT), Copenhagen (DK), Kavala (GR), Santander (ES)- , insular cities – Nicosia (CY) and Ponta Delgada (PT) – peri-urban areas - Dubrovnik county (HR), Tenerife (ES) -, and heritage towns in the mainland – Florence (IT).


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If you discover a loose adult tooth, you can suddenly feel worried, panicked and anxious that it’s going to fall out. Adult teeth don’t grow back, and you want to do whatever you can to keep from losing a tooth. There are ways to treat a loose adult tooth and hopefully save it from falling out or requiring extraction.
Causes of loose adult tooth
When you have a loose adult tooth, you may try to figure out why it’s loose and what could have happened. There are various reasons why you may have a loose adult tooth, and they include:
- Teeth grinding at night
- Injury during a sport or accident
- Gum disease
If injury or accident isn’t the cause of the loose tooth, the only way to know the cause is to visit the dentist. No matter what caused a loose tooth, visit the dentist as soon as possible to try to save the tooth. The dentist can determine the cause of the issue and work out a treatment plan designed to protect your oral health and smile.
Treatments for loose adult tooth
The treatment for a loose adult tooth depends on the cause, and once the dentist knows it, you can work together on a treatment that fits your needs. Treatment options for a loose adult tooth include:
- Deep cleaning to treat gum disease – Gum disease causes infection between the gum and tooth, and this can create a loose tooth or teeth. When the dentist cleans the gums and removes the pockets of bacteria there, the gums regain their health and tighten up around your teeth again.
- Tooth splinting – To help keep a loose tooth in place, the dentist can bond it to adjacent, stable teeth until the affected tooth tightens back up in the gum.
- Night guard – The dentist can create a custom mouth guard or occlusal guard for you to wear at night if teeth grinding is the cause of your loose tooth. By protecting the tooth from grinding, the guard allows it to tighten back up on its own.
With the dental treatments available to save a loose tooth, it’s more likely you can keep the tooth and preserve your smile. The most important thing you can do when you discover a loose adult tooth is to go to the dentist immediately because the longer you wait, the more likely it is that you’ll lose the tooth. There are many tooth replacement options if you do lose a tooth, but every dentist wants to help you keep your natural teeth whenever possible.
If you discover a loose tooth in your mouth or have other oral health concerns, contact Greater Baltimore Prosthodontics to set up and an appointment.

domain: medical


text:
Friday, April 15, 2011
Roasted carrots are an easy side dish, but too often they go wrong and end up in the dessicated carrots category. This simple recipe, while a little more time-consuming, makes a sweet, moist, soft roasted carrot. I use organic carrots because they are sweeter (and healthier). They are worth the extra cost.
This dish can easily be made vegan by substituting olive oil for the butter. Be sure to buy plenty of carrots--these go fast!
Adapted from Cooks Illustrated
2 lbs organic carrots, washed and peeled
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (or olive oil)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Split each carrot lengthwise. Now, cut each length in half being careful to create even sized pieces.
In large bowl, combine the carrots with melted butter (or olive oil), salt, and pepper; toss to coat. Transfer the carrots to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Arrange in a single layer.
Cover the baking sheet tightly with another baking sheet of the same size or with foil. Bake on center rack for 15 minutes.
Remove the covering and continue to cook, stirring after 15 minutes, until carrots are well browned and tender, about 20-25 minutes total.
Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.


text:
A former customs officer, Rasheed Owolabi, has told a Federal Capital Territory High Court how the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, demanded N10million bribe from him to cover up his (Owolabi’s) asset declaration case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The CCT, presided by Umar, is trying the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, on a 13-count charge of corruption.
During cross examination, the former officer of the Nigerian Customs Service told the court that he gave the sum of N1.8million out of the N10million Umar demanded.
According to him, he lodged the money into a Zenith Bank account – 1002849471 – belonging to Umar’s personal assistant, Ali Abdullahi.
Owolabi insisted that he paid the money following an earlier demand by Umar for him (Mr. Owolabi) to part with the sum of N10million in a bid to influence his case before the tribunal.
Abdullahi is currently facing a two-count charge of providing “inconsistent information” to the EFCC during investigation into a case of false asset declaration by Owolabi.
The first count of the charge said Abdullahi falsely told the EFCC that the amount of N1.8 million, which he collected from Mr. Owolabi was meant to foot the medical bill of his (Mr. Abdullahi’s) father.
“That you Ali Gambo Abdullahi, sometimes in August 2013 at Abuja within the judicial division of the court did make a statement to one Abdulmajeed Ibrahim, a detective with the EFCC, while in the course of the exercise of the duty of his office that the sum of N1.8m paid into your Zenith Bank Account Number 1002849471 on December 12, 2012 by one Rasheed Owolabi was a payment made to assist you to settle your father’s hospital bill; which statement you knew to be untrue and thereby committed an office contrary to section 39(2)(a) of the EFCC Act, 2004 and punishable under section (39) (2) (b) of the same act.
“That you Ali Gambo Abdullahi, sometimes in August 2013 at Abuja within the judicial division of the court did make a statement dated 13th August 2013 pertaining to N1.8m paid into your bank account by one Rasheed Taiwo, which is inconsistent with the statement you made on August 12th, 2013 to one Abdulmajeed Ibrahim, a detective with EFCC while in the course of the exercise of the duty of his office and thereby committed an offence contrary to section (39) (2) (b) of the EFCC Act 2004,” the charges read.
The court adjourned the case till March 15.

domain: law


text:
美国昔士风大师Phil Woods畅销名盘，伙拍钢琴家Bill Charlap等演绎多首名曲，以单层SACD推出，这个备受发烧友及音响界推崇的制式，提供如在现场欣赏的靚绝音效。
现在、アルト．サックスの人気、実力ともナンバー．ワンのフィル．ウッズ率いるクインテットがブルース．フィーリングいっぱいにバラードの极意を披露！ ピアノのビル．チャーラップ、トランペットのブライアン．リンチのプレイも最高のソロを聴かせてくれる。バラード曲、ブルース曲の大家、デューク．エリン トンの片腕、ビリー．ストレイホンの名曲を大都会の哀愁をこめてフィル．ウッズ．クインテットが演奏。
Venus Gives New Life To Jazz. Venus is Jazz.
Venus制作人原哲夫先生：「Venus爵士乐希望能够带给乐迷们如同坐在Jazz Club第一排中间座位听音乐那样的感动。因此，请大家在自己心爱的音响系统中聆听Venus，重现舞台的原貌。相信一定可以让您们享受到真正的Acoustic Jazz Sound！」 来自日本的Venus厂牌，成立於1992年，录制了为数眾多的经典爵士名盘，其音乐层次丰富、充满渲染力，而能让听眾如临现场的高水準录音品质也是Venus的一大特色，不少专辑都陆续推出了高音质HQCD版及黑胶版，旗下唱片更屡屡荣获日本专业爵士乐杂誌Swing Journal金赏奖。原哲夫在Venus中投入了对爵士乐的热情，迄今，Venus已成为日本爵士乐界最受瞩目的厂牌之一。
进口专辑 / CD / 1 片装 / 50分00秒
菲尔．伍兹四重奏 - 民谣与蓝调 CD
Phil Woods Quintet: Ballads & Blues
Alto saxophonist Phil Woods is a consummate musician whose mastery of improvisation is second to none. He extends from the holy alto trinity—Benny Carter, Johnny Hodges, Charlie Parker—and has carved a distinctive, influential style. If Paul Desmond's sound is akin to a dry martini, Woods' is like high-grade cognac, sensual and luxurious, burnished with virile delight that warms your body.
His apprenticeship with Charlie Barnet, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Buddy Rich, Thelonious Monk and Clark Terry prepared him for leadership, especially of his quartets and quintets, which, over the past 30+ years, have included bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin. The three recordings here feature these rhythm section stalwarts, who provide sympathetic support for Woods in any context.
Ballads & Blues celebrates compositions by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington (as well as one by Hoagy Carmichael). Trumpeter Brian Lynch, a member of Woods' quintet since 1992, is a good foil for the alto legend, as on Carmichael's "How Little We Know". Lynch's solo is a model of tasteful note selection and his unison lines with Woods blend perfectly. Bill Charlap's solo rendition of "Lush Life" has a tender, precise quality, which epitomizes his attitude in Woods' ensemble for 14 years. The band sways with a tinge of sadness on "Blood Count" and swings "Johnny Come Lately" with optimism.
Live at the Jazz Showcase has Jim McNeely (who held the piano chair in Woods' group from 1990-95) and the co-leader of the date, Bob Lark, on flugelhorn. Lark, director of DePaul University's Jazz Studies Program in Chicago, contributes three good tunes to the session. On the hip, mid-tempo opener "Ravenswood," Lark takes a sure solo with shades of Clark Terry influence, whereas Woods builds slowly, stretching out references to the melody into a full-throated blues with a dash of double-time. The Latin-tinged "Mad Dan's" finds Woods sprinting from the gate and sprinkling his improv with allusions, such as the opening phrases of Dizzy Gillespie's "Be Bop".
On all his recordings, Woods stars yet leaves room for his fellow musicians to shine. This generosity holds especially true for The Children's Suite, inspired by the verses of AA Milne's Now We Are Six. Milne, famous for the Winnie the Pooh series, wrote for the child in us all and Woods' writing talents are on full display as a big band (with strings) swings with whimsical fancy to engage young and old. English actor Peter Dennis and singers Vicki Doney and Bob Dorough (of "School House Rock" fame) are marvelous in their vocal renditions of the text. The suite captures the varying moods of youth, as the music is by turns mock-serious, hopeful, bittersweet, circus-like or giddy. Woods employs mainstream jazz, classical and even rock styles and displays almost as much chops with his pencil as with his horn.
Tracks and Personnel
Ballads & Blues
Tracks: Blood Count; Flower is a Lovesome Thing; Balcony Serenade; Isfahan; Ballad Medley: I Didn't Know About You, Lotus Blossom, Don't You Know I Care; How Little We Know; Ballad For Very Tired and Very Sad Lotus Eaters; Lush Life; My Little Brown Book; Rain Check; Jonny Come Lately; Take the A Train
Personnel: Phil Woods: alto sax; Brian Lynch: trumpet; Bill Charlap: piano; Steve Gilmore: bass; Bill Goodwin: drums
01. Blood Count - 4:06 (Billy Strayhorn)
02. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing – 4:56 (Billy Strayhorn)
03. Balcony Serenade – 3:59 (Billy Strayhorn)
04. Isfahan – 4:11 (Billy Strayhorn)
05. Ballad Medley~I Didn’t Know About You~Lotus Blossom~Don’t You Know I Care – 7:51 (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn)
06. How Little We Know – 8:28 (Hoagy Carmichael)
07. Ballad For Very Tired And Very Sad Lotus Eaters – 4:55 (Billy Strayhorn)
08. Lush Life – 3:49 (Billy Strayhorn)
09. My Little Brown Book – 4:07 (Billy Strayhorn)
10. Rain Check – 4:55 (Billy Strayhorn)
11. Jonny Come Lately – 4:03 (Billy Strayhorn)
12. Take The “A” Train – 5:24 (Duke Ellington)

domain: artistic


PT Gokak Indonesia is an Indian joint venture company located in Indonesia. The name Gokak comes from its parent company situated at Gokak falls in Southern India. The company is in the business of yarn spinning and became operational in the year 1982. The brand Gokak has a rich history in the spinning industry and is easily one of the most liked brands across the world. The factory is situated about 45 kms from the capital city of Jakarta and is en-route to the garden city of Bogor, Indonesia.
PT. Gokak Indonesia has a wide marketing network established in several countries. The company is regularly exporting yarns to countries such as China, Thailand, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Philippines, Germany, USA, Korea, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Italy, etc. PT Gokak Exports 50 percent of its production to about 20 different countries, and the balance is sold in the domestic market.
|100% COTTON COMBED RING SPUN CONTAMINATION FREE YARN||Ne 16 - Ne 32|
|100% COTTON CARDED RING SPUN CONTAMINATION FREE YARN||Ne 16 - Ne 32|
|100% COTTON COMBED COMPACT RING SPUN CONTAMINATION FREE YARN||Ne 16 - Ne 32|
|100% COTTON CARDED COMPACT RING SPUN CONTAMINATION FREE YARN||Ne 16 - Ne 32|
|COTTON CARDED CORE SPUN YARN DENIER 40 & 70||Ne 10 - Ne 20|
|POLYESTER/VISCOSE BLENDED 65/35 RING SPUN YARN||Ne 20 - Ne 40|
|POLYESTER/VISCOSE BLENDED 65/35 CORE SPUN YARN DENIER 40 & 70||Ne 10 - Ne 30|
|100% COTTON OPEN END CONTAMINATION CONTROLLED YARN||Ne 7 & Ne 10|
|100% COTTON COMBED AND CARDED CONTAMINATION FREE SLUB YARNS||Ne 20 - Ne 30|
|100% COTTON CARDED CORE SPUN SLUB YARNS||Ne 10 - Ne 20|
|MOSAIC - TRIBLEND YARN (COTTON/POLY/VISCOSE)||Ne 20 - Ne 30|
|TFO YARNS||2-4 PLY|
The company has the latest state of the art spinning types of machinery from World’s most renowned spinning machinery manufacturers like Rieter (Switzerland/Germany), Trutzschler (Germany), Toyota (Japan), Murata (Japan) and LMW (India).
The company regularly modernize/upgrade its plant and machinery to keep update with the latest technologies.
We have a modern testing facility equipped with the latest technology such as Premier IQ2, Autodyn II, Zweigle, Nep tester MN100. We also have a in house knitting facility to test each and every lot before it is sent out to our customers. The company is Oekotex 100 certified, hence confirming that the products are free from harmful substances.


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Name: Djamel Abdoun
Date of birth:14/02/1986
Place of birth: France
|AC Ajaccio||Man City||11 Jan 2007||Undisclosed|
|AC Ajaccio||Nantes||01 Jul 2008||Undisclosed|
|Nantes||Olympiakos||21 Aug 2011||Undisclosed|
|Olympiakos||N Forest||26 Jul 2013||Undisclosed|
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Hershel Shanks, Whose Magazine Uncovered Ancient Israel, Dies at 90
Hershel Shanks was neither an archaeologist nor a biblical scholar when the notion of making a well-liked journal dedicated to biblical archaeology started to germinate in his thoughts; he was an actual property lawyer in Washington. But in 1972 he took a yearlong hiatus and traveled together with his spouse and two daughters to Israel, the place he turned captivated by the wealth of archaeological digs.
As he put collectively analysis about a few of these excavations for a ebook known as “The City of David: A Guide to Biblical Jerusalem” (1975), he shaped lasting relationships with distinguished archaeologists. He returned to Washington with a dedication to publish about intriguing discoveries and scholarly controversies in a discipline the place the very truthfulness of the Bible was at stake.
The journal, Biblical Archaeology Review, which Mr. Shanks commanded for over 40 years till his retirement in 2017, popularized what was a reasonably arcane, technical and unique topic and made it digestible for tens of hundreds of readers.
“He had an exquisite knack for turning dry tutorial content material into one thing that was accessible,” Glenn Okay. Corbett, the journal’s present editor, mentioned in an interview.
In the early 2000s, the journal had 230,000 paid subscribers, with a pass-along readership of 600,000. Roughly one-third of the subscribers are evangelical Christians who revere the authority of the Bible, with many believing it’s with out error or fault, however it is usually learn by observant Jews and Zionists.
Notably, Mr. Shanks was additionally a forceful chief within the early 1990s of the profitable marketing campaign to, as he put it, “free the Dead Sea Scrolls” from the slender coterie that had monopolized the examine of these texts, advocating for scrutiny by a wider vary of students and for public exhibition. Considered among the many most vital archaeological finds of the 20th century, the scrolls had been rolls of parchment found in caves close to the Dead Sea in 1946 and 1947 containing biblical and different texts, in Hebrew and Aramaic, that illuminated the interval when Christians broke away from the reigning however fractured Jewish institution.
“Hershel’s persistence and his noise made all of it occur,” mentioned Megan Sauter, the assessment’s managing editor.
The cowl of the primary concern of Biblical Archaeology Review, revealed in 1975. Mr. Shanks wrote all of the articles in that concern himself.Credit…Biblical Archaeology SocietyA canopy of the journal in 2017, the 12 months Mr. Shanks retired. It was revealed bimonthly in its early years however is now quarterly.Credit…Biblical Archaeology Society
Mr. Shanks died on Feb. 5 at his dwelling in Washington. He was 90.
His daughter Elizabeth Alexander, a professor of spiritual research on the University of Virginia, mentioned the trigger was problems of Covid-19.
Mr. Shanks made it clear that he was an beginner, albeit an impassioned one. Having gone to a Sunday college at his synagogue, he learn Hebrew however couldn’t translate it.
“As the reader could have observed, I’ve not spoken of my biblical coaching,” he wrote in a jaunty 2010 memoir, “Freeing the Dead Sea Scrolls: And Other Adventures of an Archaeology Outsider,” “as a result of I had none.”
But for a few years he belonged to a gaggle of Jewish associates in Washington who met periodically to speak in regards to the Bible. Although he grew up in a house the place, as he wrote, “there was one thing treyf (unkosher)” in regards to the New Testament, he took a course within the Christian Bible that led to a gathering with William F. Albright, a towering determine in archaeology who had authenticated the Dead Sea Scrolls after they had been discovered by a younger shepherd.
“Paradoxically,” Mr. Shanks wrote, “I got here to the Hebrew Bible by the New Testament.”
At the beginning of that transformative 12 months in Israel, Mr. Shanks wrote 300 pages of a novel about Saul, the primary king of Israel, which he ultimately deserted as “no good.” Then he received to know Israel’s rock star of an archaeologist, Yigael Yadin, by a fortuitous discover by his daughter Elizabeth, then 6, at Tel Hazor within the Upper Galilee.
The Shanks household was visiting the Hazor mound, the positioning of what within the ninth century B.C. was the most important fortified metropolis within the historic kingdom of Israel, and trying to find sherds, or ceramic fragments, when Elizabeth stumbled upon a small piece of a clay deal with lower than an inch and a half lengthy with a picture etched into the clay. Mr. Yadin, who led the landmark Hazor expedition within the mid-1950s, recognized the picture as a Syro-Hittite deity from the Late Bronze Age in a pose often known as the “smiting god.”
He urged Mr. Shanks to jot down an article in regards to the deal with for an Israeli journal, which he did with Mr. Yadin’s assist. And so a brand new profession was born.
Biblical Archaeology Review was revealed bimonthly in its early years however is now quarterly. It usually simplifies esoteric scholarly articles and crowns them with tantalizing titles like “Did a Rolling Stone Close Jesus’ Tomb?” and “What We Don’t Know About Moses and the Exodus.”
“He has a present — a journalist’s eye, because it had been — of recognizing hidden nuggets throughout the world of arcane tutorial scholarship,” Eric H. Cline, a professor of classical and historic Near Eastern research at George Washington University, informed Christianity Today, aimed toward evangelicals.
More than just a few students turned more and more ambivalent as Mr. Shanks violated conventional tutorial norms — by, for instance, publishing 1,787 pictures of Dead Sea Scrolls fragments in 1991 in defiance of protocols limiting entry. One Israeli scholar sued for copyright infringement, and Mr. Shanks was ordered to pay greater than $40,000. Still, by the early years of the brand new century practically all of the texts and fragments had been revealed, with many displayed in museums.
“His tactic was all the time to overdramatize the subject and attempt to marshal public consideration to strain students, which often works,” William G. Dever, an archaeology professor at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, mentioned in a written tribute to Mr. Shanks after his retirement.
In 1987, Mr. Shanks gave up his legislation apply and acquired a second journal, Moment, a Jewish affairs bimonthly that had been based 12 years earlier by Elie Wiesel and Leonard Fein. He was its writer and editor till 2004.
Mr. Shanks giving a chat in Washington in 2002. He turned identified for his capacity to simplify esoteric scholarly articles.Credit…J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press
Hershel Shanks was born on March eight, 1930, in Sharon, a metal mill city of 15,000 in northwestern Pennsylvania, close to the Ohio border. Escaping pogroms, his father, Martin, had immigrated together with his household from Kiev when he was 6 and later discovered work as a salesman in a shoe retailer throughout from the mills. He ultimately purchased the shop and deputized 11-year-old Hershel as a salesman. His mom, Mildred (Freedman) Shanks, was a homemaker.
After highschool, the place he was editor of the newspaper, Mr. Shanks studied at Haverford College and obtained his legislation diploma from Harvard. He then labored for a number of years on the Department of Justice, dealing with appeals courtroom circumstances, earlier than going into non-public apply, specializing in actual property legislation, and rising to named accomplice.
He began Biblical Archaeology Review in his mid-40s, writing all of the articles within the first concern himself and paying for it with $600 and the cash from two advertisements. For years afterward, he edited and assigned the articles. In the journal’s early years, he paid writers $10 for brief items and $15 for longer ones.
In addition to Ms. Alexander, Mr. Shanks is survived by his spouse, Judith (Weil) Shanks; one other daughter, Julia; a youthful sister, Leah Gordon; and two grandchildren.
Given his ardor for the topic, some questioned why Mr. Shanks by no means turn into an archaeologist himself. His daughter recalled his deciding second: when he spent a day methodically digging out demarcated spots on the Tel Gezer excavation in central Israel and finishing up luggage of dust. The disciplined monotony, she mentioned he informed a colleague, was not for him: “One day of digging was greater than sufficient.”

domain: history


The Bills got a pivotal play from defensive back Micah Hyde in their Week 4 contest against the New England Patriots. He was confident about it following the game talking to Pats coach Bill Belichick after the game, too.
With 4:16 left in the first half, Hyde intercepted quarterback Tom Brady to keep the game at a 13-0 score. Had he not, his team could’ve been down much more at half and instead.
Following the game, Channel 25 in Boston caught a postgame video of an exchange between the safety and head coach as they walked off the field. The typically mum Belichick publicly approached Hyde as the teams were walking off the field.
Belichick talked to Hyde about his interception. You can hear him ask, “Micah, did you get that pick?”
The Bills and Patriots meet again in Week 16 and hopefully this won’t be any extra motivation for Brady, but his respone was one Bills fans would enjoy.
“Yeah… he was staring him down,” Hyde said referring to Brady and his target in the back of the end zone, Julian Edelman.
On the play, Hyde is in coverage underneath near the goal line, which is why Brady likely didn’t see him. You can also see Hyde doesn’t take his eyes off Brady on the play:
Even better than the play is the acutal exchange, which was caught right here:


text:
Union Pines opened its Tri-County 6 Conference football slate with a hard-fought 27-24 win Friday at Harnett Central.
Viking senior running back Tyreek McCoy rushed for 239 yards on 32 carries and had three scores for Union Pines. His touchdown runs covered 66, 66 and 2 yards.
But it was a defensive play by Mick Techeria that provided the winning score.
Trailing 24-20 in the second half, Techeria picked up a Harnett Central fumble and returned it 32 yards for a score. With Sean Blatz adding the point after, the Vikes took the 27-24 lead.
Then the defense shut down the Trojans the rest of the way.
“Our defense really came through in the second half,” said Viking head coach Lonnie Cox. “They forced a lot of turnovers and played really well.”
The first half saw the Vikings take an early 14-0 lead on two McCoy scores. But the Trojans roared back to take a 17-14 lead at halftime.
On the first Viking play from scrimmage in the second half, McCoy tacked on another score to push Union Pines back in front 20-17.
McCoy, who battled injuries to begin the season, has been healthy the last two games, including a win over Cummings Oct. 4 when he had 160 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns.
“Every time he touches the ball, he seems to get faster and better,” said Cox.
Harnett Central answered right back on the ensuing possession to score and take a 24-20 lead.
Techeria’s heroics allowed the Vikings to get the win, improving to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
In other Tri-County 6 Conference openers Friday, Lee County won 41-7 at Triton and Southern Lee defeated Western Harnett 42-6 in Tramway.
Next week, the Vikes take to the road once again when it travels to Sanford to take on undefeated Lee County.


Research Highlight: Evaluating the effect of pallet deckboard gaps and overhang on the compression strength of plastic pails
The objective of this undergraduate research project, conducted during the fall 2020 semester, was to measure and analyze the effect of varying sizes of pallet deckboard gaps and pallet overhang gaps on the compression strength of three different sizes of plastic pails, assuming completely rigid deckboards.
Three undergraduate students participated in this research project: Jon Porter, a senior from Chesapeake, Virginia; Carter Engvall, a senior from Alexandria, Virginia; and Rosa Williams, a freshman from Marietta, Georgia. The project was sponsored by the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association through their industrial affiliate membership. The students investigated three different sizes of pails: 3.5-gallon, 5-gallon, and 7-gallon (all had a bottom diameter of 10.5 in.). They conducted the study using ASTM D642 guidelines and a Lansmont Squeezer Fixed Platen Compression Tester (Image 1).
Pails are an essential part of modern packaging and are used for a variety of fluids, ranging from chemical coatings and paints to juices and other food products. Despite their many uses, there has been little to no research done on the compression strength of pails within the context of palletization. As pails are a common form of packaging, understanding this complex relationship will greatly benefit the packaging industry. The general objective of this research project was to better understand the effect that pallet deckboard gaps and overhang have on three different sizes of plastic pails.
To simulate the effect of rigid deckboards with gaps and overhang, the pails were supported on a 5.5 in. wide a pallet deckboard simulator made of 0.75 in. plywood (Image 2). The deckboard simulators were positioned to create three different sizes of gaps and two sizes of overhang. The gaps were centered under the pails. To simulate the load distribution observed for stacked pails, a circular jig made of a bottom section of a pail reinforced with plywood was developed and used for the load application.
The guidelines of ASTM D642 (202) were used for the experiment that was conducted in order to find the compression strength of the pails being evaluated.
The results revealed that the pail was the strongest on the support with no deckboard gap (control) and this support condition was significantly different from the rest of the support types. When the pail was supported on deckboards with varying sizes of gaps, the strength of the pails decreased by 1% to 30% depending on the design. However, the statistical analysis revealed that the pails’ strength measured for the different deckboard gap scenarios were not significantly different from each other. The support condition where the pail was overhanging the deckboard resulted the lowest pail strength values, reducing the pail strength between 12% and 46%. Contrary to the effect of deckboard gaps, there was a significant difference between the pail strength values observed for the different overhang scenarios. The pail strength decreased significantly when the overhang increased.
The most common pail failure mode seen during testing was sidewall buckling (Image 3), while lid failure was observed for only a limited number of samples and designs. Sidewall buckling was present on all sizes of pails; lid failure was only present on the 3.5- and 7-gallon pails.
Based on the findings of this research project, it is recommended to avoid overhang, as it causes a much greater reduction in pail compression strength. While deckboard gaps reduce strength as well, the reduction in compression strength due to overhang is much more severe.